The Big Ones

Dr. Lucy Jones, who advises on risk reduction for the U.S. Geological Survey, lives in Southern California. Her arguments for retrofitting buildings in Los Angeles are effective, and she brings that persuasiveness to her narration. She discusses disasters around the world--from ancient Pompeii's volcanic eruption to Hurricane Katrina--covering the world's worst floods, earthquakes, and volcanoes. She shows listeners examples of successful disaster prevention and management, while examining what went wrong elsewhere. Jones introduces geological concepts with clarity to back up points and consistently calls for readiness and empathy. She makes listeners familiar with the psychology of disaster and ends her book with steps listeners can take to improve their own readiness. J.A.S. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine