Let My People Go Surfing: The Education Of A Reluctant Businessman

by Yvon Chouinard
Let My People Go Surfing: The Education Of A Reluctant Businessman cover
Good Books rating 3.62
Technical
  • ID: 4489
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
linkedin.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
engaging 4.50

The book combines two historical narratives: the planning of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the crimes of a serial killer, H.H. Holmes. The author, Erik Larson, skillfully blends history and entertainment, creating a dynamic and engaging read that is both informative and thrilling.

Erik Larson's 'The Devil in the White City' is a fascinating blend of history and true crime. The book juxtaposes the grand planning and execution of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with the chilling story of H.H. Holmes, a serial killer who operated during the same period. Larson's writing style is engaging and vivid, bringing the past to life with rich details and a narrative that feels almost like a novel. The book's strength lies in its ability to make history both entertaining and haunting, offering a unique perspective on a pivotal moment in American history. The reviewer appreciates the author's ability to weave together two seemingly unrelated stories into a cohesive and compelling narrative. The book is praised for its dynamic and enveloping style, making it a captivating read for those interested in history and true crime.

Quick quotes

    Mr. Larson likes to embroider the past that way. So he relentlessly fuses history and entertainment to give this nonfiction book the dramatic effect of a novel, complete with abundant cross-cutting and foreshadowing.

    As the book illustrates, this historical moment was ideal for the man calling himself H. H. Holmes, in honor of Sherlock.

    The book's other path follows a prototypical American serial killer whose fictional counterparts are by now ubiquitous.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
excellent 5.00

The reviewer found 'The Devil in the White City' by Erik Larson to be an excellent historical nonfiction book that also fits into the true crime genre. They praised Larson's writing and his ability to tie together three compelling stories about Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, serial killer H. H. Holmes, and Patrick Prendergast. The reviewer enjoyed learning about Chicago during this time and the backstories of the main players in this project.

The reviewer found 'The Devil in the White City' by Erik Larson to be an excellent historical nonfiction book that also fits into the true crime genre. They praised Larson's writing and his ability to tie together three compelling stories about Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, serial killer H. H. Holmes, and Patrick Prendergast. The reviewer enjoyed learning about Chicago during this time and the backstories of the main players in this project. They also appreciated the pace and the challenges the team faced in preparing for the fair, as well as the historical context and the impact of the fair on Chicago's development. The reviewer found the book to be fascinating and well-researched, and they would recommend it to others interested in historical nonfiction or true crime.

Quick quotes

    I’ve read some excellent historical nonfiction books over the years and The Devil in the White City, which also fits into the true crime genre, is another great one.

    I really enjoyed Larson’s writing and how he tied these three stories together into a compelling narration.

    I also liked learning about Chicago during this time and its desire to be considered a great city.

terrainfirma.co.uk · Unknown · 2024-03-25
boring 1.00

The reviewer found 'The Devil in the White City' boring and irritating, criticizing its lack of connection between the two main storylines and excessive descriptive padding. They did not enjoy the book due to their general disinterest in American history.

The reviewer initially approached 'The Devil in the White City' with low expectations, fearing they would be disappointed by the hype surrounding the book. They found the two main storylines about Daniel Burnham and Dr. H. H. Holmes to be almost wholly unconnected, making the book feel disjointed. The excessive descriptive padding irritated them, as did the author's habit of dropping historical facts in a dramatic manner. Overall, they found the book boring and irritating, largely due to their general disinterest in American history, with a few exceptions like the Black Panthers and the Scopes trial.

Quick quotes

    I thought I wasn’t going to like this because American history mostly bores me (sorry, America!)

    The two halves of the story are almost wholly unconnected! was the critical point I was trying to make.

    I don’t think I did fall victim to the hype thing, however. I never expected to like this book much.

inequality.org · Unknown · 2016-10-07
engrossing 4.00

The book is a meticulously researched nonfiction that captures the magic of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the darkness of serial killer H.H. Holmes. The reviewer found the descriptions of the fair and Holmes' crimes engrossing, though sometimes disturbing.

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson is a meticulously researched nonfiction book that captures the magic of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the darkness that lurked in the shadows of it. The book unfolds with intercutting chapters about the World's Fair and the activities of H.H. Holmes, a prolific serial killer who used the fair to attract victims to his Chicago boarding house. The reviewer found the descriptions of the fair and Holmes' crimes engrossing, though sometimes disturbing. The book highlights the impressive architectural structures and the chaotic environment of Chicago at the time, making it a fascinating read. The reviewer appreciated Larson's research and the novelistic style, though the early chapters felt more like a textbook.

Quick quotes

    The book unfolds primarily with intercutting chapters about what’s happening with the World’s Fair versus what’s happening with Holmes as he constructs his own building full of peculiar corridors, soundproof rooms, and traps… and then carries out his own dark plans.

    I’ll admit that I bought the book mainly because of the serial killer angle.

    I found myself feeling upset and angry and sad at times while reading it. I set it aside more than once.

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