Failure and Fortitude

New Release: May 2026 - Now Available!

Overview

In 1976, the Teton Dam collapsed, unleashing a wall of water that ravaged eastern Idaho and shattered the public’s trust in American infrastructure. Engineers, historians, and survivors have asked the same question: “Why did it fail?” For decades, the disaster has been reduced to a cautionary tale, a grim case study, a footnote in engineering textbooks. But what if the real story is more complicated than we’ve been told?

Failure and Fortitude is a meticulously researched, vividly written account of the Teton Dam’s rise and ruin. It reconstructs the hours that changed everything and the decisions behind the failure. Failure and Fortitude also recounts the remarkable story of the communities who refused to be defined by devastation—neighbors who dug each other out, rebuilt from mud and memory, and proved that resilience can be as powerful as any flood. This is not just a story of seepage and soil mechanics, but of faith and ambition, bureaucracy and blind spots, and the razor‑thin line between confidence and catastrophe.

Editor's Choice Award

Our Editor’s Choice Award is reserved for titles our editors believe truly stand out. To earn it, a book must deliver exceptional value through clear, engaging writing, a strong and trustworthy message, and a level of quality that feels polished from start to finish. We also look for books that bring something fresh or uniquely helpful to their category.

Failure and Fortitude checks every box. It is well researched, and the author weaves the facts into an engaging narrative that helps readers understand the context, the causes, and the human response to the dam collapse in a powerful new way. This is a standout title, both in its depth of research and in the strength of its storytelling.

More on the Book

This narrative history connects the disaster to a century of reclamation politics, pioneer settlement, and engineering hubris—and to the remarkable community response that saved thousands of lives and rebuilt a valley.

• The 'untold story' that connects a catastrophic engineering failure to Mormon pioneers, politics, and a century of American water history.
• A disaster that killed only eleven people thanks to one of the most effective evacuations in U.S. history—and a million volunteer hours of recovery.
• Equal parts engineering thriller, political history, and testament to community faith and grit.

“Had Teton Dam failed twelve hours earlier, I would not be here to write this book.”

Perfect for a reader who loves narrative nonfiction like 'The Johnstown Flood' or 'Cadillac Desert' and has Idaho/Utah roots, LDS heritage, or a professional interest in engineering, water policy, and disaster history.