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Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded
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In Krakatoa Simon Winchester, author of The Map That Changed the World and The Professor and the Madman, focuses his considerable research powers on one of the most cataclysmic events of modern history: the volcanic eruption, in 1883, of the South East Asian island of Krakatoa, which resulted in the deaths of 36,000 people and sent shock-waves around the world. But what at the time was a mysterious, almost supernatural phenomenon has become, under the precepts of the contemporary science of plate tectonics, explicable if no less tragic.
Winchester veers between eyewitness accounts by survivors and the limited scientific measurements of the time in an attempt to describe the indescribable. The event "is still said to be the most violent explosion ever recorded and experienced by modern man", he writes. "Six cubic miles of rock had been blasted out of existence, had been turned into pumice and ash and uncountable billions of particles of dust." Yet words and numbers can barely hint at the scale of the calamity, which resulted in tsunamis that washed whole villages into the ocean and forever changed the very topography of the area.
The author also explores the social and cultural topography, noting that "Orthodox Islam, its revival in part triggered by tragic events such as the great cataclysm, was totally transformed in Java during the nineteenth century, with fundamentalism, militancy and profound hostility to non-Muslims its watchwords". At times Winchester seems to overstate his case, and the link he finds between Krakatoa and the rise of anti-Western sentiment in the Islamic world isn't especially convincing. But by weaving together the disaster with science, communications, politics, religion and economics, he has come up with a comprehensive and often fascinating glimpse into the way the world, and our perception of it, can change in an instant. --Shawn Conner, Amazon.ca -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verfügbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.
Amazon.com
It may seem a stretch to connect a volcanic eruption with civil and religious unrest in Indonesia today, but Simon Winchester makes a compelling case. Krakatoa tells the frightening tale of the biggest volcanic eruption in history using a blend of gentle geology and narrative history. Krakatoa erupted at a time when technologies like the telegraph were becoming commonplace and Asian trade routes were being expanded by northern European companies. This bustling colonial backdrop provides an effective canvas for the suspense leading up to August 27th, 1883, when the nearby island of Krakatoa would violently vaporize. Winchester describes the eruption through the eyes of its survivors, and readers will be as horrified and mesmerized as eyewitnesses were as the death toll reached nearly 40,000 (almost all of whom died from tsunamis generated by the unimaginably strong shock waves of the eruption). Ships were thrown miles inshore, endless rains of hot ash engulfed those towns not drowned by 100 foot waves, and vast rafts of pumice clogged the hot sea. The explosion was heard thousands of miles away, and the eruption's shock wave traveled around the world seven times. But the book's biggest surprise is not the riveting catalog of the volcano's effects; rather, it is Winchester's contention that the Dutch abandonment of their Indonesian colonies after the disaster left local survivors to seek comfort in radical Islam, setting the stage for a volatile future for the region. --Therese Littleton
-- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verfügbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.
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Einleitungssatz
Though we think first of Java as an eponym for coffee (or, to some today, a computer language), it is in fact the trading of aromatic tropical spices on which the fortunes of the great island's colonizers and Western discoverers were first founded. Lesen Sie die erste Seite Ausgewählte Seiten ansehen
Buchdeckel | Copyright | Inhaltsverzeichnis | Auszug | Stichwortverzeichnis | Rückseite
Though we think first of Java as an eponym for coffee (or, to some today, a computer language), it is in fact the trading of aromatic tropical spices on which the fortunes of the great island's colonizers and Western discoverers were first founded. Lesen Sie die erste Seite Ausgewählte Seiten ansehen
Buchdeckel | Copyright | Inhaltsverzeichnis | Auszug | Stichwortverzeichnis | Rückseite
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1 von 1 Kunden fanden die folgende Rezension hilfreich
Format:Taschenbuch
Simon Winchester is as talented an author as we have when the subject is either aspects of geology or history of science that are little known to the public. When he takes on the subject of Krakatoa, he wanders unconscionably. Unless you are fascinated about the sections I describe below, skip this book and read The Map That Changed the World instead.
When you think of Krakatoa, what strikes you? If you are like me, you imagine the tremendous volcanic explosion on August 27, 1883 . . . and you look forward to hearing more about the details. Be patient if you decide to read this book, because you won't get to very many such details until page 197. And then, all of those delicious details are left behind after page 316. If you just read these too-brief parts, you'll probably think this is a five-star book.
Well, but what was the geology behind the explosion? That would make a great second part of the book. Only trouble is . . . Mr. Winchester makes has that material PRECEDE his discussion of the explosion in a way that makes it seem disconnected from the subject at hand. To make matters worse, he decides to give the entire history of how plate tectonics were discovered as background. Unless you've been away on Pluto for the last 30 years, you probably know more than enough plate tectonics to receive an appropriate amount of background in 3 pages or less. If you want to know more, then look at pages 51 through 114. Otherwise, you can skip that section, too.
Well, there are people, plants and plants near Krakatoa. You probably want to know a little about them, too, in addition to the damages they encountered during and after the eruption. Pages 1 through 50 give you background on those subjects that you probably won't care if you learn or not. You can skip those sections too.
