American Ground Book Summary

In 'American Ground', William Langewiesche delves into the intricate and often overlooked world of the American landscape, focusing on the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He intertwines personal stories with historical insights, exploring how nature and civilization collide in this uniquely American setting. The book paints a vivid picture of resilience and decay, capturing the struggles of a society grappling with its identity. With sharp prose, Langewiesche challenges readers to reconsider their relationship with place and memory. Prepare to be both entranced and unsettled as you journey through the emotional and physical terrains of modern America.

By William Langewiesche

Published: 2003

""In the depths of complexity lies the truth of what we build and destroy; every layer tells a story of ambition, failure, and the human spirit.""

Book Review of American Ground

Selected as one of the best books of 2002 by The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Sun-Times Within days after September 11, 2001, William Langewiesche had secured unique, unrestricted, round-the-clock access to the World Trade Center site. American Ground is a tour of this intense, ephemeral world and those who improvised the recovery effort day by day, and in the process reinvented themselves, discovering unknown strengths and weaknesses. In all of its aspects--emotionalism, impulsiveness, opportunism, territoriality, resourcefulness, and fundamental, cacophonous democracy--Langewiesche reveals the unbuilding to be uniquely American and oddly inspiring, a portrait of resilience and ingenuity in the face of disaster.

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"In the depths of complexity lies the truth of what we build and destroy; every layer tells a story of ambition, failure, and the human spirit."

American Ground

By William Langewiesche