Catastrophes!

Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Tornadoes, and Other Earth-Shattering Disasters

By: Donald R. Prothero

Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach

Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Devastating natural disasters have profoundly shaped human history, leaving us with a respect for the mighty power of the e\Earth - and a humbling view of our future. Paleontologist and geologist Donald R. Prothero tells the harrowing human stories behind these catastrophic events.

Prothero describes in gripping detail some of the most important natural disasters in history:

• The New Madrid, Missouri, earthquakes of 1811-1812 that caused church bells to ring in Boston
• The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people
• The massive volcanic eruptions of Krakatau, Mount Tambora, Mount Vesuvius, Mount St. Helens, and Nevado del Ruiz

His clear and straightforward explanations of the forces that caused these disasters accompany gut-wrenching accounts of terrifying human experiences and a staggering loss of human life.

Floods that wash out whole regions, earthquakes that level a single country, hurricanes that destroy everything in their path - all are here to remind us of how little control we have over the natural world. Dramatic photographs and eyewitness accounts recall the devastation wrought by these events, and the people - both heroes and fools - that are caught up in the Earth's relentless forces.

Eerie, fascinating, and often moving, these tales of geologic history and human fortitude and folly will stay with you long after you're done listening.

©2011 The Johns Hopkins University Press (P)2012 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"If you want to learn more about these disasters than just what's in the news headlines, this is the book for you." ( Birdbooker Report)

"Fascinating reading, if somewhat terrifying... Prothero explains the geologic and meteorological forces behind disasters, emphasizing the science with examples of real-world events, giving us a three-dimensional view of not only the natural processes involved but the human and monetary toll, as well." (Libbie Martin, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Author's Bias Shows Through a Bit Too Much

I get it, it's frustrating to deal with the kind of people who value religious beliefs over scientific truth. Where I draw the line, though, is the derision and contempt that comes through when describing that conflict. I don't have a dog in that fight, but it felt an awful lot like an angry uncle ranting at dinner a few times.

My major complaint, though, is the repeated use of the language 'worst X in the world' when referring to certain disasters that occurred in what is often termed the 'Western world,' when I know for a fact there were more calamitous events under the same umbrella in places like China or India. I wondered as I kept listening if the author would even acknowledge the existence of those places-- but I soon wondered no longer! They were brought up... by condemning the leadership and blaming the victims for their deaths in various descriptions. Just like my objection above, it's not that I mind bringing up conflicts such as scientists vs. 'creationists' and I don't mind the truth that many poorer locations have rudimentary building practices that put their inhabitants in greater danger. What I mind is the phrasing and the bias that shows through in the process. I wanted a great deal to finish this; I listen to books as I go about my day and to get to sleep (I always rewind back to the last bits I remember), and the narration didn't bother me, though I wondered if it would, given other reviews that mentioned it.

Informative but poorly narrated

In my opinion the narration was very bad. In fact it stopped me from listening to the last third of the book, chapters 9 to 12 which are titled "Ice ages, Greenhouse planet, Mass extinctions and Can we survive nature and our own folly?" and which I found less interesting than the previous ones which completely fulfill the promises made by the publishers summary. So, my point is that you should listen to the sample before buying and be shore that you can stand this slow, annoying monotone for 12 hours.

Interesting history mixed with fake news

Too bad the historical facts are mixed with fake news. It’s all projected as truth. Buyer beware!