Fordlandia

I got 20 pages in and wasn't feeling it. The writing was avoidably dull. For instance, we are told a water tower is important because it provides a landmark in an otherwise monotonous Amazon forest. That's just not very interesting, and it could easily be interesting.

I want to hear about how the tower looms above you. I want to hear about how the jungle feels. I want to hear who worked on the tower, and how they felt about building it. Did anyone fall off it? Who designed it and did they ever see it in person? did it work? when was it abandoned?

Maybe I'll try reading this again later. But as opposed to, say, The Power Broker, this book lacks storytelling.