Picture of author.
5 Works 465 Membros 18 Reviews

About the Author

Includes the name: Ian Urbina

Image credit: lifeslittleannoyances.com

Obras de Ian Urbina

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

Sexo
male
Nacionalidade
USA

Membros

Resenhas

Astonishing peek into the world of those attempting to control the world's oceans. You will never look at that fish dinner the same way again!
 
Marcado
Suem330 | outras 13 resenhas | Dec 28, 2023 |
another reminder of the true costs of comfort.

it did feel that the author was feeling his role in the "story" at times a bit much, tho.
 
Marcado
stravinsky | outras 13 resenhas | Jul 21, 2023 |
Though now just a bit dated, this book was a real eye-opener when it comes to life at sea. At times depressing and distressing, it also takes pains to show the good that is happening.

I'll not look at the sea in the same way ever again.
 
Marcado
EZLivin | outras 13 resenhas | Jul 4, 2023 |
I was drawn to read this because I've always been fascinated by books about adventures at sea, most of which reflect a time far distant from the present in technology and worldview if not in actual years. Urbina's book promised to provide an updated version of life on the high seas, an opportunity to get behind the headlines of familiar topics like whaling and piracy and to learn about others even less pleasant, particularly slavery. It's all too easy to look away from these realities and I wanted the challenge of facing into them.

And The Outlaw Ocean delivers. As Urbina presents a wealth of information about the ways in which the oceans are used and abused in the 21st century it becomes clear that there is no effective "law" in the common areas of the ocean, those places no nation has the right, and perhaps more importantly the responsibility, to police. Sadly enough, even when it might be possible to take action against some truly evil activities, greed and corruption stand in the way.

While reading about fish populations being decimated and coral reefs despoiled is hard enough, the most horrific chapter addressed slavery at sea. Think of those impressed sailors you've read of in history and in fiction, crossed with the "company towns" tied to industries like mining, where it is impossible to leave because you always owe more than you earn. Impoverished men from countries with little economic opportunity are lured into spending years at sea, out of touch with family, hidden from view when other ships are near, sometimes shackled, frequently beaten, and periodically sold to other ships. Reading about this is tough sledding.

I think what made it possible for me to finish the book (it was certainly not the prospect of a happy ending) was the author's journalistic writing style. Very little in the book is hearsay. Urbina spent months at sea, year after year, often under extremely unpleasant and dangerous conditions, collecting the information and stories he shares. He struggles with inner conflicts between his job of bearing witness as a journalist and his innate human desire to try to help those suffering the worst abuses. It all comes together to engage me as a reader, but with enough distance that I didn't want to run away.

It's not a book for everyone, but I'm glad I read it. Although I may not eat tuna for a while...
… (mais)
 
Marcado
BarbKBooks | outras 13 resenhas | Aug 15, 2022 |

Prêmios

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Associated Authors

Stanley Tucci Narrator

Estatísticas

Obras
5
Membros
465
Popularidade
#52,883
Avaliação
½ 3.7
Resenhas
18
ISBNs
26
Idiomas
5

Tabelas & Gráficos