Ok, this book is not exactly a thriller or any other kind of page-turner, but I still found it extremely interesting. Timothy Egan did an excellent job of explaining the process by which the Dust Bowl was created and in sharing the vivid accounts of those who lived through it. From an environmental perspective, the "story" was as fascinating as it was disturbing, specifically because the problem was so preventable. Prior to reading The Worst Hard Time, I didn't understand exactly what the Dust Bowl really meant, but these descriptions really bring it to life in a terrifying way. I also wasn't familiar with the current state of the high plains and I was disappointed (to say the least) to learn that, for the most part, the efforts to reverse the damage were unsuccessful.

It's especially upsetting to read about the drought while experiencing a severe drought here in California. I'm certainly more motivated to take action to conserve water through personal use but also to speak up about state policies regarding the cost and efficiency of water usage.

My only real "complaint" is that I found it pretty challenging to follow all of the families and their stories from one chapter to the next, but it's understandable considering these weren't fictional characters. Perhaps it would've helped to edit out superfluous details. I think it would be easier to follow in a film version, which I'd love to see!

Overall - I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!