Book Review - The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan

I knew this book was good. The words flowed, it was interesting, and I was concerned about the characters. I didn't realize how good, until I put my finished copy back on my shelf, and picked up another non-fiction book that I had been reading on and off for a couple months. The on-and-off book couldn't hold a candle to the writing of this book. Timothy Egan through his research and presentation of the Dirty Decade, the 1930s in the Dust Bowl of the United States doesn't try to be the friend of those that lived during that time. He doesn't take on a ultra-sympathic view by using their dialect. He is an observer, through his research, and he is a storyteller. I believed him, and he presented his case convincingly. He would probably be a good speaker at any convention that advocates on behalf of sustainable agricultural practices.

Not everything is examined in detail, except maybe the lives of those that lived it. However, he keeps us interested, by examining the lives of many people who lived through the Dust Bowl years. Sometimes the refernces to what was happening in Washington DC or other parts of the world seemed quick, yet they made sense. By keeping our attention on those in the Dust Bowl the book retains focus. Here is a conversation with the author.