How about the rise of anticolonial feeling in Indonesia? Is that a hot one for you? It wasn't for me . . . even though the author believes that the eruption helped inflame Islamic fundamentalism in the area. The relevant material wasn't worth the length it was given. If that doesn't interest you, you can skip pages 317 to 338.
Finally, there are brief sections on the geology since the explosion and the arrival of plants and animals to repopulate the land. Those are the concluding sections except for a brief description of the author's visit to Anak Krakatoa.
Seldom have I read such an extended amount of material so peripheral to the obvious appeal of the subject. It was a relief to finish reading about all of the miscellaneous, oft-repeated information in the book such as the reasons why the name "Krakatoa" is a misspelling, the four Shuits and the details of the undersea cables in 1883.
The book does have one saving grace I haven't mentioned. It has a brilliant and thorough set of illustrations that relieve the tedium of so much of the leisurely pokings into slightly interconnected material. Be sure to scan through those.
As I finished the book, I thought about how important it is that authors have a good plan for their non-fiction books. A great place to start in developing such plans is to tell the story of what the author has learned to others . . . and to watch for what interests people. Then, pare out all that doesn't rivet people . . . and build up what does. Leave in the minimum essentials of everything else . . . and get on with what you are trying to share.
When you think of Krakatoa, what strikes you? If you are like me, you imagine the tremendous volcanic explosion on August 27, 1883 . . . and you look forward to hearing more about the details. Be patient if you decide to read this book, because you won't get to very many such details until page 197. And then, all of those delicious details are left behind after page 316. If you just read these too-brief parts, you'll probably think this is a five-star book.
Well, but what was the geology behind the explosion? That would make a great second part of the book. Only trouble is . . . Mr. Winchester makes has that material PRECEDE his discussion of the explosion in a way that makes it seem disconnected from the subject at hand. To make matters worse, he decides to give the entire history of how plate tectonics were discovered as background. Unless you've been away on Pluto for the last 30 years, you probably know more than enough plate tectonics to receive an appropriate amount of background in 3 pages or less. If you want to know more, then look at pages 51 through 114. Otherwise, you can skip that section, too.
Well, there are people, plants and plants near Krakatoa. You probably want to know a little about them, too, in addition to the damages they encountered during and after the eruption. Pages 1 through 50 give you background on those subjects that you probably won't care if you learn or not. You can skip those sections too.
How about the rise of anticolonial feeling in Indonesia? Is that a hot one for you? It wasn't for me . . . even though the author believes that the eruption helped inflame Islamic fundamentalism in the area. The relevant material wasn't worth the length it was given. If that doesn't interest you, you can skip pages 317 to 338.
Finally, there are brief sections on the geology since the explosion and the arrival of plants and animals to repopulate the land. Those are the concluding sections except for a brief description of the author's visit to Anak Krakatoa.
Seldom have I read such an extended amount of material so peripheral to the obvious appeal of the subject. It was a relief to finish reading about all of the miscellaneous, oft-repeated information in the book such as the reasons why the name "Krakatoa" is a misspelling, the four Shuits and the details of the undersea cables in 1883.
The book does have one saving grace I haven't mentioned. It has a brilliant and thorough set of illustrations that relieve the tedium of so much of the leisurely pokings into slightly interconnected material. Be sure to scan through those.
As I finished the book, I thought about how important it is that authors have a good plan for their non-fiction books. A great place to start in developing such plans is to tell the story of what the author has learned to others . . . and to watch for what interests people. Then, pare out all that doesn't rivet people . . . and build up what does. Leave in the minimum essentials of everything else . . . and get on with what you are trying to share.
Format:Taschenbuch
In "Krakatoa" author Simon Winchester examines the great explosion of August 27, 1883 from all angles, including historical, scientific, social, political and religious. He starts by explaining the social structure in the Dutch East Indies at the time. He then goes on to explain the scientific explanations for what happened and why. A fascinating portion is the story of the scientific studies which recorded the effects of the blast including water waves thousands of miles away and the air wave which circled the globe seven times during the first fifteen days. As the book progresses he impact the blast had on the natives and Europeans living in the area. He eventually suggests that the rise in Muslim devotion in the Dutch East Indies may have been the result of a fundamentalist turn to Allah after the catastrophe. The book ends by chronicling the volcanic activity and the island at the site of Krakatoa in the years since the explosion.
Krakatoa was the first major natural catastrophe to occur after the network of underground cables united the world. This made it a "World Event" which has fascinated readers ever since. I had long heard of Krakatoa and appreciate the opportunity to gain a better understanding it and its implications. It raised an interest in other scientific histories and the history of the Dutch East Indies. A book than can do that merits a recommendation.
Krakatoa was the first major natural catastrophe to occur after the network of underground cables united the world. This made it a "World Event" which has fascinated readers ever since. I had long heard of Krakatoa and appreciate the opportunity to gain a better understanding it and its implications. It raised an interest in other scientific histories and the history of the Dutch East Indies. A book than can do that merits a recommendation.
