Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883 Audiobook

" Winchester is an enthusiastic earth scientist who is also an excellent writer. I learned a lot about geology, history, and geography reading this book, and enjoyed the story immensely. "

" Very detailed, maybe too detailed. "

" Informative yet an easy read. "

" Another of Winchester's astonishing books about geology. His ability to draw in biology, evolution, botany, anthropology, and odd-lot obscure characters make this a book that will entertain you while in adds greatly to your knowledge of natural history. Highly recommended. "

" This is about a lot more than a big volcanic explosion. It's mostly about how people's understanding about that explosion has changed over time, right up to the mid-1960s, when the evidence for plate tectonics (largely through cold-war technological advances) solidified that theory. I appreciated the simple explanations for subduction faults, and the whole book is written in a quirky personal style that avoids dryness. Entertaining and informative. "

" I loved Winchester's book on the first geologic map, so I eagerly bought this one. I didn't find it as interesting though. As a geolgist, I thought I'd be devouring every page. But for some reason, I just found myself impatient to get to the point. I recall a lot of detail about the Dutch colonial life -- which was interesting but perhaps went on too long. After the first couple of mini-eruptions, I put the book down. I hope to finish it someday. Maybe it was just bad timing for me. I would still recommend it. "

" Winchester always walks a fine line between a great story and too much backstory. He crossed that line here. "

" Very well researched and well written. Probably more information about Krakatoa than I needed but an all around good read. "

" Good broad overview over Indonesia history. A little to much geology and ecology for me "

" Interesting look at the day this volcano erupted violently. "

" Great read, full of facts and anecdotes to keep your attention right the way through. "

" was completely ignorant of the subject matter and the extent of this volcano, or any volcano's, ability to affect earth. slows down in places but worth-while if interested in geology/indonesia/volcanic activity "

" A real slog through the scientific details, but I was interested in the history of the area and the eruption so I persevered. I'm always looking to better understand the world around me. "

" A slow read, but the information conveyed in this book is fantastic. If you bog down reading it, try the audio version. "

" This is an excellent factual book about geology in general and the nature of volcanoes. Simon Winchester is the same author that wrote "The Professor and the Madman" about the writing of the dictionary. "

" A really good read. Great non-fiction writing. "

" Didn't enjoy this one as much as some of his others. Dense at times. "

" romping stuff great factual read "

" Very interesting read for the latent geologist in me. Krakatoa (the book) is a little bit of history of the area around the island of Sumatra and a big part of that is its active geologic history. "

" the first 150 pages were an abomination. the interesting bits were just that but it was entirely too long. i don't think mr. winchester is a very good writer, i won't be reading another. i did enjoy reading about plate tectonics, i wasn't aware it is such a young scientific field. "

" Who knew that a book about the creation of a dictionary could be so fascinating? I could not put this book down. "

" A bittersweets story of how a paranoid schizophrenic, convicted of murder and condemned to an insane asylum, finds solace by taking part in the greatest English literary achievement to date. "

" What a great book! I had forgotten all about it I read it so long ago. Must go find and reread! "

" Nice weaving of history, facts, and fiction all in one. "

" "He was mad, and for that, we have reason to be glad." Unless you're the wife or one of the 7 children of the man he killed that is. "

" A truly weird tale about the making of the Oxford Dictionary. I enjoyed it immensely. "

" The book was an interesting story, but I found it quite boring. "

" The parts that were really amazing had to compete with the parts that were simply pretentious. Pity. "

" Couldn't get through it. So boring. "

" The book was exceedingly hard to get into and and abnormally slow. It was not as informative as one might think. I would no recommended this book. "

" I'm a lingo junkie so I really liked this book. Lotsof interesting detail, simply superb :) "

" Read this book a second time after reading it the first time in 2004. A good book that gives you a deep appreciation of the work and effort that went into the making of the OED. "