The podcast delves into the dramatic history of the Panama Canal project, uncovering the immense challenges faced by President Roosevelt and his team after the French failed. John Stevens emerges as a key figure, spotting critical problems and employing creative solutions. Roosevelt's hands-on approach, including dining with workers, reveals his commitment to success. The struggles with engineering failures and yellow fever are highlighted, showcasing the innovative strategies that led to the canal's eventual triumph despite bureaucratic chaos.
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Stevens' Resignation Letter Shock
Theodore Roosevelt received a discouraging resignation letter from chief engineer John Stevens.
Despite Stevens' complaints, Roosevelt accepted his resignation to maintain progress on the canal.
insights INSIGHT
Management by Wandering Around
John Stevens pioneered management by wandering around to identify project problems.
He spotted the key issue of transportation logistics that others missed.
insights INSIGHT
Locks Instead of Sea-Level Canal
Roosevelt listened to Stevens' advice and chose a canal with locks over a sea-level canal.
This change avoided the failures of the French sea-level canal plan.
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This book by David McCullough chronicles the epic story of the Panama Canal's construction from 1870 to 1914. It explores the initial French attempt led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, which ended in failure, and the subsequent American takeover under President Teddy Roosevelt. The narrative delves into the immense engineering challenges, medical accomplishments, and political power plays that marked this monumental project. McCullough weaves together the stories of the men and women who fought against all odds to fulfill the 400-year-old dream of an aquatic passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, highlighting both the tragic failures and heroic successes of this grand enterprise.
Framers
Human Advantage in an Age of Technology and Turmoil
Kenneth Cukier
Viktor Mayer-Schönberger
Francis de Véricourt
This book explores the concept of framing, which is the ability to create mental models that enable us to perceive reality, solve problems, and make decisions. The authors argue that framing is a critical human function that stands out as computers become better at other cognitive tasks. They illustrate their case with examples such as how Spotify reframed music as an experience, the impact of the #MeToo movement, and the different approaches to handling the COVID-19 pandemic. The book emphasizes the importance of framing in navigating various challenges, from pandemics and populism to AI and climate change, and provides strategies for developing this skill through practice and expanding one's repertoire of frames.
Sixteen years have passed since Ferdinand De Lesseps' catastrophic failure in Panama and the dramatic collapse of the French Panama Canal company. Now, President Theodore Roosevelt has picked up the task. “No single great material work,” Roosevelt tells Congress, “is of such consequence to the American people.”
The Americans have their work cut out. Enter chief engineer John Stevens. How does he spot a problem no-one else has noticed? And what does he do to solve it?
For a full list of sources, see the show notes at timharford.com.
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Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford 
