Sea Water

Admiral Stavridis, a leader in military, international affairs, and national security circles, shares his love of the sea and some of the sources of that affection. The Sailor's Bookshelf offers synopses of fifty books that illustrate the history, importance, lore, and lifestyle of the oceans and of those who "go down to the sea in ships." Divided into four main categories, Admiral Stavridis's choices will appeal to "old salts" and to those who have never known the sights of the ever-changing seascape, nor breathed the tonic of an ocean breeze.

In the late 1990s, Patrick O’Brian’s beloved, massively bestselling historical novel series was destined for film. With director Peter Weir and stars Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany signed on for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, there was only one problem: The Rose, the replica eighteenth-century warship that filmmakers bought for the production, was in Newport, Rhode Island, two oceans and thousands of miles away from Hollywood. Enter a ragtag crew of thirty oddballs and tall-ship fanatics, including author Will Sofrin.

Narrated in his own voice, in this third book about his travels aboard the 28-foot sailboat Atom, James Baldwin creates an ode to the sea and to those who venture upon her in small voyaging sailboats. The Next Distant Sea continues the memoir of his second adventurous circumnavigation as begun in his earlier book Bound for Distant Seas.

Welcome to the most dangerous sport on Earth: Where cave divers step into murky Florida ponds and end up hundreds of feet below the ground, threading through the narrow passages of Swiss-cheese-like rock formations, heading down tunnels that may open into caverns of breathtaking beauty, or else suddenly collapse in rockfalls that crush out their air and their lives. Open-water diver and ex-con Tiller Galloway has come to this watery underworld to find out why an old friend died young - and take one last shot at being a father, a lover, and a friend.

Did the “human” race just get stronger? He thought last summer was behind him for good, but when ex-astronaut Brock Finlander finds a secret code etched into a mutant crab shell, he calls a top marine biologist to make sense of it. His daughter. When she discovers that the animal was genetically bioengineered, Brock needs answers. But when he discovers that the secret code originated at NASA, he enlists the help of a renegade hacker to get inside and find the truth. When the truth you find is too powerful to understand, what do you do? They uncover a dark force so powerful it won’t be...

When Sawyer learns what I am—a mermaid—he isn’t sure what to make of the fact. Worse, it seems distance is what he needs most. Even though things might be less than ideal between Sawyer and me, at least I still have a friend in Wendy. But, soon, even that relationship will see its own crisis when posters appear throughout town proclaiming I’m a criminal on the run. Although the rumors are a hoax, I feel the whole town is turning against me, Wendy included—and I can only wonder who’s to blame for the lies. Luckily for me, there’s a new man in my life named Marshall. Having just...

Have you ever parachuted in the moonlight and juggled work with play? In 1995, Steve set himself the goal to sail across the North Atlantic. Saint Lucia and the Caribbean island chain were the prize. He had to master sailing in spring Scottish waters, keep up with his military training and undergraduate life. It was hard keeping a romance alive with so many distractions, like landing a gig as a swordsman in a Hollywood movie. There were other commitments—a jaunt to Pamplona in Spain, and a camp in the United States before he could join his crew. How will he get to the tropics and have ...

"China Sea Gold" is a thriller novel set in the mysterious and tumultuous waters of the China Sea in the early 20th century. Its narrative, filled with maritime escapades, dangerous and deceiving conspiracies, and an unending quest for hidden treasure, unfolds aboard a creaky, rickety ship navigating through some of the most treacherous waters on Earth. The Story The harrowing tale centers around Mr. Smith, a foreign correspondent who finds himself caught up in a web of deceit and treachery aboard the steamship Kut Sang. As he joins the vessel bound for Hong Kong, he crosses paths with a ...

After nearly losing everything in the most recent battle with Cullen, Eva isn’t sure how to pick up the pieces. First, there’s Mayer: Yes, he was initially working for Cullen, but when push came to shove, he protected Eva. Indeed, it’s only due to Mayer that Eva is even still free. Yet he also backstabbed her, so she isn’t sure how she should feel towards him or whether she can or should ever trust him again. Then there’s Mara—once Eva’s best friend, now things are beyond rocky between the two mermaids. All Eva wants is to resolve this feud between them, but unless Eva agrees ...

