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Summary: A Cold War Memoir
Review: Whenever discussions of secret projects or submarines come up, John Craven's name is among the names. This book is his part of the story of the undersea missions during the Cold War. For those looking for revealed secrets, you will disappointed because Craven understands the oaths he has taken so only mentions names when the person has already passed away. He doesn't even approve or acknowledge other stories in print.This text reads more as an autobiography than a telling of a good sea story. He explains his role as the chief scientist and the roles others have had in helping to shape his career. Not only does he discuss his work with special projects, but he also discusses his time as a professor in New England and Hawaii. The telling is not so much a chronological exposition, but more of a man sitting back at the fireside telling us his stories from the past over coffee. Each part of the story will interconnect with other chapters, but it will require a little work from the reader to remember. Although no big secrets are revealed, this is an interesting read. For instance, he discusses how the first space shuttle disaster could have been prevented from lessons that his team learned about materials and optimum temperatures decades before the disaster. If science, engineering, and submarines are not your cup of tea, then I would recommend giving this one a skip.
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