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Rating: 
Summary: Much like "The Cruel Sea". This is how it was.
Review: Anyone hungry for disclosure of super-secret details of cold war sub missions will be disappointed. The author acknowledges that he was a nuclear reactor operator and knew virtually nothing about the missions of his sub, the mysterious, one-of-a-kind USS Halibut. However, Dunham provides an insightful, human picture of what it's like to earn one's dolphins, graduating from the "non-nuke puke" status of a freshman submariner. He describes well the rituals, difficulties and patterns of a life spent underwater, with no view of sunlight, for two months at a time. For that, he deserves great credit.
Rating: 
Summary: Lies on the cover - Disappointment inside
Review: I have read many books about submarines and this one provides nothing new under the sun. If you have never read any sub books you might find the sparse details and anecdotes amusing but not very informative. Within the first couple of chapters I realized that Dunham was a below average writer. Of course the real tragedy is the way this book is hocked as a spy thriller based on a true story, trust me this is a lie. How dare they! Three quarters into the book you find yourself wondering why you're reading about the old beat up Pontiac that Dunham bought because he was tired of taking taxies and we still don't know anything about the submarine mission! Kudos to the author for his attempt, there aren't enough submarine books out there, but this book is not worth the time or money. I highly recommend "Thunder Below" by Admiral Fluckey, an incredible read and the actual book itself (pages, binding , etc.) is of the highest quality I have ever purchased. (And there are no lies in it!)
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Summary: An exciting story of truely courageous American heroes...
Review: I read Spy Sub and found it to be an exciting story of real danger and near-disaster under the North Pacific. The author's unique ability to recount the personal triumphs and tragedies of himself and the crew makes this book a "must read" for those interested in the actual spy activities of the US submarine service during the height of the cold war. After years of being led on by "Hollywood dramas" like Crimson Tide, Gray Lady Down, and The Hunt for Red October, I found Spy Sub to be the first genuine account of what it's like to be on an American submarine. The technical changes made by the author are not at the expense of the story. Indeed, they were made so the actual story could be told and, more importantly, to protect American interests. This story is not about equipment. It's about a complicated and courageous mission of men. Dunham's refreshing style invites readers to identify with the character and emotions of true American heroes, not fictional creations. While I was surprised to find the end of the story as mysterious as it was, it adds to the story's excitement. Spy Sub reads smoothly and gives the reader a true appreciation of the human elements so crucial to a successful mission. Should Spy Sub be made into a movie, it would blow the likes of Crimson Tide and Hunt for Red October out of the water
Rating: 
Summary: Unfortunately, this author knows how to keep a secret
Review: The author of this book was a crew member on a nuclear powered submarine. Throughout the book, he provideds lots of detail about his personal life. I would have been more interested in more specific information about his submarine, and the mission which becomes the central focus of the second half of the book. The author appears to feel duty-bound to maintain thirty year old secrets concerning his former submarine and its equipment. Why write a book with such limitations at all?
Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately, this author knows how to keep a secret
Review: The author of this book was a crew member on a nuclear powered submarine. Throughout the book, he provideds lots of detail about his personal life. I would have been more interested in more specific information about his submarine, and the mission which becomes the central focus of the second half of the book. The author appears to feel duty-bound to maintain thirty year old secrets concerning his former submarine and its equipment. Why write a book with such limitations at all?
Rating: 
Summary: Of all the sub stories I've read...this is one of them.
Review: There are a lot of great submarine stories to read and this is one of them, unfornately it's just not told in the book. I never give up on a submarine book and I kept toughing it out untill the end ...hoping there would be some substance but it never happens. You keep thinking it's building up to a great finish but the last chapter is a give up and then it's over. Do yourself a favor.......do like the author did, skip this one.
Rating:
Summary: Life Of A Nuke On A Sub
Review: This book greatly exagerated what it was about. It appears to be a good description of life aboard a nuclear sub during the Vietnam war( I have never served, so I have no knowledge if it is accurate or not), but has next to nothing to do with the search and recovery of the Russian sub. The writer was on board the sub, but knew little to nothing of what went on. The book is about his life on board the sub, not about the mission.
Rating:
Summary: Wrong title for this book
Review: This book should be titled "My experiences as an enlisted submarine crewmember in the back of a boat which I had no idea what the mission was." I had just finished reading "Blind Man's Bluff" (now that's a good book), and thought, based on the title and editorial reviews at Amazon.com, that this book would provide additional details on the mission of Halibut in the search for the sunken Russian Sub. It provided none. Thinking back over the book, I don't believe there were more than five sentences in the whole book relating to Halibut's mission. If you want to read a book about a young enlisted man's journey through the submarine service (and I have the upmost respect for every man in that service)it is an okay book. If you are interested in the recovery of the Russian sub, it is an absolute waste of money. The book's cover statement: "The most secret things that the US does...This book belongs in a vault." That is an absoulte lie and as misleading as anything that has ever come out of the Clinton Administration. I hope Dr Dunham is more honest with his patients than he is with prospective buyers of this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Life on a sub, yes, spy sub, no
Review: This is one of the best books I've read about life on a nuke sub. I did 12 years as a nuke, and this is pretty accurate. The title is bad, but who would buy "The boring months interrupted by an exciting fire or flood I spent on a nuclear submarine". Problem is, that's what it was. Wouldn't trade my experiences, but only the officers & spooks knew what we were really doing.
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Summary: Very interesting work
Review: While many people looking for technical information are dissapointed with this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did not go into the book expecting the details that some did, but found myself really enjoying the nature of this book. The human element is much more important than the technical, and reading how the author developed and got his "dolphins" really drew me in. It also gave me a great appreciation for how young men in the military mature and grow.
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