Dust Bowl
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1979
304
Book • Nonfiction
Great Plains • 1930s
1979
Adult
18+ years
In Dust Bowl, Donald Worster analyzes the causes, effects, and legacy of the Dust Bowl in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, demonstrating how the disaster eroded the soil and impacted all aspects of life. He attributes the catastrophe to the United States' relentless industrial productivity and government-sanctioned land exploitation, arguing that it exacerbated the Great Depression and highlighting the need for cautious, scientific, and holistic environmental management. The book includes topics related to economic depression, poverty, disease, and death.
Informative
Melancholic
Challenging
Contemplative
Dark
1,068 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Donald Worster's Dust Bowl receives praise for its thorough research, insightful analysis, and compelling narrative on the ecological disaster. Critics appreciate its academic rigor and accessible prose but note it may be dense for general readers. Some argue it overemphasizes environmental determinism. Overall, it's a significant contribution to environmental history.
Readers who relish The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck or The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan will find Dust Bowl by Donald Worster captivating. Ideal for those intrigued by environmental history, agriculture, and economic impacts of the 1930s crises, this book provides a comprehensive, scholarly perspective on the Dust Bowl era.
1,068 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
304
Book • Nonfiction
Great Plains • 1930s
1979
Adult
18+ years
We’re just getting started
Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!