'In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex' by Nathaniel Philbrick

In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex,  Nathaniel Philbrick (3.5)

I do not recommend reading this book while noshing on sushi! In addition to the description of whale killing and dismembering, one can imagine the tale of how the shipmates tried to survive is not good material to read while dining. Philbrick gives the backstory of the young Nantucket sailors and the culture that leads them to venture on the ocean and return years later with thousands of gallons of whale oil. While Herman Melville based ‘Moby Dick’ on this true story, this author focuses more on the story after the ship is sunk by the whale. As far as adventure goes, I prefer ‘Endurance’ and Shackleton’s, but this is definitely an interesting, well-told story that clearly articulates the stress, tragedy and psychological affects both during and after the event.