Go Back   gCaptain Forum > Professional Mariner Forum
Connect with Facebook


Professional Mariner Forum This is the main area of the forum, all general merchant marine discussion goes here...

Bookmark and Share this post with a friend.

This forum runs off the generous support of our sponsors:
Maritime Injury Lawyers
Reply Bookmark and Share
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #76 (permalink)  
Old September 23rd, 2009, 05:53 AM
Top Contributer
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 253
Capt. Nemo
Default The Cruel Sea

WOW!

I just finished it, and what a read. If you want to digest something heart-rending and familiar, pick it up. It's an epic.

It will make you reconsider your definition of what "a bad day" is. Although it is a novel, I suspect it's pretty representative of how it really was.

If you like to read, it's a good'un.

Nemo
Reply With Quote

Log-In or REGISTER to make this ad disappear.

  #77 (permalink)  
Old September 24th, 2009, 01:15 AM
gCaptain Regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Canada
Posts: 72
Sharp21 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

One of my favorites is Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls by Edward E. Leslie.
True stories of castaways, marooned sailors, shipwrecks & being lost at sea.
Some would argue that it may not be the best reading while you are actually OUT at sea, but if you are prepared for the worst then you should be ready for anything.
And these guys went through the worst...
S.
Reply With Quote
  #78 (permalink)  
Old September 24th, 2009, 03:10 AM
Capt. Fran's Avatar
Top Contributer
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Home is where the hat is.
Posts: 348
Capt. Fran is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sharp21 View Post
One of my favorites is Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls by Edward E. Leslie.
True stories of castaways, marooned sailors, shipwrecks & being lost at sea.
Some would argue that it may not be the best reading while you are actually OUT at sea, but if you are prepared for the worst then you should be ready for anything.
And these guys went through the worst...
S.
I forgot about that collection of stories. Totally agree that it is an amazing read!
Reply With Quote
  #79 (permalink)  
Old September 24th, 2009, 04:47 AM
Greenhorn
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 11
captobie is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

I now have a new favorite book. The Sand Pebbles, by Richard McKenna. Amazing book. The writing is outstanding, and the story is compelling. McKenna really brings the experience of the Yangtze Patrol to life. It doesn't hurt to picture Steve McQueen as Jake Holman, either.
Reply With Quote
  #80 (permalink)  
Old September 24th, 2009, 09:56 PM
Old Salt
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Manvel, Texas
Posts: 184
cmakin is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

McKenna wrote some other books/stories about the Navy in Asia. Look for Sons of Marth and Left Handed Monkey Wrench.
Reply With Quote
  #81 (permalink)  
Old September 26th, 2009, 11:32 AM
NAUTICART's Avatar
Old Salt
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 186
NAUTICART is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

Quote:
Originally Posted by pushboat View Post
FIRST POST ... Been watching from Twitter for a few days, And I am surprised I haven't seen anybody mention Clive Cussler. I enjoy reading his maritime adventure yarns. I've lost many an hour of precious off watch time reading the adventures of his characters Dirk Pitt and Al Giordino.
I just picked up 3 of of Cusslers' books at a garage sale this morning.
Sacred Stone , Plague Ship , and Corsair. The books are like new ( $1 each ) thats gotta be worth it. Don't know which one to start with, Ah well.

Hey John, How do I mail you / gCapatin the 15 cents ?
Reply With Quote
  #82 (permalink)  
Old September 28th, 2009, 04:37 AM
PMC PMC is online now
gCaptain Regular
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 84
PMC
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

I have a huge nautical book collection. One day I was looking through the nautical book collection at a used book store near where Kenneth Dodson (Away All Boats (Classics of Naval Literature)
) had lived. He had passed away and all of his personal nautical books were there. Many were advance copies from other authors. I picked up a lot of them including his copy of "Bowditch, The American Practical Navigator:
"
Reply With Quote
  #83 (permalink)  
Old November 18th, 2009, 05:02 AM
gCaptain Regular
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 34
weski
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

