"Why New Orleans Matters"

If you have the time to read only one book about New Orleans, I would like to recommend the one by Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, (ReganBooks, 2005). It’s a short, personal account of the author’s reasons for returning to his beloved city soon after Katrina and why he feels it’s so important for the whole country to support the city’s rebuilding. Even if you’ve never been to New Orleans, Piazza will help you understand the place, and maybe even convince you to come for a visit.

The future safety of New Orleans and all of southern Louisiana is linked with the survival of surrounding wetlands. Bev and I just finished a book titled Bayou Farewell with a subtitle: "The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana’s Cajun Coast," (Vintage Books, 2003). The author–Mike Tidwell–has traveled extensively in Cajun country documenting the impact of the disappearing wetlands–disappearing at the rate of 25 square miles a year–on the lives of the people who live and work there. In addition, the author reminds his readers of the critical importance of wetlands in suppressing hurricane generated storm surges, a phenomenon well understood by folks all along the Gulf Coast.

I have been particularly interested, since coming to New Orleans, in learning how it happened that the levees failed to protect the city. To this end, I have read several accounts of why it was that hurricane Katrina, a category 3 or less hurricane, collapsed the levees and flooded 80 percent of the city. I’ll report on these books at a later time.