Emilio Corsetti III (Author of 35 Miles from Shore)

Emilio Corsetti III wrote a new blog post Review of Skyking Review of Skyking rating **** I remember when this incident happened, thinking that there was a story to be told here. What would motivate a man with Read more of this blog post »
Apr 16, 2026 04:24AM · like
Emilio III rated a book it was amazing Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I first became aware of our nation's systemic racism after the election of Barak Obama. I always believed that racism was an issue with a small population of extremists. I know now that the problem is much larger than that. I've since educated myself ...more
Nov 29, 2025 12:03PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Caste by Isabel Wilkerson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Caste by Isabel Wilkerson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Emilio III rated a book it was amazing Save Our Souls: The True Story of a Castaway Family, Treachery, and Murder by Matthew Pearl (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A shipwreck. Survival on an uninhabited island in the Pacific. Then toss in some backstabbing and murder, and you have the story behind Save Our Souls. The island where the castaways find themselves is Midway, the scene of one of the more notorious b ...more
Oct 26, 2025 10:15AM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Save Our Souls by Matthew Pearl. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Save Our Souls by Matthew Pearl <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Emilio III rated a book it was amazing Wavewalker: Breaking Free by Suzanne Heywood (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The author sums up this story with a comment made in one of the final chapters, where she says she felt like she was trapped in someone else's dream. That dream was her father's, and it was to sail around the world. The problem was that he also had a ...more
Sep 15, 2025 03:34PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wavewalker by Suzanne Heywood. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wavewalker by Suzanne Heywood <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Emilio III rated a book it was amazing Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial by Corban Addison (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Wastelands is a story about odor. It's also a story about large corporations putting profits above doing the right thing. The book shares a similar theme with Toms River, which is about two large chemical companies that polluted the air and water aro ...more
Aug 01, 2025 07:35PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Wastelands by Corban Addison. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Wastelands by Corban Addison <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Emilio III rated a book it was amazing Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Slavery got its start in Africa when one tribe would overpower another tribe and subjugate the surviving members of the conquered tribe. It wasn't about dehumanizing people, but more about exerting power. It was later that slavery became a dehumanizi ...more
Apr 09, 2025 07:22PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Never Caught by Erica Armstrong Dunbar <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Emilio III rated a book it was amazing Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom by McCracken Poston Jr. (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
You can't judge a book by its cover—or, in this case, its title. When I first read the title of this book, I did not react positively to it. I don't know what exactly turned me off about the title, except that I didn't like it. After reading the book ...more
Mar 07, 2025 02:10PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Zenith Man by McCracken Poston Jr.. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Zenith Man by McCracken Poston Jr. <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Emilio III rated a book it was amazing The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession by Michael Finkel (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I was immediately attracted by the premise behind Michael Finkel's book The Art Thief. Not only was Stephane Breitwieser the most prolific art thief in history, but he didn't sell his stolen artwork. He proudly displayed the many items in the attic r ...more
Jan 06, 2025 03:06PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Art Thief by Michael Finkel. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Art Thief by Michael Finkel <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Emilio III rated a book it was amazing Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I remember the first time I saw Trevor Noah sitting behind the desk of the Daily Show. He was replacing Jon Stewart. Where did they get this guy from? I thought. It wasn't long before I became a fan of his wit and humor. The Daily Show was in good ha ...more
Dec 26, 2024 05:20PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Born a Crime by Trevor Noah <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Emilio III rated a book really liked it Adrift: A True Story of Tragedy on the Icy Atlantic and the One Who Lived to Tell about It by Brian Murphy	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Having just read The Graves Are Walking about the Irish potato famine, I was intrigued by this survival story set ten years later. Many of the people described in this story were likely impacted by the famine. The immigration from Ireland to the Unit ...more
Dec 12, 2024 06:24PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Adrift by Brian Murphy. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Adrift by Brian Murphy <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

Emilio Corsetti III wrote a new blog post

Review of Skyking

Review of Skyking rating **** I remember when this incident happened, thinking that there was a story to be told here. What would motivate a man with Read more of this blog post »

Emilio III rated a book it was amazing

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
by Isabel Wilkerson (Goodreads Author)

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I first became aware of our nation's systemic racism after the election of Barak Obama. I always believed that racism was an issue with a small population of extremists. I know now that the problem is much larger than that. I've since educated myself I first became aware of our nation's systemic racism after the election of Barak Obama. I always believed that racism was an issue with a small population of extremists. I know now that the problem is much larger than that. I've since educated myself on the issue through documentaries and books like, Just Mercy, Never Caught, The Last Slave Ship, Wilmington's Lie, and many others. The book Caste by Isabel Wilkerson walks the reader through our shameful past while also highlighting other caste systems throughout history.

