Construction History

For fans of Open Book and Sell It Like Serhant, a heartfelt, humorous personal memoir and relatable guide to overcoming obstacles, wising up about romance, and getting ahead in your career from the star of Netflix’s hit reality show Selling Sunset. In this engaging, witty, and inspirational...

Sadie Simoneaux is finally living her dream of opening a bookstore in her hometown. Equal parts childhood fantasy and a much-needed exit from the hustle culture of tech startups, Sadie has the passion, the plan, and the perfect historic building. All she needs is someone to renovate it. Peyton...

Most people have heard of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but while not as many have heard of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, those who have are aware that the Panama Canal is considered one of them. In a world where few natural rivers carved out over eons of time have reached a length of more than 50 miles, the idea that a group of men could carve a canal of that length seemed impossible. In fact, many thought it could not be done.

Mining Towns in the Wild West: The History of the Construction and Abandonment of the Frontier’s Most Famous Sites profiles some of the most important events and camps that popped up in response to mineral discoveries. The audiobook also describes their history and how they were often left behind nearly as quickly as they peaked.

A Scientific American Favorite Book of 2025 The riveting story of the McKissack family—the founders of the leading Black design and construction firm in the United States, from its beginnings in the mid-1800s to its thriving status today—in a moving celebration of resilience and innovation...

The Romans were master builders, and much of what they built has stood the test of time. Throughout their vast empire they have left grand structures, from the Forum and Pantheon in Rome to the theatres and hippodromes of North Africa and the triumphal gates in Anatolia and France. Wherever they went, the Romans built imposing structures to show their power and ability, and one of their most impressive constructions was built on the northernmost fringe of the empire.

The never-before-told inside story of the rebuilding of the World Trade Center — an epic tale of business, politics, and engineering by the man who spent two decades working to make it happen After the terrorist attacks of 9/11 destroyed the World Trade Center, New Yorkers and Americans faced...

From the boundary surveys of the 1850s to the ever-expanding fences and highway networks of the 21st century, Border Land, Border Water examines the history of the construction projects that have shaped the region where the United States and Mexico meet. Tracing the accretion of ports of entry, boundary markers, transportation networks, fences and barriers, surveillance infrastructure, and dams and other river engineering projects, C. J. Alvarez advances a broad chronological narrative that captures the full life cycle of border building

Shasta Dam is the second largest dam in America, and this book covers the construction during the years 1938-1945. Listeners will learn about the engineering challenges that needed to be overcome and of the personal stories of some of the thousands of men and women who built the dam.

The name "World Trade Center", when spoken by an American, tends to conjure up the best and worst about the nation. The idea for such a financial center was conceived of in the heady days of post-World War II prosperity, when the nation's financial prospects had never looked better and Americans were trading all over the world with both former allies and enemies.

'I loved this book. What a joy to read a craftsman so clearly in love with his craft' SIMON JENKINS 'A wonderful read' DOUGALD O'REILLY 'Literary prize juries need look no further for a worthy winner' MAX HASTINGS 'In a world of AI, steel and concrete, books like this have never felt more...

'I had never seen a cement plant in my life. I had no idea about limestone deposits or the cement industry in Gujarat. And I had never negotiated an industrial agreement. Yet, in the next few weeks, I would need to be ready for a substantive meeting with Gujarat government officials.' The year...

During the 1930s, at the height of the Great Depression, thousands of workers began work on the Hoover Dam, built in the Black Canyon, which had been cut by the powerful Colorado River. The Colorado River was responsible for the Grand Canyon, and by the 20th century, the idea of damming the river and creating an artificial lake was being explored for all of its potential, including hydroelectric power and irrigation.

The European continent was devastated in the wake of World War II, and the conflict left the Soviet Union and the United States as uncontested superpowers. This ushered in over 45 years of the Cold War, and a political alignment of Western democracies against the Communist Soviet bloc that produced conflicts pitting allies on each sides fighting, even as the American and Soviet militaries never engaged each other.

How do we draw the lines between "good" and "bad" neighborhoods? How do we know “ghettos”? This book questions the widely held assumption that divisions between urban areas are reflections of varying amounts of crime, deprivation, and other social, cultural, and economic problems. Using Ogden, Utah, as a case study, Pepper Glass argues that urban reputations are “moral frontiers” that uphold and create divides between who is a good and respectable - or a bad and vilified - member of a community.

Explore the historical roots of systemic racism and gain actionable tools to dismantle social inequality today. Perfect for your daily commute or a reflective listening session, this deeply grounded sociological exploration separates biological myths from the harsh realities of colonialism. You...

Discover the fascinating European history behind an architectural engineering flaw that defied gravity for centuries. Perfect for your daily commute, this awe-inspiring narrative transports you to medieval Italy's bustling seaports and cutthroat rivalries. Satisfy your historical curiosity as...

Step into a dramatic era of American history and monumental engineering where workers battled the wild Colorado River. Perfect for an immersive commute, this awe-inspiring narrative transports listeners to the brutal depths of Black Canyon during the Great Depression. You will witness the...

Discover the dramatic architectural history of an immigrant-built skyscraper that conquered the Great Depression. Follow the dizzying race skyward above Fifth Avenue, where ambitious tycoons and fearless steelworkers transformed a bold vision into reality. Whether you need a captivating story...

Uncover how the social construct of race built systemic inequality in this eye-opening historical deep dive. Perfect for an educational commute, this empathetic narrative maps the long road from early cultural prejudice to modern structural discrimination. Moving calmly through centuries of...