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The Great Frenchman's Folly (Panama Disaster 1)

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

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The Panama Canal Ambition

This chapter explores Ferdinand de Lesseps' bold plans to build the Panama Canal, drawing parallels to his previous Suez Canal success. It examines the overconfidence, technical challenges, and human costs involved in the project, ultimately revealing the dangers of ambition devoid of realistic planning.

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