Rating: 
Summary: A superb audiobook production.
Review: In The Heart Of The Sea: The Tragedy Of The Whaleship Essex is a thrilling tale of the clannish island community of Nantucket, which launched the whaling ship Essex, and then received those of its sailors who survived against all odds. Author Nathaniel Philbrick drew upon newly discovered documents (including an account written by Thomas Nickerson, the ship's cabin boy, uncovered in an attic in New York in 1981) and exhaustive original research to tell of the Essex maritime disaster. Narrator Edward Herrmann brings Philbrick's account vividly to life with a pulsating story of class, race, work, family, and men who went to the sea hunting for the whale. A superb audiobook production.
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Summary: I would highly recommend this book
Review: This book is not one of my "typical" reads. I bought it for my mother as a gift, and after reading a little about it - I got hooked. It is a really good book. I loved the ending
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Summary: A RIP-ROARING ADVENTURE!
Review: I am only about 2/3 through this book, but just have to say it is the most rip-roaring adventure book I have ever read! It is full of information about the early 1800s, the whaling industry, the sea, and about whales that I have never known. It is all fascinating! Although I am a girl (ahem!), I am loving every word of this book, as I also loved THE ENDURANCE and INTO THIN AIR and A FIRST RATE TRAGEDY recently, not to mention TARZAN, FRANKENSTEIN, etc. from years back. This book is highly recommended whether you fancy yourself an adventurer (armchair adventurers okay) or not.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good, Not Great
Review: The subject matter is so interesting that it would be hard to write a bad book on it, and the author does give a lot of background information on whaling and Nantucket. But I found the explanations about ships, etc., to be spotty - at certain places the author takes the time (and does a good job) of stopping and explaining "how ships work;" at other times, he goes blithely on when further background is really needed. Tacking, for instance, is a very important concept to understand in a story like this, and it's not explained. (Very few books written for the general public about sail-powered sea voyages do, though - I finally learned about it in a really great book, "The Elizabethan World," by Lacey Smith, in which it is shown how superior tacking ability helped English ships outmaneuver the Spanish.)Philbrick also has a little trouble pacing the book in such a way as to keep the suspense up properly, although the material is naturally suspenseful, of course. Also, at times, the book seems to be improperly edited: the exposition isn't quite logical. Before the wreck, for example, one of the sailors jumps ship, and the author says that this happened at a particularly bad time, since the crew was now dangerously short. But he also says jumping ship was very common. So, was it the captain's fault for not being prepared for such an eventuality? Things like that - you don't quite understand the rationale. I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the topic (though I didn't read, and can't compare it to, the diary of the first mate, Mr. Chase, that another reviewer has recommended as superior.) If you want to read only one book on shipwreck survival, the best one I've read is "The Wreck of the Medusa" by Alexander McKee.
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Summary: Riveting, harrowing account--terrifying and gripping
Review: After reading and re-reading Junger's The Perfect Storm last summer, I wondered if it were only a fluke that a land-lover like myself could become so engrossed in a maritime yarn. After reading In the Heart of the Sea, it is clear that this was no fluke. With little to no experience with nautical life, I was quickly caught up in this drama at sea. Like Junger, Philbrick recounts a historical, nonfiction tale with the drama and tension exceeding much of today's bestselling fiction. His attention to detail gives a documentary feel and paints a vivid portrait of the struggle of survival. Specifically, I was continually impressed with the way Philbrick wove the specific details of whale hunting and sailing with the driving narrative--a narrative that will keep the pages turning quickly. In addition, Philbrick writes with a keen sense of imagery, pulling the reader into the story by appealing to all senses. As a result, the reader finds him/herself caught up in the drama and excitement of the hunt, filled with dread as the situation looks hopeless, aghast at the suffering, and finally, contemplative of the decisions made. There are no easy answers to the questions raised by this book. Instead, the drama offers a chance to consider and reconsider the drive of survival and the human spirit. Narratives of life and death situations are almost inherently gripping; however, because of Philbrick's skills as a writer, this book does more than entertain--it provokes thought, raising issues that do not end with the final page.
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Summary: A gripping story of men lost at sea
Review: There have been many great stories of survival and tragedy on the seas, and this book is one of the best of them. At one time the story of the Whaleship Essex was well known in America, but gradually that story faded into memory. Nathaniel Philbrick brings that memory back to life again with his very well written book. The main events in this book took place in the time period of 1819-1821. The Essex was based on Nantucket Island, and in the first part of the book there is a very interesting history of Nantucket and the Whaling Trade. Enough information is given so that we understand the world that the men of the Essex lived in, and the ordeal that lay before them. The Essex was believed to be a lucky ship, but that reputation of good luck would soon be overwhelmed at sea. After several months at sea, the Essex was attacked and rammed by an eighty-five foot whale. It is fascinating to read about the attack of the giant whale on the ship, and to realize that the attacking whale was the actual basis for the whale in "Moby Dick". The Essex was severely damaged and in danger of sinking after the whale attack, and the crew faced the grim prospect of a desperate journey in open boats across the Pacific Ocean. The story of their battle for survival with little food or hope of rescue will grip your heart. Terrible choices of survival had to be made, and there are graphic accounts of starvation and cannibalism in the book. This is truly the story of a great tragedy at sea, but there is also the hope and endurance that can sometimes be found even in the darkest moments. There are moments of wonder with thoughts and descriptions of whales and the ever changing sea. I recommend this book to everyone that loves the history of the Sea, and the spirit of survival against all odds.
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Summary: Exemplary Story Telling
Review: Having never read "Moby Dick", I wondered if this book could hold my interest. Boy, was I wrong! A masterful work of historical narrative that ranks right up there with "A Perfect Storm" and "Into Thin Air", I was spellbound by the story of The Essex and the plight of her crew...highly recommended regardless of your nautical prowess!
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Summary: Interesting and Well Researched
Review: I can't imagine what I'd do if I was placed in the situation described in this book - adrift at sea and casting lots to see whom would be eaten and whom would be spared, but In The Heart of the Sea does a good job of describing the dire circumstances and letting the individual reader make his or her own judgment as to the necessity of the acts. This book reminded me of two other books that I enjoyed. First, the detail on the ships and the whaling industry reminded me of The Perfect Storm and its detailed discussion of the swordfishing industry. This historical background information In the Heart of the Sea is helpful because it allows the reader to better understand the culture of the industry and the reasons why workers were placed in such appalling straits. The second book that is worth reading is The Custom of the Sea, which came out a few months ago. The Custom of the Sea centers on a shipwreck where three survivors killed and ate a fourth crewmember who was already dying of dehydration. In a breach from ordinary legal tradition, these survivors were tried for murder and Custom of the Sea does a very nice job of presenting the societal questions underlying the murder prosecution. In the Heart of the Sea does not explore these issues in the same depth, but both books are worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping
Review: I could not put this book down. Fascinating depiction of human beings struggle for survival. If you enjoyed Into Thin Air you will also enjoy this one.
Rating:
Summary: Tragic Epic
Review: I thought this book was a fairly good account of the disaster that took place on the Essex. It was lacking in detail in a few places, but was adequately informative in others. This book was an easy and quick read, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about real-life adventures.
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