Atlantic

Atlantic (2010) by Simon Winchester. Subtitle: "Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms, and a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories." Winchester is clearly a writer who loves the sea. In this book he explores the "seven ages" of the Atlantic Ocean. It's an impressive work, well written and adequately documented. Much of what he writes is from personal experience, and he conveys an undeniable air of authenticity. He not only loves the ocean, he knows the ocean. The only place the book drags a bit is in his description of the depletion of the species of fish which live in the Atlantic -- not too interesting to me, since fish is a rare item in my diet. Other than that, the book is a compelling read, and will leave the sensitive reader with a feeling of great concern for the near future of the Atlantic Ocean. Grade: A-