Bumping this up as I was looking for ideas for Christmas presents. Also thinking about the new Kindle vs. Barnes & Noble Nook. Saw Kindle has cool international capabilities - has anyone tried it yet?
Reply With Quote
  #84 (permalink)  
Old January 26th, 2010, 02:56 AM
Just Browsing
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2
yakka is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

This is a great forum topic. Thanks for all of the reading suggestions. A great book for Shackelton fans is "Shackleton's forgotten argonauts
( in the US it may have been titled Forgotten Men" by Leonard Bickel.
Another one of my favourites is " Scurvy: How a Surgeon, a Mariner, and a Gentlemen Solved the Greatest Medical Mystery of the Age of Sail
" by Stephen R Brown.
Of course all of the Francis Chitchester books are a great read.
Reply With Quote
  #85 (permalink)  
Old January 26th, 2010, 07:03 AM
kyle in norcal's Avatar
Greenhorn
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: sacramento, ca
Posts: 10
kyle in norcal is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to kyle in norcal
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

im suprised that no one has mentioned Supership
by Noel Mostert yet. The author tagged along for a trip aboard the British tanker Ardshiel in 1973.

pretty good read.

kyle
Reply With Quote
  #86 (permalink)  
Old January 26th, 2010, 09:09 AM
Kennebec Captain's Avatar
gCaptain Regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Maine
Posts: 86
Kennebec Captain is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

The Death Ship was mentioned earlier in the thread, it's a great book.
Reply With Quote
  #87 (permalink)  
Old January 26th, 2010, 10:55 AM
captfish's Avatar
gCaptain Regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 45
captfish is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

Thanks for the great thread...so many good titles out there all ready- here are a few more I didn't see:

A Voyage for Madmen by Peter Nichols, first-hand account of the first race to circumnavigate the gloge singlehandedly.

ANYTHING by Bernard Moitessier...my favorites being The Long Way which is a story about the same race mentioned above, and Tamata and the Alliance which is his facinating autobiography.

Around Alone by Emma Richards, another great first-hand circumnavigation story.

Kon Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl, a true story about floating from Peru to Polynesia in a balsa-wood raft in the 50s...a must read for any mariner.

North to the Night: a Spiritual Oddsey in the Artic by Alva Simon: I could not put this book down. Amazing true story of sailing his little steel sloop up to the Canadian Arctic, and then staying frozen in the ice for the winter...alone. One of my all-time favorites!

Looking for a Ship by John McPhee, a fictional accout of the decline of the US Merchant Marine.

Red Sky in Mourning by Tami Oldha Ashcraft, her first-hand account of a terrible disaster encountered while attempting to cross the pacific. Don't read this one alone.

I'm sure there are other's I am forgetting on the shelf at home. I know it has all ready been mentioned before, but Gray Seas Under is a must read for any tug boaters out there, and also one of my favorites. Really makes me feel wimpy when I read about what those guys were going through. Boat who wouldn't float is another great read by Farley Mowat, not sure if it was mentioned before.

Enjoy
Reply With Quote
  #88 (permalink)  
Old January 26th, 2010, 11:59 AM
Greenhorn
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Beaufort, N.C.
Posts: 11
sea star is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

I've always been fond of the oxford companion to ships and the sea, it never fails as a source to stump most folks with historical events or the origin of terms....pretty fun to engage shipmates in useless trivia of the day challenges. When the monotony sets in it'll bring a chuckle from time to time, and once in a while you might actually glean something useful from that old book......like many others I am a pretty big fan of old Joey Conrad.....Then there's always Robert Raurke, if the old man and the boy doesn't make you cry once you have no soul. Raurkes African big game adventures spawn interest in that safari I can't afford, but a good escape if that's what you're hunting.
Then again there are those times when despite the fact that I am quite happy to be out there it's nice delve in a light collection of short stories....Pat McManus is a gas. How I got this way and they shoot canoes , don't they are two of my favorites.......but what the hell do I know, I can barley read.
A!
Reply With Quote
  #89 (permalink)  
Old January 26th, 2010, 09:51 PM
jdcavo's Avatar
Top Contributer
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 569
jdcavo is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

