As our new administration withdraws from the Paris Climate Agreement, LA is on fire, and snow covers New Orleans, one would think that cautionary tales like Egan’s exhaustive description of the dust bowl and all its causes would make a difference in how we as individuals and the government that guides us care for the land. But no. 
Egan paints a vivid if repetitive picture of the way humans tried to conquer a section of the Midwest and southern US, tearing out native grasses, attempting to farm, and hunkering down as the denuded earth blew up around them. After years of choking dust storms, deaths by dust pneumonia, and an inability to grow even the smallest amounts of food to sustain a family, still some folks and the federal government refused to understand. No amount of scientific evidence or well-researched explanations of what to do next helped. Fast forward 90 years, and we continue to exhibit this pattern of stubborn hubris and willful ignorance. 
This is not a book to make you feel hopeful about the future or even proud of how Americans faced challenges. Readers can admire the strength of people who survived terrible loss and learn about a dark spot in US history. But they may also leave this book wondering if things will ever get better. 

Certainly in the running for the worst hard time. No arguing here. It has certainly reinforced my perspective that this is one of the US' worst ecological disasters that is seldom acknowledged.

Despite slowing down a bit towards the middle, this book captures how brutal The Dustbowl period was. Has me thinking about dirt differently.

This is a truly remarkable story that was barely mentioned when I learned US history in school. Through aggressive and unwise farming practices, encouraged by stupid policy decisions, we came within an eyelash of completely destroying the farmland and clean air of the western Plains. Through personal resilience and a seeming miracle, the nation came together to undo much of the damage.

The writing in this book is vivid and there are many individual stories and photographs. It’s one of the books that everyone should read so we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.

An informative book about a forgotten time in American history, the Dust Bowl. I loved the personal stories of those who lived through that tragic time. 

I thought I knew everything I needed to know about the Dust Bowl, but I was incorrect. Better than the Ken Burns documentary and not just because I didn't have to listen to "Bringing in the Sheaves" over and over. 

I really wanted to find out what happened to Don Hartwell, a farmer in Nebraska, but the book left me hanging and I had to google a bit, but that is my only issue. 

Listened to the audio book, I'd only give the reader 2/5 - please stop doing accents.