I picked up this book after a cruise to the canal. I, like many, knew little about the construction of the canal. This book is fascinating. ( )

1770 The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914, by David McCullough (read 21 Mar 1983) (Book of the Year) (National Book Award history prize for 1978) This was one of the most enjoyable books I have read in a long time. I had no idea I would find this book such a thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyable book. The story has so much variety and so much interest. The account of the French effort, then the awesome account of the U.S. decision to take over the French effort, the awesome and inspiring account of how the U.S. built the Canal, finally finishing it in 1915--I found the entire account super-fascinating. It is quite different from my usual reading fare, but I have never really read anything about the Canal since I took history in grade school. Since it was such a big and stupendous job, I found myself thinking that maybe we should not have in effect given it up--which certainly was not my attitude when the treaties were the subject of such heated controversy in the Carter Presidency. The book is not overly scholarly, but it is so very readable. It is certainly the best book to read about this fantastic subject. ( )

Most people have limited education in the building of the Panama Canal. The sum total of my knowledge, prior to reading this book, was that Theodore Roosevelt fostered a revolution in the Columbian state of Panama in order to complete the work abandoned by the French. That disease and pestilence was rife in the region and that American technology and know how carried the day. Mostly correct, but woefully simplistic.

This book, written by the outstanding author, David McCollough, does an excellent job of tracking the canal project from its inception to completion, a story lasting about 35 years. The financial and political intrigue accompanying the French effort is captivating. The change of scenery (but with an equal amount of intrigue) to the American project breathes fresh life into the story. And what a story it is. It would be easy to attribute the ultimate success to superior American ingenuity and resolve, however, while this did indeed play a part, the impact of a national, government financed effort (as opposed to the privately financed French effort) coupled with huge strides in medical and mechanical technology in the intervening years probably was the most compelling reason for American success.

McCollough, in the course of the book, touches on virtually all aspects of both the French and American experiences, from scandalous financial dealings, back room political deal making, the strong decisive personalities involved and the social and cultural factors which played such a huge part in the project.

In reading this book, you began to develop an appreciation for the immense scope of the undertaking and the effort required to pull it off. The level of organization required in such an effort is almost mindboggling. It is difficult to imagine a project of equal magnitude (perhaps the NASA moon landings). I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history. It should be required reading in all high schools. ( )

Read this while in Panama. A great history of the building to the Panama Canal ( )

I keep waiting for a McCullough book to be less than a five star, but it just doesn't seem to happen, and it doesn't happen with this one. Path Between the Seas is another highly enjoyable read. I will say that it does start out a little bit slower than some McCullough's other books, but that may simply because he spends the first part of the book speaking about the French's attempt to build the canal and someone with more of an interest in French history may well enjoy it. The story does pick up at the end of this section when it goes into all the intrigue at the end of the canal project. The book is divided up into three parts. The first covers the French companies attempt to build the canal. The second covers when the Americans became very interested and then helped Panama win their independence. The third is the Americans start and completion of the canal. For someone who has not studied the canal before, it was the chance to learn a lot. I look forward TO reading more history books by McCullough ( )