While I don't doubt that the author has witnessed and experienced caste personally, she is also guilty of seeing every sleight as an example of caste. If I say that I support the people of Palestine, that doesn't make me an antisemite. Every time a black person does not get a promotion or a job, it isn't necessarily an example of caste at play. I'll give two examples taken from the book. The first involves the case of Travon Martin. The author uses this case as an example of the unfairness of our justice system and uses it along with other stories of injustice involving white men getting away with murder against black people. The problem is that the story told in the media and elsewhere that Travon Martin was profiled, followed, and shot, and the guy who shot him got off, is not entirely accurate. It started with an inaccurate image of a Travon Martin as a young teenager wearing a hoodie. That image of Travon was not representative of who he was at the time of his death. If you examine the facts without a preconceived notion of racial bias, you will see that the person screaming for his life was not Travon but the person who shot him. It changes everything about that story.

The second example involves a female police officer who shot and killed a black man inside his own apartment. The author uses the case to show how the sentence she received seemed out of line for the offense. But the author failed to highlight some important factors in the case, such as the role that fatigued played and the fact that her neighbor's apartment had the exact same layout as hers. It was a tragic accident that should not have happened, and the officer was convicted of murder, but it's not a good example to use when talking about caste, for a number of reasons. A better and more recent example of caste is the case of the Ahmaud Arbery, the 25‑year‑old Black man who was pursued, confronted, and fatally shot by three white men in Georgia in 2020.

The book Caste was originally published in 2020, so it could not have foretold the events of the 2024 election and the attacks against DEI that followed. I bring this up because DEI was and is an effective way to battle racial inequities. It's unfortunate that so many businesses, corporations, and universities succumbed to the pressure to do away with DEI. I worked as a pilot in the airline industry. Without airlines making a concerted effort to hire minorities and women, airlines would be piloted only by white men. Many people don’t realize how life‑changing it can be for a young girl or Black child to see someone like themselves in the cockpit. It lets them know that they too can achieve their dreams.

A friend of mine, who I first met when he was a captain and I was a first officer, and who also happens to be Black, was approached by a young Black man working the ramp who wanted tips on how to become a pilot. My friend didn't just give out a few words of advice; he took him under his wing and guided him for several years following that first meeting. That ramper is now a captain for Delta Airlines. Change is possible. ...more

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Save Our Souls: The True Story of a Castaway Family, Treachery, and Murder
by Matthew Pearl (Goodreads Author)

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A shipwreck. Survival on an uninhabited island in the Pacific. Then toss in some backstabbing and murder, and you have the story behind Save Our Souls. The island where the castaways find themselves is Midway, the scene of one of the more notorious b A shipwreck. Survival on an uninhabited island in the Pacific. Then toss in some backstabbing and murder, and you have the story behind Save Our Souls. The island where the castaways find themselves is Midway, the scene of one of the more notorious battles of World War II. In 1887, however, it was uninhabited.

This castaway story is made even more interesting because it involves an entire family as well as the family dog. The Walker family consisted of the ship's captain, Frederick, his wife Elizabeth, and their three teenage sons. There were also 24 crewmen who were also shipwrecked. While the size of the castaways helped in some ways, such as building shelter and eventually a ship built from salvaged materials, it also meant that the need for food was that much greater.

Of all of the characters in this story, the one that stands out the most is Elizabeth. She kept hope alive and maintained a level head throughout the ordeal. The main source of food was eggs from the many birds that called the island home, at least part of the year. That food source was supplemented with fish and crabs. A lack of vitamin C, however, meant that many of the survivors succumbed to scurvy.

There are a lot of shady characters in this story. One of those shady characters is Hans Jorgenson. The castaways find him living in a small shelter on the island. He had been marooned on the island months earlier. This is where the author goes into the back story of many of the characters. In Hans' case, he had been marooned on the island by the crew of another ship because he had been suspected of murder.

The author expertly weaves in stories of other shipwrecks as well as comparisons to the fictional Robinson Crusoe and that book's author. As in Robinson Crusoe, the survivors build a ship from salvaged parts from the original sailing vessel. That boat, however, is stolen by Hans and another crewmember. They make it to Hawaii but make up a fictional story to cover their trail of treachery, leaving the remaining survivors on the island to die.

When rescue finally does come, there is an added sense of injustice when the captain of the ship that finds them demands payment for their rescue. The final chapters of the book detail what happened to the many characters in the story after their rescue.

