The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us (and What We Can Do About Them) Hardcover – April 17, 2018

Kate tells it like it is. She’s our main support when we have earthquakes in So Cal. She’s on TV very soon after they occur calming us down just by showing us where the epicenter was, chances of aftershocks or another big quake. She’s just magic when it comes to the trust the public has with her.The forward in this book is very informative even before you get to chapter 1.This is an interesting book even for the layman.

My first hurricane was Harvey in 2017. Yes we had some flooding and rain for 5 days yet we had electricity! On the sixth day my husband woke me up saying “we have no water”. What? The storm was over! We had survived but the city water pumps had not. 10 days we lived without potable water. It was doable but disastrous for local businesses.This book not only describes historical disasters but the aftermath which can often be much worse and last longer than you would ever imagine.Once the news cameras leave the flooded, devastated areas then the public has no real information about the rebuilding. In her book, Lucy Jones emphasizes with each page how important it is that we pay attention and look out for others as well as ourselves.As hurricane season nears we will stock up as we usually do but after Harvey each storm still makes me hold my breath.

I like reading about natural phenomena like Earthquakes, volcanoes, and hurricanes, so I enjoyed this book. It talks about a number of historical natural disasters, many of which are well-known. Although the book gives some history and science surrounding the disasters, it focuses a lot on the human aspect and the concerns surrounding prediction, mitigation, and recovery from this disasters. In that sense, it's a little different than some books about natural disasters. The author is a well-known seismologist, so she works in an area that deals with something that can produce natural disasters and she appears to be very passionate about the subject. If these things interest you, you might want to give this book a try. It's a bit of a different perspective on the subject.

Having listened and watched Lucy Jones when I lived in California, I didn't know how well-rounded she is. She is able to survey not just the science of a naturaldisaster, she is able to put the human element together, the personal experience, the physical issues, and political issues . She puts the science of emergency management in perspective and how this disaster management has evolved. If the reader has an interest in an all enveloping discussion of the human aspect of natural disasters, this will give the reader much knowledge.

This book should be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Dr. Jones is the consummate professional when it comes to disasters, how they happen and what we can do to protect against them. After a lifetime of studying earthquakes at CalTech's seismology lab, she knows of which she speaks. The breadth of her knowledge of historical and worldwide events is also staggering. From Lisbon's great quake in 1755 to the Tangshan quake in China, she provides details and straightens out myths. Watching well levels, listening for crickets chirping and snakes behaving oddly do not, as once believed, predict earthquakes. Effective response to disaster requires great minds, leaders, and good planning. I was amazed at how well the chief engineer of Lisbon, De Carvalho, handled the 1775 crisis. Lisbon was at that time one of the great cities of Europe. When asked by a distraught monarch what should be done, he responded: "Sire, bury the dead, and feed the living." After being given complete power to solve the problem of rebuilding, he prohibited anyone from leaving the city and started them cleaning up the debris. Within approximately one year, the city had been restored to functional status. That was very inspiring.

Though the book is an easy read, not heavy on scientific lingo, it kind of loses it focus as the chapters go on. I really didn't see many solutions.And she seems to berate religious beliefs frequently, almost in every chapter. But that's what one can expect from scientists who investigate everything closely except for the possibility of a Creator. Jaded

Dr. Lucy Jones (my sister) recently retired from the United States Geological Survey and has now written a very readable book: The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us (and What We Can Do About Them). It’s full of interesting stories, starting with the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in Pompei, 79 A.D. through the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami in 2011. She provides plenty of scientific detail combined with a compassionate, human side of the story. The Mississippi flood of 1927 is both a terrible natural disaster as well as an important but disturbing civil rights story. Lucy details how we as human beings respond to disasters, but even more importantly how we can wisely prepare for future disasters. There’s a fascinating section that gives us an inside look at how Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is leading the city in its preparation for an inevitable earthquake.One surprise is that there’s no chapter on California earthquakes. She does devote one chapter to the worst disaster in California history entitled “What We Forget” which tells the story of the terrible … No. I can’t do it justice. I suggest you buy the book ;=)

Kind of frightening in a way but a good read and you learn quite a lot about what happens next and what shouldn't happen because of inaction at the government level.

Is niet wat verwacht werd.

A very easy to read book. If you are interested in past Natural Disasters and how they have influenced how we react. Talking about what care we now take or in some cases don't take with natural disasters. A way to be informed about your own environment & places that you may visit. A no nonsense & sensible read. Dr Lucy Jones needs to write some more like this. I really enjoyed reading & thank Dr Jones for this informative book.

Very informative book, written in a very readable style

Easyto download Kindle and book .Book is quite interesting teaching me stuff I knew nothing about and the impact on the global weather.

Good in parts but pretty dull in others. Would have been a great read if it was just about the natural disasters.