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the82ndjames's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
beautyinruins_ca's review against another edition
4.0
As a huge fan of the Jack Howard adventures, which I knew were inspired by dives undertaken by David Gibbins, I was excited to get my hands on an early copy of A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks. A part of me was disappointed that there weren’t more first-person accounts of the dives, narrative play-by-play of discovering and exploring these sunken wrecks, but that’s entirely okay because what is there – the history – is absolutely fascinating.
In some cases, the book explores history through long-forgotten treasures, the kind of discoveries that every adventurer dreams of. Yes, there are gold and jewels to be found, religious and cultural artifacts as well, but Gibbins explores what they mean, what they tell us about the past, as opposed to what they’re worth. Where the book gets really interesting is in the exploration of everyday artifacts, things like plates and bowls and construction equipment, using them to create a picture of what life was like hundreds of years ago.
Once I got past my initial disappointment over the emphasis on history as opposed to shipwrecks, I began to see the archaeological process involved, and that was what fascinated me most. It’s often painstaking work, accomplished in the harshest of conditions, requiring a wealth of preparation. It’s not like you can just sit on an old battlefield or in an old homestead and sift through layers of dirt at your leisure – you’re at the mercy of the depths, your air supply, the current, and the weather. Sometimes all you can do is catalog what you see, knowing that the next storm could bury it, leaving your eyes the authority on the matter.
A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks can be a dry, scholarly read, but as such it’s a remarkable one. This is a work of David Gibbins, archaeologist and historian, not David Gibbins, adventure author, so you do need to set your expectations. But, as I tell my wife every week when she asks if they found more wood on the Curse of Oak Island, I don’t watch for the treasure, I watch for the history, the little discoveries of pottery and nails, not the big ones, and that’s what this is all about.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2024/04/07/book-review-a-history-of-the-world-in-twelve-shipwrecks-by-david-gibbins-non-fiction/
In some cases, the book explores history through long-forgotten treasures, the kind of discoveries that every adventurer dreams of. Yes, there are gold and jewels to be found, religious and cultural artifacts as well, but Gibbins explores what they mean, what they tell us about the past, as opposed to what they’re worth. Where the book gets really interesting is in the exploration of everyday artifacts, things like plates and bowls and construction equipment, using them to create a picture of what life was like hundreds of years ago.
Once I got past my initial disappointment over the emphasis on history as opposed to shipwrecks, I began to see the archaeological process involved, and that was what fascinated me most. It’s often painstaking work, accomplished in the harshest of conditions, requiring a wealth of preparation. It’s not like you can just sit on an old battlefield or in an old homestead and sift through layers of dirt at your leisure – you’re at the mercy of the depths, your air supply, the current, and the weather. Sometimes all you can do is catalog what you see, knowing that the next storm could bury it, leaving your eyes the authority on the matter.
A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks can be a dry, scholarly read, but as such it’s a remarkable one. This is a work of David Gibbins, archaeologist and historian, not David Gibbins, adventure author, so you do need to set your expectations. But, as I tell my wife every week when she asks if they found more wood on the Curse of Oak Island, I don’t watch for the treasure, I watch for the history, the little discoveries of pottery and nails, not the big ones, and that’s what this is all about.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2024/04/07/book-review-a-history-of-the-world-in-twelve-shipwrecks-by-david-gibbins-non-fiction/
edenrosezabo's review against another edition
3.0
Too meandering and memoir-y, I never really felt engaged by it despite loving naval history
emblaisdell's review against another edition
4.0
This book leans more into the history of the world at the time of the shipwrecks than the wrecks themselves, though there is plenty of detail on the latter, including the author's own experiences diving on them and doing the archaeological work. I understand that some may consider the text fairly dry, so be warned there is a semi-academic tone to much of it. Still, I found the author to have a fine way with words and could evoke the environment of the wrecks and their contemporary worlds quite effectively.
The main criticism I have is that the book could have used some maps to set the stage for each chapter better. There are a fair number of color photos in the insert, but some more in-line illustrations would have been nice.
The main criticism I have is that the book could have used some maps to set the stage for each chapter better. There are a fair number of color photos in the insert, but some more in-line illustrations would have been nice.
apriljoy97's review against another edition
3.5
Intriguing but could have been better organized and had a bit more narrative through the whole book
madgrambo's review against another edition
4.0
I’d never thought about marine archaeology until now. The shipwrecks that the author investigates are from Ancient Greece to WW2.
katydied's review against another edition
DNF the audiobook because it felt like the narrator got picked by the teacher to read out loud to the class. I couldn't even finish the prologue, but the book still sounds interesting, so it will be back on my list... just not in audiobook format.
quartzmaya's review against another edition
2.0
I was really excited to dive into "A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks" by David Gibbins. The premise sounded fascinating—using archaeological discoveries of shipwrecks to weave together a narrative of human history. From Viking warships to World War II wrecks, the idea of exploring these underwater time capsules was intriguing.
However, I found the book to be quite a letdown. While it was certainly informative and well-researched, it felt like reading a textbook rather than an engaging historical narrative. The chapters were disjointed, each standing alone without a cohesive thread to tie them together. This made the book feel more like a collection of essays than a unified story.
Gibbins' writing was dry, and I struggled to stay engaged. Despite the wealth of fascinating historical details, the lack of personal narratives and dramatic elements left me wanting more. I was hoping for a Nat Geo documentary vibe but ended up with something that felt more academic and less accessible.
The book’s format also didn’t help. Without enough visual aids like maps, diagrams, or pictures of artifacts, it was hard to fully grasp some of the descriptions. I spent a lot of time flipping back and forth to Google for images that should have been included in the book.
In summary, while "A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks" had a unique and interesting premise and was packed with historical information, it was too dry and disjointed for my taste. If you’re looking for a light, engaging read, this might not be the book for you.
However, I found the book to be quite a letdown. While it was certainly informative and well-researched, it felt like reading a textbook rather than an engaging historical narrative. The chapters were disjointed, each standing alone without a cohesive thread to tie them together. This made the book feel more like a collection of essays than a unified story.
Gibbins' writing was dry, and I struggled to stay engaged. Despite the wealth of fascinating historical details, the lack of personal narratives and dramatic elements left me wanting more. I was hoping for a Nat Geo documentary vibe but ended up with something that felt more academic and less accessible.
The book’s format also didn’t help. Without enough visual aids like maps, diagrams, or pictures of artifacts, it was hard to fully grasp some of the descriptions. I spent a lot of time flipping back and forth to Google for images that should have been included in the book.
In summary, while "A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks" had a unique and interesting premise and was packed with historical information, it was too dry and disjointed for my taste. If you’re looking for a light, engaging read, this might not be the book for you.
teresacraig's review against another edition
Very slow and dull - more about the author’s expeditions instead of the history