Quote:
Originally Posted by captfish View Post
...Looking for a Ship by John McPhee, a fictional accout of the decline of the US Merchant Marine...
Shgould someone tell Andy Chase at Maine Maritime that he's fictitious?
__________________
James D. Cavo
U.S. Coast Guard
Mariner Credentialing Program
Policy Division (CG-5434)
James.D.Cavo@uscg.mil
Reply With Quote
  #90 (permalink)  
Old January 26th, 2010, 10:17 PM
Greenhorn
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 11
LOSTinFOURCHON is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

In The Heart of the Sea Couldnt put it down. I was thinkin bout gettin a kindle but so far most of the books mentioned in this thread arent available. Maybe amazon doesnt realize that mariners can read?
Reply With Quote
  #91 (permalink)  
Old January 27th, 2010, 12:51 AM
gCaptain Regular
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 109
CaptAndrew is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

Quote:
Originally Posted by LOSTinFOURCHON View Post
Maybe amazon doesn't realize that mariners can read?
After the short time I spent in the Gulf I tend to agree. They spent the whole time in front of movies.

As for personal reading, I am currently working my way through James Nelson's books. Jim was a sailor before becoming an author.
Reply With Quote
  #92 (permalink)  
Old January 27th, 2010, 01:39 AM
Tim's Avatar
Tim Tim is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 66
Tim has disabled reputation
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

I really enjoyed A Voyage for MADMEN by Peter Nichols.

I don't think I have ever read a book so quickly. You just can put it down!
__________________
UnofficialSquaw.com
Reply With Quote
  #93 (permalink)  
Old February 4th, 2010, 05:07 PM
Just Browsing
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1
OneEighteen
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

Some books not mentioned in the excellent suggestions above:
- Anything by Frederick Marryat. He was an English naval officer in the early 1800's. If I remember right he was a midshipman at Trafalgar and served with Lord Cochrane who some say was the inspiration for Hornblower and Aubrey. Excellent books written by someone who was there.

- Masefield's "Bird of Dawning". Clipper ship story.

- Francis Chichester's "Along the Clipper Way", a collection of stories from other authors.

- Samuel Elliot Morrison's "European Discovery of America".

- George MacDonald Fraser "The Pyrates" (he's most famous for a comic series of books about Harry Flashman, a Victorian soldier).
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to OneEighteen For This Useful Post:
Kennebec Captain (February 5th, 2010)
  #94 (permalink)  
Old February 5th, 2010, 06:59 AM
Greenhorn
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 12
Navigator2 is on a distinguished road
Thumbs up Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

"Blue Latitudes" by Tony Horwitz - Boldly going where Capt. Cook has gone before, recounting Cooks voyages of discovery & then revisiting the people & places 200 yrs later. Part Cook biography, part travelogue & very much a stroke of genius!
Reply With Quote
  #95 (permalink)  
Old February 5th, 2010, 12:14 PM
gCaptain Regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Boonville, NY
Posts: 40
seadog6608 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

Anything by Joseph Conrad, "Lord Jim","The Secret Sharer". That George MacDonald Frazer book is great too. The Patrick O'Brien books about Jack Aubrey and Steven Mathurin are my favorites though.
Reply With Quote
  #96 (permalink)  
Old February 7th, 2010, 05:01 PM
Old Salt
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 130
Diesel is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: since we are adding Royal Navy to the list

Quote:
Originally Posted by knotship View Post
I vote for:

"The Cruel Sea " by Nicholas Monsarrat

A thoroughly realistic and gripping account of the Battle of the Atlantic told from the perspective of the men who manned the escorts. The 1953 movie "The Cruel Sea" with Jack Hawkins as the commander of the corvette is a nautical film classic.

