We are excited to host author Robert Underwood at the store for a discussion about his new book, Dam It!: Electrifying America and Taming Her Waterways. As told in Underwood’s crisp narratives and enhanced by his unique personal remembrances, Dam It! offers a riveting account of how dams restructured our landscape, powered our country, and became symbols of Americans’ resourcefulness and mastery over nature. Mr. Underwood will be in conversation with Mike Leonard. 

This event is free with registration. CLICK HERE to register. 

More About the Book: Dam It! winds its way through natural and manmade disasters, wars, cutthroat politics, financial wheeling and dealing, and bitter power struggles. It immerses us in immense hydroelectric construction projects from coast to coast, where we witness astounding engineering and construction feats. Underwood’s cast of characters includes Thomas Edison, J.P. Morgan, Nikola Tesla, George Westinghouse, Henry Ford, Samuel Insull, and his own grandfather, George P. Jessup, who was “a dam engineer and proud of it.” 

More About the Author: Robert Underwood has lived around dam people his entire life. His legendary grandfather managed the construction of a number of major hydroelectric facilities. A venture capital/private equity veteran, Underwood has a doctorate in engineering from Stanford University and an MBA. He built his career developing technology-based businesses and has extensive experience with climate change and renewable energy. He is a long-time past member of the National Science Foundation's Advisory Committee on Industrial Innovation. He is considered an authority on the history of hydropower.