The Path Between the Seas
by David McCullough · first published 1977
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
History of building the Panama Canal, from the failed French attempt through disease, soil and dirt-moving problems to the political and business maneuvering; suits readers who like histories of one big undertaking.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The building of the Panama Canal was one of the most grandiose, dramatic, and sweeping adventures of all time. Spanning nearly half a century, from its beginnings by a France in pursuit of glory to its completion by the United States on the eve of World War I, it enlisted men, nations, and money on a scale never before seen. Apart from the great wars, it was the largest, costliest single effort ever mounted anywhere on earth, and it affected the lives of tens of thousands of people throughout the world. Here in all its heartbreak and eventual triumph the epic adventure is brought vividly alive
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I've enjoyed books narrating the history of a company or a thing, like David McCullough's The Path Between the Seas, Jon Gertner's The Idea Factory or Dava Sobel's Longitude. But, missing a name for this particular genre, I have a hard time finding new entries. Does HN have anything of that kind to recommend? Other…
on “Ask HN: Biographies of Companies or Things?” ↗…good. I strongly recommend it. Founding Brothers, by Ellis, is also very good (and short). David McCullough has several tremendous US history books, including John Adams, 1776, The Wright Brothers, The Path Between the Seas.
on “George Washington’s “Yelp Reviews”” ↗An amazing book covering the efforts to connect the two oceans is "The Path Between the Seas" by David McCullough.[0] [0]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Path_Between_the_Seas
on “A Chinese Man, a $50 Billion Plan and a Canal to Reshape Nicaragua” ↗For those who wonder how Panama Canal opened up (how hard it is to open a canal at that geography due to diseases, soil, water), you may want read The Path between the Seas http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0671244094/bobsutton-...
on “A Chinese Man, a $50 Billion Plan and a Canal to Reshape Nicaragua” ↗It's a great museum. Also checkout the fascinating book Path Between the Seas http://www.amazon.com/The-Path-Between-Seas-1870-1914/dp/067...
on “Waiting for the Nicaraguan Canal” ↗The Black Company by Glen Cook[1]. Gritty low-fantasy story about a more-or-less lovable band of misfit mercenaries. The Path Between the Seas by David McCullough[2]. Account of the history of the building of the Panama Canal, from the first French attempts, their collapse, the political and business machinations to transfer ownership to the…
on “Ask HN: What are the best books you've read this year?” ↗Thousands of people died during the construction of the Panama Canal as well. The Path Between the Seas is a good book covering it. As I recall, food was “refrigerated” by the workers in nested, open pots submerged in water. …which happened to be an excellent breeding place for mosquitoes. Malaria and…
on “The Darién Gap” ↗I highly recommend The Path Between the Seas, about the building of the Panama Canal - https://www.amazon.com/Path-Between-Seas-Creation-1870-1914/... I didn't realize how important that project was to the strengthening of the federal government,…
The Path Between the Seas - David McCullough
on “Ask HN: Favorite Nonfiction Books of 2023?” ↗The _Path Between the Seas_ by David McCullough is really excellent. It starts with the French diplomat Ferdinand De Lesseps, specifically with the way his friendship with the king of Egypt enabled him to start the Suez canal project.…
on “Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things” ↗The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914
on “Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things” ↗…33. Black Hole Blues by Janna Levin - Building LIGO. 34. Freedom’s Forge - WWII industry mobilization. 35. Empires of Light by Jill Jonnes - Electrification by Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse. 36. The Path Between the Seas by David McCullough - Panama Canal construction. 37. Annapurna by Maurice Herzog - Climbing a Himalayan peak. 38. Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder - Data General engineers. 39. Showstopper by…
on “Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things” ↗The book The Path Between The Seas is an incredible history of the Panama Canal. http://www.amazon.com/The-Path-Between-Seas-1870-1914-ebook/... Short version: the French tried to build it as an investment, but the vision they could sell…
on “If the Panama Canal gets a rival” ↗…major attempt failed and they gave up. What they learned for the second attempt was that digging was not the hard(est) part to solve - it was how to move the dirt! So much dirt! Great book on this BTW: Path Between the Seas. I couldn't put it down.
on “New method turns ocean water into drinking water, without waste” ↗Interesting analogy. I've been reading The Path Between the Seas[1], about the construction of the Panama Canal, and whoo boy, now I won't be able to think about it except as a failed software startup. The hype. The outrageous valuations and fund-raising rounds.…
on “Why does software development take so long?” ↗