The Great River
The Making and Unmaking of the Mississippi
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo first 3 months
Buy Now for $21.92
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Gabriel Vaughan
-
Written by:
-
Boyce Upholt
About this listen
A sweeping history of the Mississippi River—and the centuries of human meddling that have transformed both it and America.
Over thousands of years, the Mississippi watershed was home to millions of Indigenous people who regarded "the great river" with awe and respect, adorning its banks with astonishing spiritual earthworks. But European settlers and American pioneers had a different vision: the river was a foe to conquer. In this landmark work of natural history, Boyce Upholt tells the epic story of human attempts to own and contain the Mississippi River, from Thomas Jefferson's expansionist land hunger through today's era of environmental concern. He reveals how an ambitious and sometimes contentious program of engineering-government-built levees, jetties, dikes, and dams-has not only damaged once-vibrant ecosystems, but may not work much longer, and explores how scientists are scrambling to restore what's been lost.
Rich and powerful, The Great River delivers a startling account of what happens when we try to fight against nature instead of acknowledging and embracing its power.
©2024 Boyce Upholt (P)2024 HighBridge, a division of Recorded BooksYou may also enjoy...
-
Tropic Angel
- Archangel Aviation Thrillers, Book 1
- Written by: Nate Van Coops
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Former Blackhawk pilot Luke Angel wants nothing more than to enjoy the easy life he’s found in coastal Florida. He’s got a seaplane business, a well-trained dog, and a loyal and lovable crew to throw back margaritas with. But when a plane belonging to a friend goes missing from Luke’s airport, local detectives are understandably baffled. Clues are scattered from the Keys to the far side of the Gulf of Mexico, and Luke may be the only one with the connections to piece the puzzle back together.
-
-
Great listen
- By Shannon on 2025-01-18
Written by: Nate Van Coops
-
Is Earth Exceptional?
- The Quest for Cosmic Life
- Written by: Mario Livio PhD, Jack Szostak PhD
- Narrated by: Graham Winton
- Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For a long time, scientists have wondered how life has emerged from inanimate chemistry, and whether Earth is the only place where it exists. Charles Darwin speculated about life on Earth beginning in a warm little pond. Some of his contemporaries believed that life existed on Mars. It once seemed inevitable that the truth would be known by now. It is not. For more than a century, the origins and extent of life have remained shrouded in mystery. But, as Mario Livio and Jack Szostak reveal in Is Earth Exceptional?, the veil is finally lifting.
Written by: Mario Livio PhD, and others
-
Paris in Ruins
- Love, War, and the Birth of Impressionism
- Written by: Sebastian Smee
- Narrated by: Julian Elfer
- Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the summer of 1870 to the spring of 1871, famously dubbed the "Terrible Year" by Victor Hugo, Paris and its people were besieged, starved, and forced into surrender by Germans-then imperiled again as radical republicans established a breakaway Commune, ultimately crushed by the French Army after bloody street battles and the burning of central Paris.
Written by: Sebastian Smee
-
The Asteroid Hunter
- A Scientist's Journey to the Dawn of Our Solar System
- Written by: Dante Lauretta
- Narrated by: Dante Lauretta, Sir Brian May
- Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On September 11, 1999, humanity made a monumental discovery in the vastness of space. Scientists uncovered an asteroid of immense scientific importance—a colossal celestial entity. As massive as an aircraft carrier and towering as high as the iconic Empire State Building, this cosmic titan was later named Bennu. Remarkable for much more than its size, Bennu belonged to a rare breed of asteroids capable of revealing the essence of life itself. But just as Bennu became a beacon of promise, researchers identified a grave danger.
Written by: Dante Lauretta
-
Glory Days
- Stories
- Written by: Simon Rich
- Narrated by: John Mulaney
- Length: 4 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the Thurber Prize-winning author of New Teeth, hailed as “a triumph of sustained humor” (Sarah Lyall, New York Times Book Review), comes a hilarious and powerful collection of short stories chronicling the plight of aging millennials.
