Ostensibly, Olson's mission is to explain why the victims who died in the wake of the explosion were so close to an active volcano. He shows how policy makers, cowed by a powerful logging interest, hid the true danger of the smoldering mountain from their constituents. But in recreating the history of the region and the social, economic and political moment in which the volcano erupted, Olson also reaches for a deeper, existential meaning in describing the many lives lost to the eruption. In the mundane quality of their activities at 8:31, we see ourselves. And for good reason: 91 percent of Americans, Olson warns, are "blissfully ignorant" of living in places with "moderate to high risk" of deadly disasters.
The New York Times Book Review - Kim Tingley
01/11/2016
"In his evocative and convincing new book, author Steve Olson reveals that the eruption—the most powerful natural disaster to ever strike the US—is much more than a horror show.…He has a bigger picture in mind, one of the eruption’s role as a touchstone for an evolving society and natural world."
Christian Science Monitor - Randy Dotinga
"In Mr. Olson’s telling, [the survivors’] stories read like urgent fiction….These vignettes lend a human face to an event that has become associated largely with geology."
Wall Street Journal - Michael O'Donnell
"In Eruption , science writer Steve Olson goes well beyond recounting Mount St. Helens’ geologic awakening, deadly explosion and aftermath. This fascinating book also chronicles the economic and cultural tensions gripping this part of the nation in the run-up to the May 18, 1980, catastrophe."
Science News - Sid Perkins
"A gripping moment-by-moment account of what happened on the day the volcano blew."
Oregonian - Michael Upchurch
"Olson and his truly groundbreaking Eruption join a rarefied pantheon, where readers can come to understand the most dramatic geological event of our time. This book, as welcome as it is amazing in the depth of its background and the strength of its storytelling, will stand as a stirring and stilling accomplishment."
"Steve Olson has brought new dimensions to my experience of the mountain. [He] masterfully delineates the personal histories, cultural assumptions, values, visions, and preconceptions that were brought to bear on the mountain that day. He has the gift of clarity and an enviable ability to find and make drama, present the human narrative, and engage his readers on multiple levels."
"Olson intercuts stories of victims including David Johnston, the volcanologist who was monitoring the explosion, with an account of its impact on science—such as popularizing the use of lidar. With 1,500 potentially active volcanoes worldwide, this is an urgent reminder of the need for advances in the field."
"In recreating the history of the region and the social, economic and political moment in which the volcano erupted, Olson also reaches for a deeper, existential meaning in describing the many lives lost to the eruption. In the mundane quality of their activities at 8:31, we see ourselves."
"A first-class, meticulously crafted piece of reportage that is as exciting as it is informative—and will long stand as a classic of descriptive narrative of the biggest American volcanic eruption of all our lifetimes—or so we all hope!"
"Vividly retells the story of the May 1980 disaster and questions whether more might have been done to keep the 57 people who died out of harm's way."
Seattle Times - John B. Saul
"Olson intercuts stories of victims including David Johnston, the volcanologist who was monitoring the explosion, with an account of its impact on science—such as popularizing the use of lidar. With 1,500 potentially active volcanoes worldwide, this is an urgent reminder of the need for advances in the field."
"As Steve Olson reminds us in his vividly reported new history…what happened on May 18, 1980, in the primordial thickets of the Pacific Northwest, was an enormous, multi-faceted event…This engaging book maneuvers deftly along the way toward impact."
"Olson intercuts stories of victims including David Johnston, the volcanologist who was monitoring the explosion, with an account of its impact on science—such as popularizing the use of lidar. With 1,500 potentially active volcanoes worldwide, this is an urgent reminder of the need for advances in the field."
Jonathan Yen lends a lively spirit to this account of the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. His jauntiness contrasts with the dark violence of the volcano, but perhaps it is a suitable tribute to the 57 people who were killed while doing what they loved: studying geology, taking photos, hiking, and camping. As Yen narrates the extensive history of the Weyerhaeuser company and its role on the mountain, his occasionally cynical tone reflects the author’s antibusiness perspective. Yen voices quotations from a half-dozen American presidents with mostly passable inflections and a couple of misses. Both Yen and the author truly shine in bringing to life the remarkable stories of those who witnessed the eruption at close range, some of whom survived to tell the tale. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
★ 2015-12-21
