There's nothing like a good disaster--natural or man-made. This collection covers about 100 years of calamities from the 1883 eruption of Krakatau to the 1997 Ohio Valley floods in generous selections from contemporary Associated Press coverage. When available, photographs complement the text.

Each volume covers a type of event or phenomenon, from earthquakes and tsunamis in volume 1 to nuclear and industrial disasters in volume 8. Accessible overviews include, in the appropriate volumes, charts of the Saffir-Simpson Scale (hurricanes), the Fujita Scale (tornadoes), and the Richter Scale (earthquakes). Each volume also has a chart of notable events in that category before the coverage period.

Events are arranged chronologically. The language of the news reports is that of the reported period, so some spelling and usage conventions will be slightly different from current usage, and ethnic, racial, and political references will be those of their time. Headline and date of publication in a news source precede the text of each report. The reports are often accompanied by supporting text, in a different typeface, which places the events in context and explains inaccuracies. At the end of each report is a note indicating the outcome of the event.

While the books are not inclusive, certainly the "greatest hits" in world natural and man-made disasters not concealed by military secrecy (e.g., the sinking of the Normandie just before its conversion to a troop ship) are covered--the San Francisco earthquake and fire, the Texas City explosions, Mount St. Helens, and the Hindenburg are all there. The Johnstown floods, Hurricane Andrew, and a heat wave that killed 100 in Chicago in 1995 are among the many other natural disasters included. The Bhopal chemical disaster, Chernobyl, the Watts riot, and the World Trade Center bombing are among the man-made kind.

Each volume indexes the entire set and has a glossary of useful terms. Volumes are well designed, with varying typefaces and good use of white space. Books are library-bound and should lie flat for copying. Illustrations are small photographs that probably will not copy well.

This set will be accessible to students from middle school and above, and adults will enjoy browsing it. Recommended for middle and high schools and public libraries.

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Equipment for Living is a socially conscious bookstore located in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. More than just a retail business, we define ourselves as "a business with a conscience" - committed to fostering community development, meaningful employment, and urban revitalization in Western Pennsylvania. OUR MISSION: Equipment for Living operates on the belief that responsible entrepreneurship can be a powerful force for positive change. We provide valuable retail services while creating meaningful work opportunities that serve as sites of training and mentoring. Our Youth Employment Initiative specifically targets local residents aged 16-25, offering employment, skill development, and guidance during the critical transition from youth to adulthood. We measure success not just in profits, but in empowering our employees to pursue their career aspirations and life goals - even when that means moving on to other opportunities. OUR STORY: Founded in 2008 and opening our physical storefront in 2012 after extensive community-led renovations, Equipment for Living has grown from an online book venture into a cornerstone of Aliquippa's revitalization efforts. We've deliberately chosen to establish our business in this former steel town, recognizing that true community poverty isn't just about lacking economic resources - it's about lacking opportunities, connections, education, and hope. OUR INVENTORY: Equipment for Living offers a refreshingly different retail experience from typical chain bookstores. While big-box stores stock only high-demand, profitable bestsellers in predictable arrangements, we curate a wide and constantly evolving selection that reflects the unique character of our community. Our diverse inventory includes books across all genres and eras, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, vinyl records, and video games. We embrace the philosophy that "if you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking." While we may not always have the latest bestseller in stock, we guarantee a carefully selected range of high-quality products you won't easily find elsewhere - true equipment for living a rich, thoughtful life.…

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The Associated Press Library of Disasters

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