I'll come up with my list of other notable naval fiction and add it to the list soon.

By chance I just read that...awesome read.
Reply With Quote
  #97 (permalink)  
Old February 8th, 2010, 03:42 AM
Mikey's Avatar
Administrator
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 267
Mikey has disabled reputation
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

Just came across this book on Amazon. It's titled "Looking for a Ship" by John McPhee. Has anyone read it?

http://www.amazon.com/review/R34V6I0...R34V6I0VC21N1P
__________________
--
Mike Schuler
Reply With Quote
  #98 (permalink)  
Old March 1st, 2010, 03:02 PM
Ordinaryseaman's Avatar
Top Contributer
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Colorado Springs/on a ship
Posts: 817
Ordinaryseaman is an unknown quantity at this point
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

"The last Time Around Cape Horn" The historic 1949 voyage of the Windjammer Pamir By William F Stark

My chief mate on the Ocean Phoenix bought me a copy of this- and a "Rules of the Road" so I'd have something to read while we were in port. Thanks Tom

Great book- from the perspective of an OS.

Anyone who thinks working on deck is tough- read this. There sailors were a breed apart... scurrying up masts in hurricanes, working without electricity, sleeping in unheated and often wet quarters- pretty amazing stuff
Reply With Quote
  #99 (permalink)  
Old March 1st, 2010, 03:47 PM
10talents's Avatar
Top Contributer
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Galveston, TX
Posts: 361
10talents is on a distinguished road
Send a message via MSN to 10talents
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mikey View Post
Just came across this book on Amazon. It's titled "Looking for a Ship" by John McPhee. Has anyone read it?

http://www.amazon.com/review/R34V6I0...R34V6I0VC21N1P
Captfish and others have mentioned it on this thread as a good read.
__________________
10
Reply With Quote
  #100 (permalink)  
Old March 2nd, 2010, 01:35 PM
gCaptain Regular
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 76
RkyMtn Paul is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Best Nautical Books for the Merchant Mariner

Here are a few that I haven't seen:
Empire of Blue Water: Captain Morgan's Great Pirate Army, the Epic Battle for the Americas, and the Catastrophe That Ended the Outlaws' Bloody Reign by Stephan Talty yes, the rum is named after him
Flying Cloud: The True Story of America's Most Famous Clipper Ship and the Woman Who Guided Her by David W. Shaw 1851 speed record from NY to SF, navigator was cap't wife
Tracks in the Sea : Matthew Fontaine Maury and the Mapping of the Oceans by Chester G. Hearn invented mapping of the oceans with wind and sea currents, the very little known story and reason for weather reports
Racing Through Paradise: A Pacific Passage and Atlantic High: A Celebration by William F. Buckley

Louis L'amour has some good short stories that I run into here and there.

Knotship, my first SIU ship was the Sealift Pacific, out of Houston 1991. 30 days, 3 engine room fires, general alarm worked once. Also sailed SL Atlantic out of Portland shipyard. We had 4 paintbrushes!! Sailed 21 days, needed 20 to upgrade to 'B' seniority.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
On accuracy of nautical charts caps Professional Mariner Forum 4 July 23rd, 2009 01:12 PM
Tradewinds Features US Merchant Mariner Job Shortage gCaptain Maritime Employment 0 April 2nd, 2009 01:27 PM
Consolidation of Merchant Mariner Qualification Credentials dougpine Professional Mariner Forum 28 March 20th, 2009 08:32 PM
Merchant Mariner Credential trekleader Professional Mariner Forum 9 December 18th, 2008 05:44 AM
Nautical Calculator CMA_Decky Professional Mariner Forum 1 November 30th, 2008 06:16 PM


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:28 AM.