The Vortex: A True Story of History's Deadliest Storm, an Unspeakable War, and Liberation
by Scott Carney, Jason Miklian
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Description
This fast-paced, meticulously detailed book tells the story of the Great Bhola Cyclone, the deadliest storm in modern history, which killed 500,000 people in Pakistan, and its aftermath as told through the eyes of the men and women who witnessed it.Tags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Somehow I have been unaware of the second-largest genocide of the 20th century. This book is highly readable ("like a novel") way to learn more about it. There are strong central characters and thrilling events from the lowliest farmers to the top politicians. And it includes the impact of a one in a thousand year cyclone that precipitated the violence, showing how global-warming fueled natural disasters morph into political and open conflicts as opposing parties use the chaos to try and gain advantage. This dynamic has reoccurred multiple times in recent years. It also reminds me of the Ukraine conflict with a neighboring "brother" country led by a despot going on a killing spree to try and eliminate a closely linked competing culture.
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Author Information
Awards and Honors
Distinctions
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2022
- Important places
- Bangladesh
- Important events
- Great Bhola Cyclone (1970)
- Dedication
- For the Bangladeshis who never saw independence
- First words
- (Prologue) White mist surged across the Mahajagmitra's bridge and the ship's aging frame creaked with each menacing gust.
Thirty thousand fans erupted into cheers the moment that the football hit Hafiz Uddin Ahmad's chest. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)After all, it was the least he could do for an old friend.
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)(Afterword) Every new vortex represents nothing less than a low-probability gamble against the future of humanity. - Canonical DDC/MDS
- 363.34922095492
- Canonical LCC
- HV636
Classifications
- Genres
- History, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Politics and Government
- DDC/MDS
- 363.34922095492 — Society, government, & culture Social problems and social services Public Safety - Police, Crime Investigation Terrorism, Disasters, Civil Defense Disaster relief Specific kinds of disasters Disasters caused by weather conditions Hurricanes
- LCC
- HV636 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Emergency management Relief in case of disasters Special types of disasters
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 80
- Popularity
- 397,195
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.21)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 2





























































