The must-read book on Katrina

Clearly the most thoughtful and best-researched of the first round of Katrina books. Jed Horne's careful reporting and insightful analysis contributes to our understanding of the natural and human-made disasters of August 29, 2005 in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Horne skillfully links the human stories of Katrina to the ecological and political contexts that brought such devastation.

Follow the money

This is a very well written, and extremely eye-opening, account of the effects of Hurricane Katrina on the citizens of New Orleans. Perhaps more to the point, it is the story (actually many stories) about the failure of government -- OUR government, unbelievably an AMERICAN government -- to adequately care for its people before, during and after a natural disaster. And, as is often the case, this failure is directly related to money -- who has it, who doesn't, and who gets to decide how public money is spent.

a straightforward book that puts the reader there.

I feel this book gives a unique perspective from someone who has the skills to relay the story in a readable fashion. As a person who is living in Baton Rouge, I can tell you what he says is more straightforward than most of the stories and articles I've read and heard to date.