An epic historical account of the building of the Panama Canal. One of man's largest turn-of-the-century engineering and medical feats. The story spans 30 years including both the French failure and Roosevelt’s victory. Critical to US Naval Superiority. Pivotal in the war on Yellow Fever and Miliaria. A great, great story told by a master. Anything and everything written by David McCullough is exceptional. There are few scenes within this multi-tiered masterpiece that are still haunting. For example, the head engineer looses his dear daughter and wife to Miliaria and in a moment of deep grief take his prize white stallions up into the hills and slaughters them. Spooky!

Side Note: I once bought a book online by mistake written by another "David McCullough." The topic was the Brooklyn Park System. The topic did not seem like such a stretch, the real David McCullough wrote the incredible, "The Great Bridge" about the infamous Brooklyn Bridge. Even his name sake can write. I took solace in thinking, hey I'd rather over-reach then miss one of his books... any of his books!