Disasters

Natural and Man-Made Catastrophes Through the Centuries

By: Brenda Guiberson

Narrated by: Nelson Runger

Natural and man-made disasters have the power to destroy thousands of lives very quickly. Both as they unfold and in the aftermath, these forces of nature astonish the rest of the world with their incredible devastation and magnitude. In this collection of 10 well-known catastrophes such as the great Chicago fire, the sinking of the Titanic, and hurricane Katrina, Brenda Guiberson explores the causes and effects, as well as the local and global reverberations of these calamitous events. Each compelling account tells the story of destruction and devastation, and most especially, the power of mankind to persevere in the face of adversity.

©2010 Brenda Z. Guiberson (P)2010 Recorded Books

Welcome to the 4th grade History class

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

It's one thing to skim a topic but having in depth knowledge of more than one of the incidents cited in this book it left me questioning the validity of the rest. Loosely connected trivia doesn't do well to accentuate the disasters but they are included for someone's sake.
It read like my elementary school social studies book with text and descriptions that suits that age group. I was hoping for much more as an avid reader of 20th century history.

What was most disappointing about Brenda Guiberson’s story?

The descriptions

Would you be willing to try another one of Nelson Runger’s performances?

No

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

One of the disasters was accurately described in my opinion.

Any additional comments?

Recommended for anyone looking to learn enough about a disaster to discuss it briefly at a cocktail party.