I am unsure if it is me, if the book is outdated or what but I am at chapter 5 and I have spent most of the book wondering why we are talking about whatever he is writing about. Then for no apparent reason Egan drops the "R" word and I am over it. It is supposed to be about the dust bowl but I am 1/4 in and he has spent more time talking about people coming to America on boats from Germany and Russia then was ever needed.