| Description |
1 online resource (x, 317 pages) : illustrations, maps |
| Physical Medium |
polychrome |
| Description |
text file |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Contents |
Bailey Willis -- Robert T. Hill -- Intersecting orbits -- Parting company and facing disaster -- Golden State -- Framing the debate -- At the epicenter -- The prediction -- The book -- Retrenchment -- The climax -- Settling the score -- Theater -- Epilogue: Legacies and lessons. |
| Summary |
"This book explores the famous clash between two high-profile scientists over a consequential question: Is California earthquake country? Set in the first half of the twentieth century, when seismology was still in its infancy, this debate had life-or-death consequences for the millions of people migrating west. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, people wanted to know: Is it safe? And how can we best prepare for the next big one? Susan Hough focuses on the renowned geologist Bailey Willis as a crusading protagonist, and Robert T. Hill as the man who played his nemesis. Working in the tradition of Simon Winchester, who uses stories about lost historical figures to explore complex questions of science and society, Hough uses entwined biographies of the two men to offer a lively and accessible account of how step-by-step we learned about earthquakes-and the ways that politics and financial interests hindered that conversation. Embedded in this debate are two epic earthquakes: the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake and the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Both were responsible for scores of deaths, an incredible amount of damage, and both were turning points for our scientific knowledge and for mainstreaming the idea of earthquake safety. While offering readers a fascinating overview of earthquake science, The Great Quake Debate sheds light on enduring questions surrounding the environmental hazards on our dynamic planet. What challenges face scientists bearing bad news in the public arena? How do we balance risk and the need to sustain communities and cities? And are we ready for the next big one?"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Local Note |
eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - North America |
| Subject |
Willis, Bailey, 1857-1949.
|
|
Willis, Bailey, 1857-1949. |
|
Hill, Robert Thomas, 1858-1941.
|
|
Hill, Robert Thomas, 1858-1941. |
|
Hill, Robert Thomas, 1858-1941. |
|
Willis, Bailey, 1857-1949. |
|
Hill, Robert Thomas, 1858-1941. |
|
Willis, Bailey, 1857-1949. |
|
Seismology -- California, Southern -- History -- 20th century.
|
|
Seismology. |
|
Southern California. |
|
History. |
| Chronological Term |
20th century |
| Subject |
Geologists -- United States -- Biography.
|
|
Geologists. |
|
United States. |
| Genre/Form |
Biographies.
|
| Subject |
Earthquake prediction -- California, Southern -- History -- 20th century.
|
|
Earthquake prediction. |
|
Earthquakes -- California, Southern -- History -- 20th century.
|
|
Earthquakes. |
|
SCIENCE / Earth Sciences / Seismology & Volcanism. |
|
Sismologie -- États-Unis -- Californie (États-Unis) -- Histoire. |
| Chronological Term |
1900-1999 |
| Genre/Form |
Electronic books.
|
|
Electronic books.
|
|
History.
|
|
Biographies.
|
| Other Form: |
Print version: Hough, Susan Elizabeth, 1961- The great quake debate Seattle : University of Washington Press, [2020] 9780295747361 (DLC) 2019045528 |
| ISBN |
9780295747378 electronic book |
|
0295747374 electronic book |
|
9780295747361 hardcover |
|
