A review by semeyers
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick

adventurous dark informative mysterious tense fast-paced

4.5

I did not expect to tear through this book as quickly as I did! This is a well-written and researched work of non-fiction that honestly reads more like fiction. Much of the story is unbelievable and a true testament to the tenacity of the men involved. I honestly could not see how any of them could survive, even knowing that many of them did make it through. I was wholly unfamiliar with the history and prosperity of Nantucket, as well as the culture and politics of the whaling industry, and I was glad to learn more.

Make no mistake, it is also a depressing account of the brutality of whaling. The populations of many species of whales that were targeted by whaling boats have still not recovered, even 100 years after the industry was abolished in the U.S. It is a theory among scientists that sperm whales overall used to be even bigger, but the larger individuals were so thoroughly eliminated by whaling that the species as a whole got smaller. There are graphic descriptions of the process of killing and butchering the whales that had me putting down the book at times. This book is very pro-people, but I was rooting for the whales when the time came!

Highly recommend this one if you are looking for some historical non-fiction!
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