The Johnstown Flood
by David McCullough
Buy the book: $22.70

Now available as an audiobook for the first time and soon to be an HBO miniseries. The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian tells the incredible story behind one of the most devastating disasters in America--the 1889 man-made flood that smashed through Johnstown, Pennsylvania, killing more than 2,000 people.

I've been enjoying the reader this week enormously and just noticed that it is the actor Edward Hermann. I've long admired his acting skills (particularly as FDR in "Eleanor and Franklin")and have enjoyed other audio books by him. He can make even dry material rivetting -- although the material this week can hardly be described as dry in any sense of the word! I will be seeking this book out, although I might wait until the tragic images of Louisiana and Mississippi are just bad memories....

I've finally listened to this selection. I love McCullough from his books for children on how things are built and work, and now this sets the stage for what went so wrong in 1889. A lesson in civics for every decade. Thanks!

Just finished listening to this vivdly descriptive book. It is excellent script to visualize the town of Johnstown. The subject is so timely it's scary! I will be buying this one! I'm looking forward to the rest of the story, especially the flood scenes.