This was such a compelling and deeply informative nonfiction account of one of the most devastating environmental disasters in American history, the Dust Bowl. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about it beforehand, it’s not a piece of history I sought out and I genuinely learned SO much. This was great because rather than taking the broader, well-worn route of focusing on famous figures or the general migration westward, Egan zooms in on the people who stayed behind, those who endured the suffocating dust, crop failures, and relentless hardship. Egan’s storytelling is vivid and empathetic. He introduces readers to real families, ranchers, and farmers who built their lives on the promise of the Great Plains, only to face nature’s fury and the consequences of unchecked agricultural expansion. The book doesn’t just recount events; it humanizes them, making you feel the grit in your teeth and the desperation in the air. One of the book’s greatest strengths is how it weaves personal stories with broader historical, political, and environmental context. It’s not just about weather and suffering, it’s about policy, ambition, and resilience. Egan’s prose is accessible but powerful, making complex subjects feel personal and urgent. If you're interested in history, environmental issues, or human resilience, The Worst Hard Time is a must-read. It’s heartbreaking, enlightening, and a stark reminder of how closely tied human choices are to the land we live on.

Wow! What an expansive, terrifying, heartbreaking slice of history. Humans have been impacting climate change in the US for over a century and we haven’t gotten any more self aware yet. I love it when an author can make history feel so real that you are immersed in the story and this book didn’t disappoint. Highly recommend! #MountTBR