-
-
Brilliant narration from John Mulvaney
- By leslie on 2024-09-06
Written by: Simon Rich
-
Under the Paper Moon
- Written by: Shaina Steinberg
- Narrated by: Carrie Coello
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It's 1942, and as far as her father knows, Evelyn Bishop, heiress to an aeronautics fortune, is working as a translator in London. In truth, Evelyn—daring, beautiful, and as adept with a rifle as she is in five languages—has joined the Office of Strategic Services as a spy. Her goal is personal: to find her brother, who is being held as a POW in a Nazi labor camp. Through one high-risk mission after another, she is paired with the reckless and rebellious Nick Gallagher, growing ever close to him until the war's end brings with it an act of deep betrayal.
-
-
anachronistic almost to the point of ridulous
- By Tiffany on 2024-11-15
Written by: Shaina Steinberg
-
Tropic Angel
- Archangel Aviation Thrillers, Book 1
- Written by: Nate Van Coops
- Narrated by: Scott Brick
- Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Former Blackhawk pilot Luke Angel wants nothing more than to enjoy the easy life he’s found in coastal Florida. He’s got a seaplane business, a well-trained dog, and a loyal and lovable crew to throw back margaritas with. But when a plane belonging to a friend goes missing from Luke’s airport, local detectives are understandably baffled. Clues are scattered from the Keys to the far side of the Gulf of Mexico, and Luke may be the only one with the connections to piece the puzzle back together.
-
-
Great listen
- By Shannon on 2025-01-18
Written by: Nate Van Coops
-
Is Earth Exceptional?
- The Quest for Cosmic Life
- Written by: Mario Livio PhD, Jack Szostak PhD
- Narrated by: Graham Winton
- Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For a long time, scientists have wondered how life has emerged from inanimate chemistry, and whether Earth is the only place where it exists. Charles Darwin speculated about life on Earth beginning in a warm little pond. Some of his contemporaries believed that life existed on Mars. It once seemed inevitable that the truth would be known by now. It is not. For more than a century, the origins and extent of life have remained shrouded in mystery. But, as Mario Livio and Jack Szostak reveal in Is Earth Exceptional?, the veil is finally lifting.
Written by: Mario Livio PhD, and others
-
Paris in Ruins
- Love, War, and the Birth of Impressionism
- Written by: Sebastian Smee
- Narrated by: Julian Elfer
- Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the summer of 1870 to the spring of 1871, famously dubbed the "Terrible Year" by Victor Hugo, Paris and its people were besieged, starved, and forced into surrender by Germans-then imperiled again as radical republicans established a breakaway Commune, ultimately crushed by the French Army after bloody street battles and the burning of central Paris.
Written by: Sebastian Smee
-
The Asteroid Hunter
- A Scientist's Journey to the Dawn of Our Solar System
- Written by: Dante Lauretta
- Narrated by: Dante Lauretta, Sir Brian May
- Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On September 11, 1999, humanity made a monumental discovery in the vastness of space. Scientists uncovered an asteroid of immense scientific importance—a colossal celestial entity. As massive as an aircraft carrier and towering as high as the iconic Empire State Building, this cosmic titan was later named Bennu. Remarkable for much more than its size, Bennu belonged to a rare breed of asteroids capable of revealing the essence of life itself. But just as Bennu became a beacon of promise, researchers identified a grave danger.
Written by: Dante Lauretta
-
Glory Days
- Stories
- Written by: Simon Rich
- Narrated by: John Mulaney
- Length: 4 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the Thurber Prize-winning author of New Teeth, hailed as “a triumph of sustained humor” (Sarah Lyall, New York Times Book Review), comes a hilarious and powerful collection of short stories chronicling the plight of aging millennials.
