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Summary: Well worth a look
Review: This book is about a natural disaster, but is really a revealing look at political power and race relations early in the century, as well as a fascinating primer on the Mississippi River's science and infrastructure. Most interesting is the story of how the New Orleans "good old boy" network wielded its political muscle to protect the city by dynamiting a levee downriver, then broke its promise to compensate the victims.
Rating: 
Summary: An exceptionally entertaining piece of American history.
Review: History, disasters, Southern culture, politics, engineering, family, New Orleans, and a sprinkling of psychology all rolled into one entertaining book. A sort of non-fiction novel.
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Summary: Intense and emotional research
Review: Aesthetically, i could not get a passionate feel of the era. What was interesting about this book,was the analytical comparsions of the leaders of that day. The intellectual comparisions of presidents,politicans and Afro-Americans leaders.
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Summary: Greenville Mississippi
Review: Contrary to the review that found Barry's view distorted by the Percy legacy, one need only have lived in Greenville for a brief time in the middle of this century (as I did) to discover that Barry "hits the nail on the head". The "tapestry" was woven very deliberately by the Percys, and much survives to this day as evidence of the power these people held in Mississippi. Barry's work brings closure to many unresolved discrepancies between Greenville and the rest of the Delta.
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Summary: Extraordinary, provocative, compelling, and brilliant.
Review: I first became aware of this book when the Louisville Courier-Journal called it "one of the best books of the decade." It is at least that good, a combination of David McCullough and Robert Caro at their best. It's about much more than the Mississippi River; it offers provocative insights that have nothing to do with the river and that fascinate, into such things as the development of an "expert" class in America. And it doesn't lecture. It works all this into a truly compelling narrative, about the greatest natural disaster in our history-- filled with characters that Ayn Rand would envy. One of these characters at one point says, "It's much easier to believe than to think. It's astounding how much more believing is done than thinking." This book makes you think, and not just about American history, in a new way. An incredible book.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the more unique histories I've seen
Review: Barry shifts gears well, going from the civil engineering that went into containing the river to the ruling class of aristocrats that gained from the richness of the land the river left behind. It's interesting to see what the flood did: sent black voters to the Democratic Party, unseated the rich ruling class of the South and helped elect Huey Long. Whatever your interest in the Mississippi or civil engineering, chances are very good you'll enjoy 'Rising Tide.'
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Summary: Loved it!
Review: I never knew the history of the Mississippi river could be so fascinating! US history buffs, civil engineers, and just about anyone else will love this gripping account of man's quest to tame a great force of nature. -Nick
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Summary: Great River Story
Review: Rising Tide places the Mississippi where it rightfully belongs: front stage center. The river is no mere backdrop, but it is the main piece of this imaginative work of nonfiction. In this respect, Rising Tide calls to mind the work of such writers as Peter Mathiessen, who repeatedly cast the landscape or waterscape as their central character. I would have preferred another round of editing, though, as Barry repeated himself several times. Also, he portrayed some of the characters as too good or too bad, failing to capture the blends that make such characters come alive. Perhaps even nonfiction writers could benefit from considering the complex, vivid characters from two other works driven by the Mississippi River: Huck Finn and Melville's perplexing The Confidence Man. The key point, though, is that Barry shares with Twain and Melville the ability to narrate a great story. I couldn't wait to get to the resolution of the dispute between the engineers or to find out how the Percy family would fare in the Delta. I finished reading Rising Tide about three weeks ago and I find many of the details have remained vivid despite having read several other books since. The persistence of Barry's story is an endorsement of his talents in storytelling and organization.
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Summary: A Primer for River and Floodplain Ecologists of the South
Review: As a graduate student working on river restoration issues in the Lower Mississippi Valley, I was impressed by the thorough research and excellent narrative style. This book teaches more about ecology and man's place in the ecosystem than any college course could. It is particularly valuable for younger students who may not be familiar with the 1927 flood and subsequent flood control projects of the Army Corps that dramatically altered many rivers in the Mississippi Valley region. The relationship to the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act become apparent as one reads this treatise. Presently, our government is spending millions of dollars on research and restoration efforts to undo the ecological damage caused by greed, bureaucratic incompetence, and plantation mentality. The isolation of today's rivers from their floodplain by levees is one of the ecological challenges facing future generations of Americans. This book is a primer for any student of river/floodplain ecology.
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Summary: More than just a history of the flood
Review: As a student of American History I was very interested in reading RISING TIDE after reading the review. I found it to be very readible and more than just a history of the flood. It was a history of American during the 20's with good back ground information. The depiction of the treatment of African Americans was well done and important for people to understand. A must read for students of American History
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