Looking at the three separate regions discussed in this book, namely, Louisiana, Iceland, and Southern California, what conclusions do you reach about the author's primary messages?

The author seems to show that when man tries to settle areas that are naturally active, conflicts will occur. In these three stories, people settle in and develop economically strong communities in floodplains, volcanic zones, and regions prone to landslides. Officials then try to control the forces of nature to protect these communities. This creates a continuous battle with nature, because every action taken by man may fix one problem but aggravate other issues, creating new problems that need to be dealt with. The author strongly indicates that ultimately, nature is stronger than man.