The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


McCullough's first book is a remarkable account of the devastating 1889 flood that destroyed Johnstown and the rest of the surrounding river valley in Pennsylvania. A common theme I've found in books written about this time period is that mankind thought he had mastered the forces of nature...over 100 years later we know all too well how we never will.

Another remarkable detail is the attitude of the flood victims. No one insisted the government do anything...the government didn't back then. But fellow Americans did pick up the slack and helped the people of Johnstown recover their tangible losses. I wonder how different America would be today if we never became the nanny state that we are. Oh well...I guess that's why I enjoy reading historical works so much.

Another different perspective is how the legal action taken against the dam owners was promptly dismissed. Much of this had to do with the money and prestige of these powerful men who successfully reflected any responsibility for the tragedy.



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