Search - A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906 (P.S.)

The book is supposed to be about the SF Earthquake, but is really more about the author and his adventures in geology. The actual earthquake doesn't appear until late in the book and is only discussed in 1 or 2 chapters.

Also, the author tries to tie the earthquake to the beginning of the Pentecostal movement - which he clearly disdains.

In his book about Krakatoa, Winchester discussed the biggest volcanic eruption in history in terms of the geological causes, devastation caused, and consequences to science and society. Ditto here, his later book about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and ensuing three-day fire. For me, the information about the underlying geological causes of the quake was more interesting that the capsule histories of the Gold Rush and the growth of SF. This is not saying that all the tangents are mere digressions â€" some are quite interesting indeed, such as the travel narrative he gives of driving across the US to visit seismically famous spots. A good read, a good balance of science, travel, and history lite.

I enjoyed this look at not just the San Francisco earthquake, but also other earthquakes that have happened in North America. This book does get very scientific in some spots, but it does tell an interesting story.