From its matter-of-fact cover, you wouldn’t think that this entry in the America’s Infrastructure series (6 titles) would dabble in disaster; however, it profiles eight bridges that have suffered damage or collapse. Other than the Golden Gate Bridge, the featured bridges will be unfamiliar to most readers—Washington’s Skagit River Bridge, for instance—but each shows wear and tear in its own unique way. Without resorting to sensationalism, the text highlights the high cost of bridge repair and upkeep, while emphasizing that maintenance is “worth every penny” if it means keeping people safe. Colorful text boxes insert trivia into each chapter, and a concluding “What You Should Know” page recaps the book’s major points; strangely, bridge-specific terms like draw span go undefined in the glossary. Nevertheless, this offers a valuable perspective on a popular topic.
