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The authors of Tsunami are James Goff and Walter Dudley.

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Tsunami Book Summary - Tsunami Book explained in key points

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Tsunami summary

Name: Tsunami
Rating: 4.5 (31 reviews)
Author: James Goff and Walter Dudley

James Goff Walter Dudley

The World's Greatest Waves

4.5 (31 ratings)

16 mins

Brief summary

Tsunami by James Goff and Walter Dudley is a comprehensive guide to understanding the science, history and impact of tsunamis. It explains what causes them and what measures can be taken to reduce the risk of future devastation.

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Anthropology Natural Sciences

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Tsunami
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What’s in it for me? Discover the incredible details behind some of the most significant tsunamis in history.

“As I looked back, I saw the water surging over the spot where I had been standing a moment before. The refrigerator passed us on the left side, moving upright out into the cane field. On the right came a wall of water sweeping down the road. We were startled to see that there was nothing but kindling wood left of what had been the nearby house to the east . . .”

These are the words of marine geologist Dr. Francis Sheppard, a survivor of the Aleutian tsunami that struck the Hawaiian Islands in 1946. Stories like this one have been told by countless tsunami survivors throughout history, and will continue to be told well into the future.

In their book Tsunami, tsunami experts James Goff and Walter Dudley lead readers on a detailed journey through some of the most incredible natural disasters that have happened around the world. From mind-blowing events thousands of years ago to examples of more recent destruction, Tsunami uses a mix of ancient folk tales, scientific research, and survivor stories to help us understand not only why tsunamis happen, but also how to react when they do.

In this Blink, we’ll cover a few of the most significant historical tsunamis while uncovering the valuable lessons that can be learned from their stories. Together, we’ll discover how we can look to the past to ensure a safer future.

Most tsunamis occur in the ocean and are triggered by large earthquakes.

When discussing tsunamis, the best place to start is actually with another natural disaster – earthquakes. Around 80 percent of tsunamis are triggered by earthquakes in some shape or form. More specifically, they’re caused by fault line ruptures that result in vertical slips large enough to disturb the ocean water above.

There are enough stories about these earth-shaking events to fill thousands of books, so in this section, we’re going to focus on two of the most historically significant.

First, is the 1946 earthquake and tsunami that began in the Aleutian Trench in Alaska. This event was one of a special group of earthquakes called tsunami earthquakes, meaning that the resulting tsunami was much larger than the quake itself.

A prime example of the extreme damage caused by this tsunami is the story of the Scotch Cap lighthouse, which perched 100 feet up a cliff in Alaska, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. At 3:30 a.m. on April 1, 1946, the five US Coast Guardsmen stationed at the lighthouse felt the rumbles of an earthquake. And while the shaking only lasted for a few moments, the real danger lay in what was to come.

Just 48 minutes later, while in communication with the US Naval Air Station at Dutch Harbor, one of the men shouted, “A wave. Oh no!” Shortly afterward, the line went dead.

After the tsunami was over, crews went out to assess the damage. In the dark, they could just make out the ruins of the lighthouse. There was no trace of the five men that had been stationed there.

The giant waves of this tsunami went on to wreak havoc on the Hawaiian Islands, tear through French Polynesia, and make it all the way to the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula! The immense destruction caused by this disaster soon spurred the creation of a Pacific Tsunami Warning System in 1948.

Another particularly devastating tsunami happened on May 22, 1960, when a giant magnitude 9.5 earthquake began off the coast of Southern Chile. To this day, this earthquake remains the largest ever instrumentally recorded.

Following the quake, a tsunami was generated with waves well over 50 feet high that traveled not only to the coasts of Chile and Japan, but also far across the Pacific Region – to Hawaii, New Zealand, California, and the Philippine Islands. In Chile alone, two million people were left homeless and thousands lost their lives.

These tsunamis are historically significant for two reasons. First, they show just how widespread the devastation from these events can be. And, second, they were both extensively studied by scientists, leading to a greater understanding of tsunamis and improvements to warning systems.

Freshwater tsunamis are far more rare but can be just as dangerous.

As we learned in the last section, most tsunamis are triggered by earthquakes and occur in or around the world’s oceans. But did you know that devastating tsunamis can also happen in freshwater, such as lakes, rivers, and even man-made dams?

All it takes to trigger a freshwater tsunami is a large landslide. Believe it or not, this has happened many times. One of the best examples of this occurred around 50,000 years ago in the Northern California region of Lake Tahoe. A three cubic mile landslide, most likely generated by movement of a local fault line, slid into the lake and caused a massive tsunami 330 feet high!

Oral histories and indigenous knowledge can help guide scientific tsunami research.

For people who live in countries with extensive historical documentation, it may come as a surprise to learn that there are many cultures whose histories have been passed down primarily through oral stories and traditions.

Wondering what this has to do with tsunamis? In recent years, scientists have been studying the stories of these ancient cultures and have found that there’s much more to them than just local legend. In fact, these stories have helped guide much of the scientific tsunami research we have available today.

Tsunami warning systems are improving but there’s still work to be done.

When most people think about the word tsunami, there’s usually one specific event that comes to mind – the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia. While this wasn’t the largest tsunami in history, it was by far the most devastating.

In fact, this event is still considered the worst natural disaster of the modern age. Not only was this tsunami incredibly destructive, but it also perfectly highlights the need for effective tsunami warning systems.

Tsunami education and evacuation training can help save lives.

In December 1854, a Japanese villager named Goryo Hamaguchi – also known as Gohei – felt the rumbles of an earthquake. Turning his gaze to the ocean, he watched as the waves drew back into the sea. Knowing that this was the warning of an incoming tsunami, Gohei frantically lit the rice sheaves in front of his house with a large pine torch. As the flames rose high into the air, the other villagers began to gather around it.

From the cliffside where they were gathered, the frightened villagers watched as their homes were quickly overtaken by the sea. Knowing that they’d been saved by Gohei's warning, the villagers knelt before him in gratitude.

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What is Tsunami about?

Tsunami (2021) uses a combination of ancient legends, scientific research, and survivor stories to take readers on an in-depth learning journey about some of the most significant tsunamis that have occurred throughout history. Through detailed descriptions of these incredible natural disasters, it teaches us that the lessons we learn from the past can help us live a safer future.

Tsunami Review

Tsunami (2010) is an insightful exploration of the science behind tsunamis and the devastating impact they have on coastal communities. Here's why this book is worth reading:

It offers a detailed account of how tsunamis form, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of this natural phenomenon.
Through compelling case studies and firsthand testimonials, the book showcases the incredible strength and resilience of those affected by tsunamis.
With its accessible language and engaging narrative, the book effectively communicates complex scientific concepts, ensuring that readers never find it boring.

Who should read Tsunami?

Anyone interested in learning about tsunamis
History buffs
Fans of natural disaster stories

About the Author

James Goff is an honorary professor of tsunami research at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia and former director of the Australia-Pacific Tsunami Research Centre at UNSW. He’s written and coedited over 250 peer-reviewed publications and has appeared in numerous documentaries.

Walter Dudley is a professor emeritus of marine geology and oceanography at the University of Hawaii, Hilo. He’s published six books about tsunamis, written multiple peer-reviewed journals, and has appeared in over 30 documentaries for National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Disney, and many others.

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