Want to learn the ideas in The Path Between the Seas better than ever? Read the world’s #1 book summary of The Path Between the Seas by David McCullough here.
Read a brief 1-Page Summary or watch video summaries curated by our expert team. Note: this book guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher or author, and we always encourage you to purchase and read the full book.
Video Summaries of The Path Between the Seas
We’ve scoured the Internet for the very best videos on The Path Between the Seas, from high-quality videos summaries to interviews or commentary by David McCullough.
1-Page Summary of The Path Between the Seas
Overall Summary
In 1977, David McCullough published The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914. It details how the canal was built and all of its problems along the way. In addition to being a Pulitzer Prize winner, he has written many other nonfiction books that have been successful as well.
The book is about the construction of the Panama Canal. It covers all aspects of its history, including why it was built and how it came to be. There are three main parts: a thesis that states there’s a difference between having an idea and actually implementing it; the canal itself was contemplated by many people before being constructed; and details on what happened during its construction, including political issues like changing ownership in America.
Ferdinand de Lesseps was known for completing the Suez Canal. He wanted to continue being successful and in 1870, he decided to build another canal. The Panama Railroad had been a costly project, but de Lesseps didn’t think that would be an issue with this new venture because it was going to cost less than the railroad did. Reports of how expensive the Panama Railroad was were inaccurate, so he dismissed those concerns. De Lesseps then went on to meet with delegates from around the world about building a canal across Nicaragua. They estimated how much it would cost and determined that they could do it if they got some funding from French businessmen who invested in his previous projects (the Suez Canal).
Difficulties arise when the engineers have to mark off an outline of the canal. The terrain in Egypt is very different from what they’re used to, and it’s difficult for them to adapt quickly enough. There are many challenges ahead, such as poisonous snakes and diseases like malaria that spread easily because of humidity. De Lesseps doesn’t pull his men back even though they die from these things; he completes his initial road outline so that the workers can transport materials more easily.
De Lesseps made some mistakes in the construction of the Suez Canal. He went back to Europe and left inexperienced engineers in charge. The plan was unworkable because they didn’t have enough machines or workers. Investors pulled out, but luckily a new engineer came along and saved the day with his improved plans for completing the canal.
In the late 1890s, a French company takes over the project. They convince de Lesseps to change his design and try to fix the lagging construction. The Americans step in because of their political desires in the region. McCullough blames a series of unfortunate events for causing the French to lose its canal-building reputation as opposed to suggesting de Lesseps was incompetent. The Americans do not have an easy mission ahead of them—they inherit poorly-maintained equipment, a small workforce, and dangerous terrain filled with unsteady infrastructure.
Part 3 talks about the U.S. involvement in the construction of the Canal, and how it was completed with a lot more effort put into making sure that workers were safe and healthy (as opposed to before). However, there were still issues with over ordering machinery and parts causing pileups and low morale among workers.
The president used the project to gain political points. The area was colonized, becoming a comfortable place for white workers who were there before. Their morale went up; McCullough laments how many seem to forget the hardships of the workers who came before.
The Canal is a popular tourist destination for privileged Americans. However, the opening of the Canal isn’t as grandiose as some people expected it to be. McCullough points out that de Lesseps still lived long enough to read about the completion of his project, so he died knowing that he accomplished something great in spite of all his setbacks along the way.