0 von 1 Kunden fanden die folgende Rezension hilfreich
Format:Taschenbuch
Simon Winchester is as talented an author as we have when the subject is either aspects of geology or history of science that are little known to the public. When he takes on the subject of Krakatoa, he wanders unconscionably. Unless you are fascinated about the sections I describe below, skip this book and read The Map That Changed the World instead.
When you think of Krakatoa, what strikes you? If you are like me, you imagine the tremendous volcanic explosion on August 27, 1883 . . . and you look forward to hearing more about the details. Be patient if you decide to read this book, because you won't get to very many such details until page 197. And then, all of those delicious details are left behind after page 316. If you just read these too-brief parts, you'll probably think this is a five-star book.
Well, but what was the geology behind the explosion? That would make a great second part of the book. Only trouble is . . . Mr. Winchester makes has that material PRECEDE his discussion of the explosion in a way that makes it seem disconnected from the subject at hand. To make matters worse, he decides to give the entire history of how plate tectonics were discovered as background. Unless you've been away on Pluto for the last 30 years, you probably know more than enough plate tectonics to receive an appropriate amount of background in 3 pages or less. If you want to know more, then look at pages 51 through 114. Otherwise, you can skip that section, too.
Well, there are people, plants and plants near Krakatoa. You probably want to know a little about them, too, in addition to the damages they encountered during and after the eruption. Pages 1 through 50 give you background on those subjects that you probably won't care if you learn or not. You can skip those sections too.
How about the rise of anticolonial feeling in Indonesia? Is that a hot one for you? It wasn't for me . . . even though the author believes that the eruption helped inflame Islamic fundamentalism in the area. The relevant material wasn't worth the length it was given. If that doesn't interest you, you can skip pages 317 to 338.
Finally, there are brief sections on the geology since the explosion and the arrival of plants and animals to repopulate the land. Those are the concluding sections except for a brief description of the author's visit to Anak Krakatoa.
Seldom have I read such an extended amount of material so peripheral to the obvious appeal of the subject. It was a relief to finish reading about all of the miscellaneous, oft-repeated information in the book such as the reasons why the name "Krakatoa" is a misspelling, the four Shuits and the details of the undersea cables in 1883.
The book does have one saving grace I haven't mentioned. It has a brilliant and thorough set of illustrations that relieve the tedium of so much of the leisurely pokings into slightly interconnected material. Be sure to scan through those.
As I finished the book, I thought about how important it is that authors have a good plan for their non-fiction books. A great place to start in developing such plans is to tell the story of what the author has learned to others . . . and to watch for what interests people. Then, pare out all that doesn't rivet people . . . and build up what does. Leave in the minimum essentials of everything else . . . and get on with what you are trying to share.
When you think of Krakatoa, what strikes you? If you are like me, you imagine the tremendous volcanic explosion on August 27, 1883 . . . and you look forward to hearing more about the details. Be patient if you decide to read this book, because you won't get to very many such details until page 197. And then, all of those delicious details are left behind after page 316. If you just read these too-brief parts, you'll probably think this is a five-star book.
Well, but what was the geology behind the explosion? That would make a great second part of the book. Only trouble is . . . Mr. Winchester makes has that material PRECEDE his discussion of the explosion in a way that makes it seem disconnected from the subject at hand. To make matters worse, he decides to give the entire history of how plate tectonics were discovered as background. Unless you've been away on Pluto for the last 30 years, you probably know more than enough plate tectonics to receive an appropriate amount of background in 3 pages or less. If you want to know more, then look at pages 51 through 114. Otherwise, you can skip that section, too.
Well, there are people, plants and plants near Krakatoa. You probably want to know a little about them, too, in addition to the damages they encountered during and after the eruption. Pages 1 through 50 give you background on those subjects that you probably won't care if you learn or not. You can skip those sections too.
How about the rise of anticolonial feeling in Indonesia? Is that a hot one for you? It wasn't for me . . . even though the author believes that the eruption helped inflame Islamic fundamentalism in the area. The relevant material wasn't worth the length it was given. If that doesn't interest you, you can skip pages 317 to 338.
Finally, there are brief sections on the geology since the explosion and the arrival of plants and animals to repopulate the land. Those are the concluding sections except for a brief description of the author's visit to Anak Krakatoa.
Seldom have I read such an extended amount of material so peripheral to the obvious appeal of the subject. It was a relief to finish reading about all of the miscellaneous, oft-repeated information in the book such as the reasons why the name "Krakatoa" is a misspelling, the four Shuits and the details of the undersea cables in 1883.
The book does have one saving grace I haven't mentioned. It has a brilliant and thorough set of illustrations that relieve the tedium of so much of the leisurely pokings into slightly interconnected material. Be sure to scan through those.
As I finished the book, I thought about how important it is that authors have a good plan for their non-fiction books. A great place to start in developing such plans is to tell the story of what the author has learned to others . . . and to watch for what interests people. Then, pare out all that doesn't rivet people . . . and build up what does. Leave in the minimum essentials of everything else . . . and get on with what you are trying to share.
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