-
-
Brilliant narration from John Mulvaney
- By leslie on 2024-09-06
Written by: Simon Rich
-
Under the Paper Moon
- Written by: Shaina Steinberg
- Narrated by: Carrie Coello
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It's 1942, and as far as her father knows, Evelyn Bishop, heiress to an aeronautics fortune, is working as a translator in London. In truth, Evelyn—daring, beautiful, and as adept with a rifle as she is in five languages—has joined the Office of Strategic Services as a spy. Her goal is personal: to find her brother, who is being held as a POW in a Nazi labor camp. Through one high-risk mission after another, she is paired with the reckless and rebellious Nick Gallagher, growing ever close to him until the war's end brings with it an act of deep betrayal.
-
-
anachronistic almost to the point of ridulous
- By Tiffany on 2024-11-15
Written by: Shaina Steinberg
-
The World in a Wineglass
- The Insider's Guide to Artisanal, Sustainable, Extraordinary Wines to Drink Now
- Written by: Ray Isle
- Narrated by: Kevin R. Free, Ray Isle
- Length: 24 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Food & Wine editor Ray Isle does for wine what Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma did for food—showing listeners how to choose more delicious, interesting, and environmentally friendly wines without breaking the bank.
Written by: Ray Isle
-
Cold Kitchen
- A Year of Culinary Journeys
- Written by: Caroline Eden
- Narrated by: Caroline Eden
- Length: 8 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A welcoming refuge with its tempting pantry, shelves of books and inquisitive dog, Caroline Eden finds comfort away from the road in her basement Edinburgh kitchen. Join her as she cooks recipes from her travels, reflects on past adventures and contemplates the kitchen’s unique ability to tell human stories. This is a hauntingly honest, and at times heartbreaking, memoir with the smell, taste and preparation of food at its heart.
Written by: Caroline Eden
-
Women in White Coats
- How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine
- Written by: Olivia Campbell
- Narrated by: Jean Ann Douglass
- Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the early 1900s, women were dying in large numbers from treatable diseases because they avoided receiving medical care. Examinations performed by male doctors were often demeaning and even painful. In addition, women faced stigma from illness—a diagnosis could greatly limit their ability to find husbands, jobs or be received in polite society. Motivated by personal loss and frustration over inadequate medical care, Elizabeth Blackwell, Lizzie Garret Anderson and Sophie Jex-Blake fought for a woman's place in the male-dominated medical field.
-
-
very informative
- By ssm reader on 2022-03-02
Written by: Olivia Campbell
-
The Bullet Swallower
- A Novel
- Written by: Elizabeth Gonzalez James
- Narrated by: Lee Osorio
- Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1895, Antonio Sonoro is the latest in a long line of ruthless men. He’s good with his gun and drawn to trouble but he’s also out of money and out of options. A drought has ravaged the town of Dorado, Mexico, where he lives with his wife and children, and so when he hears about a train laden with gold and other treasures, he sets off for Houston to rob it—with his younger brother Hugo in tow. But when the heist goes awry and Hugo is killed by the Texas Rangers, Antonio finds himself launched into a quest for revenge that endangers not only his life and his family, but his eternal soul.
-
-
This is my favourite book I’ve read it like 5 times now!
- By Q on 2024-09-21
Written by: Elizabeth Gonzalez James
-
The Man With Two Names: A Novel of Ancient Rome
- The Sertorius Scrolls, Book 1
- Written by: Vincent B. Davis II
- Narrated by: Joshua Saxon
- Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rome, 107 BC. Quintus Sertorius just lost his father, and he may lose his home. When his rural village is stripped of its political status, he must leave his family to secure their food and protection from inside Rome's cutthroat government. As he transitions from countryman to politician, he's thrust into the middle of a bitter political war…. As Quintus struggles to gain the aid his village so desperately needs, he approaches Gaius Marius, the uncle of Julius Caesar himself.
