Super Short Summary

Rising Tide by John M. Barry examines the 1927 Great Mississippi Flood, focusing on its impact on American society, including politics, culture, and racial dynamics. The book chronicles the hubris of engineers who believed they could control the Mississippi River using levees. This overconfidence led to disastrous flooding, affecting poor African-American sharecroppers the most, displacing many and sparking significant migration northward, which reshaped regional demographics and labor structures. Sensitive topics include racial inequities and the resulting displacement and suffering of millions impacted by the floods.