A coterie of juvenile aquatic creatures fuse together to achieve a task that is forbidden. Drilpin—one of the most skillful merchildren of the bunch—develops aspirations of someday ruling the sea. After a royal assignment within the Merkingdom goes awry, Drilpin’s chance to rule may appear sooner than he anticipated. Although he is a child, there exists a prohibited, age-accelerating sea potion. One must obtain this sacred recipe and all of its key ingredients to participate in its power. What if these effects were irreversible? Will these adolescents still rise and seize the ...

In October 2012, a replica of the famous HMS Bounty, an eighteenth-century tall sailing ship, was on a collision course with a storm that would become the largest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic - a clash that would prove dramatic, tragic, perplexing, and ultimately one of the most unforgettable stories of Superstorm Sandy. Crewed by an eclectic team of seafarers, the Bounty was led by Robin Walbridge, their highly respected captain with decades at the helm, whose actions - sometimes questionable - decided the fate of his ship and crew.

Tariffs. No problem. Dalio, the CEO of Bridgewater Associates, stated in an interview that he thinks that 60% of Americans read at a sixth-grade level, which I found to be hysterical. I like Mr. Dalio and respect him, but clearly, many have forgotten that education, capitalism, and innovation are a global phenomenon, not just something appearing on the streets of NYC. I, however, learned arithmetic in the third, and that's all that is needed to read a bank statement or a balance sheet. So, all the semi-literate people Mr. Dalio is referring to should be able to see that their bank ...

A collection of thrilling diving stories.There's everything from classic tales of wreck discoveries to encounters with beautiful and bizarre creatures beneath the waves. There are stories of death and disaster as well as bravery and triumph. Each tale has been chosen to stoke the fire of divers everywhere and some are illustrated with colour photographs.Take the plunge and read about the diver who discovered how to put sharks in a trance and the marine biologist who lost a limb trying to prove that sharks were safe to swim with.

This riveting collection of adventure writing includes the work of The Perfect Storm author, Sebastian Junger. Listen as men and women battle the elements, and often each other, to stay alive, confronting sharks, savage storms, rogue waves, mountainous icebergs, starvation, and their own fear and suffering.

A supernatural thriller book set in the vast, eerie expanses of the Pacific Ocean during the late 19th century. "The Haunted Voyage" reveals a chilling tale of a cursed ship, the ill-fated St. John, set within the dramatic canvas of the Pacific deep. From the protagonist, Kelly's desperate step to join the crew to his horrifying ordeal towards the end, every detail is masterfully woven in this tale of maritime horror and supernatural terror. The On-Board ChillsAs quick as they set sail, the crew of the St. John, particularly Kelly, are plagued with inexplicably strange and terrifying ...

Home from Distant Seas completes the trilogy of books by James Baldwin recounting his 25 years of live-aboard cruising adventures. The author creates a tribute to the sea and to those who venture upon her in small voyaging sailboats as he describes his personal journey of survival and discovery at sea as well as the sailors and local people he met along the way. Continuing here with the memoir of his second adventurous circumnavigation begun in his earlier books Bound for Distant Seas and The Next Distant Sea.

In A Foolish Voyage, Neil Hawkesford gives us a remarkable tale not just about sailing but about life. Good times and bad. Here we learn what happens at the very limits of physical, emotional, and mental endurance. Here we also learn how personal tragedy can lead to a life-changing discovery, the realization that hidden deep inside all of us is the perseverance and passion needed for achieving life's greatest goals.

Firefighter Colby Morris needs answers. After discovering a dead body, he then learns his best friend’s address was in the man’s pocket. He’ll do anything to keep Emmy safe - yet, he wants to keep his heart safe, also. That’s why he’s never told Emmy he’s in love with her.

This 148-day journey began on Darcy Gaechter’s 35th birthday. She sold her successful outdoor adventure business, upsetting her partner and boyfriend of 12 years and getting them both fired in the process. The emotional waters that would fester and erupt on the ensuing journey were often more challenging to navigate than the mighty river itself. With blistering lips and irradiated fingernails, Darcy would tackle raging Class Five whitewater for 25 days straight, barely surviving a dynamite-filled canyon being prepared for a new hydroelectric plant.

There’s no denying that women of color are portrayed as exceptional gems with oceanic depths in Reneé Drummond-Brown’s Black Exotic Pearls: Poetry Book. The ebony beauties are very aware of what to hold inside and what can be shared openly. She knows that she’s the original Mother of all living Pearls. She’s real. She’s authentic. She’s sincere. Her culture is from the west-south side of the northeast sea. Where foreign seas meet and mingle it’s indisputable that black pearls are always a good choice (catch if you will). But those that channel-surf that colorful ocean and ...