BookFronter
Path Between the Seas by David McCullough

Path Between the Seas

The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914

David McCullough

Simon & Schuster · Print & ebook · October 15, 1978

The National Book Award–winning epic chronicle of the creation of the Panama Canal, a first-rate drama of the bold and brilliant engineering feat that transformed global trade routes and shaped modern American history, as told by Pulitzer Prize–winning author and master historian David McCullough.

20th-Century AmericaEngineeringCentral American Historyhistory
More
award
Buy on Amazon

We earn from qualifying purchases.

Who it’s for
A layered history of engineering, ambition, and the stubborn realities in between.
Themes
engineering, American history, political intrigue
Pacing
Steady

Nearest books

Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.

  1. The Great BridgeDavid McCullough60% match
  2. Twilight of the GodsIan Toll, P.J. Ochlan48% match
  3. In the Hurricane's EyeNathaniel Philbrick51% match
  4. The Wright BrothersDavid McCullough47% match
  5. The PioneersDavid McCullough53% match
  6. The Fleet at Flood TidePete Larkin, James D. Hornfischer49% match
  7. Sea of GloryNathaniel Philbrick60% match
  8. Dead WakeErik Larson50% match

For younger readers: Silver People, Many Voices, History Comics: the Transcontinental Railroad

Start with three books, and this one can be the first.

Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.

Start with this book

About this book

The National Book Award–winning epic chronicle of the creation of the Panama Canal, a first-rate drama of the bold and brilliant engineering feat that transformed global trade routes and shaped modern American history, as told by Pulitzer Prize–winning author and master historian David McCullough.

Continue reading

A national bestseller and testament to human determination, The Path Between the Seas tells the stories of the men and women who fought against all odds to fulfill the 400-year-old dream of constructing a maritime passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. McCullough masterfully recounts astonishing engineering and medical accomplishments, political power plays, heroic successes, and tragic failures. Applying his remarkable gift for writing lucid, lively exposition, McCullough weaves the many strands of the momentous event into a comprehensive and captivating tale. Winner of the National Book Award for history, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award, and the Cornelius Ryan Award (for the best book of the year on international affairs), The Path Between the Seas is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, technological innovation, international intrigue, and human drama.

Big Ambitions

A layered history of engineering, ambition, and the stubborn realities in between.

Come here for

  • engineering on a continental scale
  • imperial ambition with mud on its boots

Expect

  • cultural literacy payoffs
  • a sustained, detail-rich read

Where it sits

20th-Century America45%
Engineering31%
Central American History24%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Central American History
  • 20th-Century History
  • Engineering
Authors
David McCullough
Publisher
Simon & Schuster
Published
October 15, 1978
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
engineering · American history · political intrigue
Reading lane
Central American History