First published 2010
Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Hiltzik chronicles the complete story of Hoover Dam, from its initial planning through final construction. The narrative centers on the engineering marvel that remains stunning nearly a century later, ranking among America's most impressive yet controversial accomplishments. Hiltzik reveals the extreme hardships endured by construction workers who battled the Colorado River daily, overseen by the relentless Frank Crowe, whose demanding leadership pushed crews to their breaking point. The account exposes the political maneuvering between Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt, the massive engineering obstacles Crowe confronted, and the intense labor strikes that erupted among workers. This Los Angeles Times columnist presents the dam's construction as a crucial chapter in America's efforts to escape the Great Depression by mobilizing both human labor and natural resources. The book captures the extraordinary determination required to complete this monumental project.
Genres: history, 20th-century, non-fiction, engineering, american-history
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: determined-protagonist, monumental-achievement
Setting: America, Colorado River
Period: Great Depression
496 pages · Hardcover · Free Press