New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice • A riveting narrative about the biggest earthquake in North American recorded history—the 1964 Alaska earthquake that demolished the city of Valdez and swept away the island village of Chenega—and the geologist who hunted for clues to explain how and why it took place. At 5:36 p.m. on March 27, 1964, a magnitude 9.2. earthquake—the second most powerful … earthquake—the second most powerful in world history—struck the young state of Alaska. The violent shaking, followed by massive tsunamis, devastated the southern half of the state and killed more than 130 people. A day later, George Plafker, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, arrived to investigate. His fascinating scientific detective work in the months that followed helped confirm the then-controversial theory of plate tectonics.
In a compelling tale about the almost unimaginable brute force of nature, New York Times science journalist Henry Fountain combines history and science to bring the quake and its aftermath to life in vivid detail. With deep, on-the-ground reporting from Alaska, often in the company of George Plafker, Fountain shows how the earthquake left its mark on the land and its people—and on science.
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an excellent treatment of the San Francisco earthquake,including some eye-witness accounts
good reporting
Strong realistic tale of the most powerful earthquake ever to hit North America. Includes the investigation of how an earthquake of this magnitude could occur. Strengthened the theory of continental drift.
Having lived in Alaska I am particularly interested in the 1964 earthquake. This book is a great overall view of what happened in various places and how the science of studying earthquakes was strengthened and advanced through that event.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
In 1964, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake struck Alaska. The ground shook for 5 full minutes, seemingly solid ground turned to jelly, and the subsequent tidal wave swept away an entire village. The earthquake also put paid to the debate over continental drift and led to the current understanding of how tectonic plates interact. Henry Fountain discusses all of this in The Great Quake, which primarily reads as a fascinating scientific narrative, which only rarely delves so deeply into the hard science as to be too dense for the average reader. (In this way, it’s more accessible than Earthquake Storms, which was also interesting, but frequently far too in the weeds for my liking!)
The Great Quake also serves as a travelogue of sorts, providing a detailed glimpse of life in and around Prince William Sound, the wild beauty and savage wilderness, particularly in the years immediately after statehood. A reader interested in the evolution of the lands and life in the past half century would be well served to follow Fountain’s work with Mark Adams’s Tip of the Iceberg.
Fountain’s work feels especially timely given that the quake occurred 50-plus years ago: he has spent considerable time with survivors of the quake, as well as George Plafker, the geologist whose work ultimately shaped the current science of earthquakes, plate tectonics, continental drift, and all the other larger forces originating in the core of the blue marble we all call home. Plafker is now 90.
(This review was originally published at https://www.thisyearinbooks.com/2019/08/the-great-quake-how-biggest-earthquake.html)
Filled with first person accounts from witnesses who survived the great alaskan earthquake. Extremely informative. Will make you respect mother nature and our planet.
I’ve known a survivor of this quake and have seen some of the aftermath. The studies of this quake helped lead to formation of a geological understanding that was much needed–something that finally made sense and continues to help us see real and potential dangers in areas where many live.
Fascinating
I wish I’d read this book while I was studying geology in grad school 15 years ago — wow!!! The author not only knows his stuff, he knows how to keep it interesting. Thanks for enlightening me!
This is a well written book about how the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake changed how we understand the earth. It also spoke eloquently about the human toll from that quake. If geology and seismology interest you, this is a page turned to be sure!
This a a terrific book about one of the great tragedies of the last century. The author has done a magnificent job of weaving together the history of Alaska, the history of geological thought, the current science, and the human impacts of the Great Quake. I teach Earth Science and I learned new things from reading this book, and since I live on a part of the Oregon coast that is destined to face a similar disaster, I have begun to rethink my preparations, or lack thereof. Just a terrific book!