The Death and Life of the Great Lakes

By: Dan Egan

Narrated by: Jason Culp

Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist
Winner of the J. Anthony Lukas Award

A landmark work of science, history, and reporting on the past, present, and imperiled future of the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes - Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior - hold 20 percent of the world's supply of surface fresh water and provide sustenance, work, and recreation for tens of millions of Americans. But they are under threat as never before, and their problems are spreading across the continent. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is prize-winning reporter Dan Egan's engaging portrait of an ecological catastrophe happening right before our eyes, blending the epic story of the lakes with an examination of the perils they face and the ways we can restore and preserve them for generations to come.

For thousands of years, the pristine Great Lakes were separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the roaring Niagara Falls and from the Mississippi River basin by a "subcontinental divide". Beginning in the late 1800s, these barriers were circumvented to attract oceangoing freighters from the Atlantic and to allow Chicago's sewage to float out to the Mississippi. These were engineering marvels in their time - and the changes in Chicago arrested a deadly cycle of waterborne illnesses - but they have had horrendous unforeseen consequences. Egan provides a chilling account of how sea lamprey, zebra and quagga mussels, and other invaders have made their way into the lakes, decimating native species and largely destroying the age-old ecosystem. And because the lakes are no longer isolated, the invaders now threaten water intake pipes, hydroelectric dams, and other infrastructure across the country.

Egan also explores why outbreaks of toxic algae stemming from the overapplication of farm fertilizer have left massive biological "dead zones" that threaten the supply of fresh water. He examines fluctuations in the levels of the lakes caused by manmade climate change and overzealous dredging of shipping channels. And he reports on the chronic threats to siphon off Great Lakes water to slake drier regions of America or to be sold abroad.

In an age when dire problems like the Flint water crisis or the California drought bring ever more attention to the indispensability of safe, clean, easily available water, The Death and the Life of the Great Lakes is a powerful paean to what is arguably our most precious resource, an urgent examination of what threatens it, and a convincing call to arms about the relatively simple things we need to do to protect it.

©2017 Dan Egan (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Dan Egan’s deeply researched and sharply written The Death and Life of The Great Lakes...nimbly splices together history, science, reporting and personal experiences into a taut and cautiously hopeful narrative...Egan’s book is bursting with life (and yes, death)." (Robert Moor, New York Times Book Review)

"Engaging...[and] impeccably researched...Told like a great story rather than an academic lecture." (Anna M. Michalak, Nature)

"Living up to...early acclaim, [The Death and Life of the Great Lakes] is easy to read, offering well-paced, intellectually stimulating arguments, bolstered by well-researched and captivating narratives." (Lekelia Danielle Jenkins, Science)

Fabulous Read

l'm involved in water issues and this spoke to me on many levels. I hope many people will take the time to read or listen to this book.
Toward the end there was an unexpected description of the genetic engineering they are using to eliminate invasive. Fabulous listen/read.

Every Midwesterner needs to listen to this book!

As a child of Ohio and resident of Michigan I have grown up with a certain awe and appreciation for the Great Lakes. I am never not in awe of their size, beauty, fishing, boating, and history. They are truly unrecognized seas.

This book was heartbreaking with the history of how humans have wrecked this magnificent treasure. Nonetheless, this history is critical for anyone who drinks, bathes, or earns their livelihood from these magnificent bodies of water.

The condition of algal blooms in Lake Erie and the Detroit River are special concerns to me. I appreciated the authors review of these factors.

In the end the book gave me a promising perspective and critical information that I need to be aware of as a Lake State resident, voter, taxpayer, and landowner.

Everyone who drinks Great Lakes water must read this book!

Death and Life of the Great Lakes

Very well thought out written book detailing everything about the lakes.I really enjoyed it.
The Lamprey was the Serial Killer finally killed or at least knocked down to 10% population in 60s.

Interesting and entertaining

Great to learn about the lakes and how to sustain them. Enjoyed learning about the history.

Very good!

Inspiring, engaging & thought provoking on the past present & future of the Great Lakes! Good read!

Great story - narrators pronunciations make me cringe

Fascinating book. I grew up two blocks from Lake Michigan and didn’t fully realize the complete, contentious, recent history the lakes have gone through.

I would recommend to anyone who is from the area, for those who are interested in hydrogeology or ecology, or simply anyone who loves to learn about something new. You won’t be disappointed.

My only issue is the narrators pronunciation of certain local city names and other unique terms. Was there no one editing this who thought to look those up?? Houghton and Cheboygan need some work; good job on getting Chicago and Milwaukee correct. I guess it wouldn’t bother you if you don’t know the correct pronunciations.

Don't miss this book

What made the experience of listening to The Death and Life of the Great Lakes the most enjoyable?

This book knocked my socks off. It's an amazing story of how human actions have messed up the Great Lakes over two centuries. The research and reporting were peerless, the writing was gripping, and the characters encountered along the way were fascinating. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.

Fascinating and deeply researched perspective

Tremendously educational while keeping interest high throughout. Groan as you see dubious historical interventions, cringe as you see the futility of half-step remedies, and rejoice in the hope emerging at the conclusion. Any reader will enjoy this ecological odyssey and this is magnified for anyone with a link to the Great Lakes.

very informative and detailed

this was a wonderful book, probably much more interesting for those who know about fishing, but an important book for everyone who cares about the great lakes

Education is the key

fascinating account of the long history of mismanagment of the Great Lakes natural resources. heartbreaking, but a lesson to all to educate ourselves in order to keep government and industry accountable and to prevent the greed of a few from distroying the heritage of our amazing natural world and denying future generations the joy of expiriencing this amazing planet.