Reviews

Enslaved: The Sunken History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade by Simcha Jacobovici, Sean Kingsley

xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad slow-paced

4.0

 This book takes the reader on a journey across the world, through different countries, and to the bottom of the ocean. The search for artifacts and wreckage from ships that sank during the transport of kidnapped people for enslavement was simultaneously exciting and emotional. I think people who are confronted with the history of slavery, at least in the United States, simply think of it in terms of the people who were actually on land at these plantations and such. I cannot recall ever hearing about sunken ships, and life aboard the ship was never mentioned beyond it was crowded and unsanitary and sometimes they died aboard. (Then again, I was educated through high school in the State of Tennessee, and I do not hold a high opinion of that education.) I was staggered by the information that this book presented, and would strongly encourage others who are interested in slavery or the Transatlantic Slave Trade to pick up this book. I have the Audible version, and it was decent to listen to. The narration wasn't unbearable, and it was a moderately long listen.

Apparently, there is a documentary series that stars Samuel L. Jackson that the authors of this book wrote. I am going to have to look for that, because I am very interested in seeing it. I really liked learning more about Diving With A Purpose, who are mentioned heavily in this book. I think they are doing wonderful work and adding tremendous information to the historical record. Learning true and accurate history about the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the enslavement of people in general is so important to how we understand cultural experiences and the things that are still going on today. I wanted to be an archaeologist and a historian when I grew up, and only have accomplished the latter goal. I love books that focus on the archaeological aspect, and I also love shipwrecks. This book was right up my alley for a lot of reasons, but the actual research and narrative of the book was well done and informative. 

dish_srini21's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

vanillafire's review against another edition

adventurous challenging informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

caitebell's review

dark emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

laupremor's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0