Uncover the Epic Tale of Adventure and Discovery in Nathaniel Philbrick's 'Moby-Dick'

Darren: A great companion to Moby-Dick.

United Kingdom on Dec 21, 2016

maryro: Interesting and enlightening, a must-read for anyone wanting a new handle on this epic novel. Philbrick not only provides clear insight regarding the novel, but also includes incisive information about the author linking intrinsically the man to the work.
Why read Moby Dick? Read Philbrick and find out.Well worth the effort.
By the way, I am reading Moby Dick again and enjoying it. Thanks Nathaniel!

Italy on Sep 11, 2016

Neil Andrew wARD: A really good read and it served its purpose of making me want to read a classic novel that I had passed by until now.The volume arrived on time and it excellent condition so a really good service.

United Kingdom on Nov 19, 2014

John P O'Byrne: Excellent insight into the classic novel.

United Kingdom on Sep 17, 2014

R. M. Peterson: When I told a friend of my intention to re-read "Moby-Dick" after thirty years, he suggested that I read this book. Furthermore, he urged me to read it BEFORE re-reading "Moby-Dick". I just did so . . . or at least parts of it, for I soon recognized that reading other parts would lessen the pleasure of reading the novel for myself (even though I had already read it in the distant past). Thus, I don't think my friend's advice was good advice.

Writing introductions to classic works of fiction is a delicate and tricky proposition. A good introduction provides context that helps the reader understand "where the author was coming from". A good introduction sensitizes the reader to look out for certain concerns or themes. A good introduction sometimes can even prevent confusion from enveloping the reader. But an introduction, to be good, should not reveal too much of the story or too much about how the author goes about telling that story; rather, it should leave to the reader the pleasures -- the excitement even -- of personal discovery.

WHY READ MOBY-DICK? tells too much of the story to be a good introduction. Most of the book would be more appropriate as an afterword,...

United States on Aug 21, 2014

Xenophon Balaskas: For anyone who is curious as to why "Moby Dick" is such a well-loved novel this is a good starting point.

Written by the author of "In the Heart of the Sea: The Epic True Story that Inspired "Moby Dick"", this brief but worthy book gives essential background to the writing of the epic as well as illuminating some of the key elements in this unique work. Highly recommended.

United Kingdom on May 04, 2014

Fred D. Mueller: Two things got my attention about the book, "Why Read Moby Dick?" The first is the author's contention that Herman Melville's great novel is the "American Bible." The second is that Nathaniel Philbrick is a good writer. These two things made the book irresistible.

Is Moby Dick the American Bible? Philbrick maintains, "Contained in the pages of Moby Dick is nothing less than the genetic code of America: all the promises, problems, conflicts, and ideals that contributed to the outbreak of a revolution in 1775 as well as a civil war in 1861 and continue to drive this country's ever contentious march into the future." Wow! So Philbrick is telling us that somehow Melville has delivered a work that contains the DNA of our country. Can we assume that means that in every new crisis or significant moment in our nation's history we can turn to this masterpiece, and masterpiece it is, to understand ourselves?

Alas, we will never know. Sadly, Philbrick never develops his grandiose thesis. He gives hints. The loudest hint is that the novel is an adumbration and guide to the bloody consequences and subsequent scar of slavery on the United States (Moby Dick was published in 1851)....

United States on Dec 11, 2012