Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens

by Steve Olson

What would you do if the ground beneath you started rumbling and a mountain nearby was about to erupt?

This book is fascinating! Eruption dives into the science, history, and human stories behind the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, and it completely blew me away (pun intended!). Steve Olson does an incredible job weaving together the geology of the volcano with the lives of the people who lived near it. You get this amazing sense of how unpredictable and powerful nature can be while also learning about the societal and political decisions that shaped the disaster’s outcome.

It’s part mystery, part survival story, and part science lesson—perfect for anyone curious about how the Earth works or who just loves a gripping true story. I learned so much about volcanoes, plate tectonics, and the aftermath of such a massive event. It’s one of those books that stays with you long after you finish it. Highly recommend it for anyone who loves Earth science, history, or just a really well-told story!

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