The Worst Hard Time

The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl

By: Timothy Egan

Narrated by: Jacob York

In a tour de force of historical reportage, Timothy Egan’s National Book Award–winning story rescues an iconic chapter of American history from the shadows.

The dust storms that terrorized the High Plains in the darkest years of the Depression were like nothing ever seen before or since. Following a dozen families and their communities through the rise and fall of the region, Timothy Egan tells of their desperate attempts to carry on through blinding black dust blizzards, crop failure, and the death of loved ones. Brilliantly capturing the terrifying drama of catastrophe, he does equal justice to the human characters who become his heroes, “the stoic, long-suffering men and women whose lives he opens up with urgency and respect” (New York Times). In an era that promises ever-greater natural disasters, The Worst Hard Time is “arguably the best nonfiction book yet” (Austin Statesman Journal) on the greatest environmental disaster ever to be visited upon our land and a powerful reminder about the dangers of trifling with nature.

Was I Listening to NPR?

I have a love-hate relationship with the book. I grew up in Oklahoma. So the Dust Bowl was something that stood out very clearly. I’m a history teacher in Tennessee now so I don’t get the opportunity to teach more than a day about the Dust Bowl. This book definitely added to be knowledge of anecdotal stories. It also mitigated me to delve deeper into some other issues the author brings out.

The narrator was…I really don’t know how to describe his voice and performance. I felt like I was listening to a segment on NPR. And I’m not a fan of NPR. His voice was exceptionally smooth and soothing, even rhythmic. But it got old after a while. By halfway through the book I was letting it run just to get through it.

However, in the narrators defense, I wasn’t expecting a book about the individual stories of people in the Dust Bowl. I was thinking it would be more a book about the overall causes and effects of the Dust Bowl. That’s my fault for more researching the book enough before buying it.

So the real question is, would I reread it and/or recommend it? Yes, on both accounts. I found the stories very interesting and personal. I hope to use some of the information next year in my lecture covering the topic.

How they suffered

Tough book about tough people! Amazing life they led during the dust bowl. Difficult to imagine surviving during the dust bowl.

An OUTSTANDING account of the history of the Dust Bowl of the west!!

This was an incredible account of the strength of our ancestors… While listening, I envisioned myself living their lives. History repeatedly tells us of the intestinal fortitude and selfless strength of people who lived before us. It’s a must read!

History repeating itself??!

This is a fantastic Historical account of one of the world's worst man made ecological disasters. This telling recounts Americans settling some of the most unwanted parts of the western range. After treaties with Native Americans were ignored in the face of "manifest destiny" a government sanctioned land rush resulted in the massacre of the American Bison, the destruction of native flora/fauna, and exploitation of a land that had been in balance with nature for centuries. What a Timely read to remind us all the power man does have over nature and the ability it has to change course. Unfortunately we all have forgotten how negatively we can impact and over exploit our surroundings. Just reading about the slaughter of millions of Bison and the destruction of a pristine land brought me to tears. All in the pursuit of money and power. After mother nature lashed out and punished the settlers, the government and President was forced to step in to force the ignorance to stop and reverse course. Funny how History repeats itself and how today we ignore the signs from mother nature telling us daily to reverse course or re-live the hell on earth that these early settlers were forced to endute.

Heartbreaking, riveting, important.

Very well read and performed. Excellent book, it had me in tears and made me laugh out loud. The portrayal of the people was very well done, they really came to life for me. The book was well paced and kept me interested. This is a great book club book, there is so much to discuss!