Written by: Vincent B. Davis II
-
Farewell Yellow Brick Road
- Memories of My Life on Tour
- Written by: Elton John, David Furnish - foreword
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage, Vikas Adam, Daniel Henning, and others
- Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Farewell Yellow Brick Road is a celebration of Elton John's record-breaking, globe-spanning farewell tour—from Allentown to Auckland, from Sydney to San Francisco. Featured concerts include Elton’s dazzling performances at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium in November 2022, the finale of which streamed live on Disney+. Fans will be treated to a behind-the-scenes glimpse into every aspect of these spectacular shows, including Elton’s legendary touring wardrobe by Gucci, the set design, official photography, and more.
-
-
Crocodile rock!
- By Roberta W on 2025-01-13
Written by: Elton John, and others
-
It Was You All Along
- Written by: Russ
- Narrated by: Russ
- Length: 1 hr and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Independent rapper, songwriter, singer, and producer Russ sells out concerts across America and around the globe, collaborating with top artists, such as Snoop Dogg, Joey Bada$$, Ed Sheeran, Rick Ross, Lil Baby, Jadakiss, Bia, and Mozzy to name a few. At twenty-seven, he became a bestselling author with the publication of his debut book, IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD. Now, at thirty-one, Russ returns with a second book even more profound and intimate than his first.
-
-
Wonderful nuggets to live by
- By Sheila on 2024-11-12
Written by: Russ
-
The Black Bird of Chernobyl
- Written by: Ann McMan
- Narrated by: Christine Williams
- Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everything about Lilah Stohler is dark: her clothes, her mood, and her outlook on life and death. That last part is important because Lilah’s father has just retired and left her in charge of Stohler’s Funeral Home. But Abel Stohler knows his daughter’s comfort level rests “downstairs”, so he hires one Sparkle Lee Sink to help Lilah manage the living part of the business of death. Sparkle is everything that Lilah isn’t—an empathetic marketing whiz who is a true people person.
-
-
Moves very slow
- By Amazon Customer on 2024-12-05
Written by: Ann McMan
-
Devil's Desk
- Written by: Mark Tufo
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Katmai National Park: 7,000 square miles of rugged, isolated wilderness in southern Alaska. Vast stretches of frozen tundra, deep ancient forests, and impassable ravines ruled by the massive volcanic God, Devil's Desk. Despite the vigorous protests of Michael, the Talbots and the Tynes head to the park for a much-needed vacation away from it all.
-
-
wow!
- By Freddie on 2022-06-23
Written by: Mark Tufo
-
Cloaked Deception
- Written by: Timothy Zahn
- Narrated by: Peter Berkrot
- Length: 21 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A tactical nuclear weapon is stolen from an Indian research facility, setting off a chain of events that spans the globe. Those behind the heist plan to use it to take out thousands of innocent people—all to assure death of a single man who they believe is too dangerous to be left alive. What are the lives of thousands compared to the safety of the world?
Written by: Timothy Zahn
-
The Secret Language of the Body
- Regulate Your Nervous System, Heal Your Body, Free Your Mind
- Written by: Jennifer Mann, Karden Rabin
- Narrated by: Jennifer Mann, Karden Rabin
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Your autonomic nervous system is responsible for the constant but mostly subconscious communication between your brain and body. When you experience stress, anxiety, or trauma, your nervous system formulates responses to keep you alive. But you can also become trapped in survival mode if you’re consistently exposed to unsafe environments, toxic relationships, or destructive thought patterns. Mind-body practitioners Jen Mann and Karden Rabin now provide the first in-depth look at nervous system regulation, somatic therapy, Polyvagal theory, the vagus nerve, and the mind-body connection.
Written by: Jennifer Mann, and others
-
Everyone Knows but You
- A Tale of Murder on the Maine Coast
- Written by: Thomas E. Ricks
- Narrated by: Graham Rowat
- Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After his wife and two children are killed in a car crash, Ryan Tapia starts a new life in Maine. But his first case there is a puzzling oddball—the corpse of a fisherman washes up on federal land, while the man's boat drifts into waters that are part of an Indian reservation.
-
-
Maine is the main character
- By Average Person on 2024-12-05
Written by: Thomas E. Ricks