One thing I learned from this book is that the origin of SOS, the internationally recognized distressed signal, stands for Save Our Souls, or, in some references, Save Our Ship. ...more

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Wavewalker: Breaking Free
by Suzanne Heywood (Goodreads Author)

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The author sums up this story with a comment made in one of the final chapters, where she says she felt like she was trapped in someone else's dream. That dream was her father's, and it was to sail around the world. The problem was that he also had a ...more

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Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial
by Corban Addison (Goodreads Author)

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Wastelands is a story about odor. It's also a story about large corporations putting profits above doing the right thing. The book shares a similar theme with Toms River, which is about two large chemical companies that polluted the air and water aro Wastelands is a story about odor. It's also a story about large corporations putting profits above doing the right thing. The book shares a similar theme with Toms River, which is about two large chemical companies that polluted the air and water around Toms River, New Jersey, and the people who fought to stop them. The main question at the center of this story is whether people living near large-scale pig farms, or concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), have a right to enjoy their property without the unpleasant smell that comes from these large pig farms and the vast amounts of animal waste that are collected in lagoons and then sprayed onto nearby fields.

Describing something that smells bad is sort of like defining pornography: you know it when you see it, or, in this case, smell it. As I read the author's attempts to describe the awful odor emanating from these pig farms and spraying operations, it reminded me of my time as a regional airline pilot. How is that? You ask. I'm not talking about smelly passengers, though there were plenty of those; I'm talking about one specific route we used to fly. The route was from St. Louis to Sioux City, Iowa. There were many occasions when we would descend into Sioux City and be hit with a terrible odor that permeated the entire cockpit and cabin. The smell was especially bad when there was little wind. I learned from the employees at the airport that the smell was coming from a nearby meatpacking plant. What we were smelling was the scent of animal blood.

I had little difficulty empathizing with the neighbors who joined a class-action lawsuit against Smithfield Foods. Just like in the story in Toms River, the people who brought the lawsuit were ridiculed and accused of trying to hurt the local economy. Some of the worst accusers were politicians. Once they learned about the class action lawsuit, they banded together to write legislation to prevent nuisance lawsuits. Fortunately, since the bill was signed after the lawsuits were brought, it wasn't retroactive, and the class action lawsuits were allowed to proceed to a jury trial.

One of the more aggressive politicians who fought the lawsuits was Senator Tom Tillis of North Carolina. He went on and on about how these people and their out-of-town lawyers were just out for the money, and he was going to do whatever he could to stop them. I am willing to go out on a limb and say that if Senator Tillis lived next to one of these CAFOs, he might have had a different opinion on the matter.

The author does a good job not only of describing the problem and the environmental impact of the open-air wastewater lagoons and the spraying of that wastewater onto nearby fields, but he also provides several alternative solutions that have been implemented at other large-scale farm operations, such as simply covering the lagoons and pumping the wastewater into the soil. Or, better yet, treating the waste and then turning the resulting methane into usable energy.

The author covers a great deal of territory in the ten-plus years it took for the story to unfold. The audiobook was over 16 hours long. I'm sure I lost a few pounds as I walked the neighborhood with the audiobook playing in my earbuds.

There was a statement read by Judge Harvie Wilkinson III, an appeals judge with the U.S. Fourth Circuit, that could serve as a summary of this book: “The rights of neighbors to enjoy their property free from unreasonable interference must be respected. And the dignity of animals must not be used as a shield for practices that treat them—and the humans who live nearby—with disregard.” ...more

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Never Caught: The Washingtons' Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge
by Erica Armstrong Dunbar

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Slavery got its start in Africa when one tribe would overpower another tribe and subjugate the surviving members of the conquered tribe. It wasn't about dehumanizing people, but more about exerting power. It was later that slavery became a dehumanizi Slavery got its start in Africa when one tribe would overpower another tribe and subjugate the surviving members of the conquered tribe. It wasn't about dehumanizing people, but more about exerting power. It was later that slavery became a dehumanizing practice.

This story takes place when the immorality of slavery was beginning to surface. The author describes what life was like as a slave. She talks about families that were torn apart as family members were traded and sold to other slave owners. She describes the fear that many female slaves felt of being raped by their masters. George Washington had hundreds of slaves. He and his wife promised slaves to their children and grandchildren, like offering them up as gifts. While he may have questioned the morality of slavery in his later years, the personal benefits of having slaves outweighed any rational thinking. When some states started to grant freedom to slaves after they reached a certain age, George Washington hid that information from his slaves and purposely shuffled them from the north to the south to avoid granting them their freedom.

As the new president moved to Pennsylvania to begin his term, he brought a number of slaves with him. Ona Judge was one of them. It was the first time that Ona Judge saw free black men and women. She longed for that freedom even if it meant abandoning her family. When she finally did escape, George Washington did everything he could to have his property returned to him.

While freedom for previously enslaved people had its rewards, a lack of education and opportunity meant a lifetime of poverty and struggle. In some ways, that struggle continues to this day.

When one class of people dehumanizes another class of people, it becomes easier to justify cruelty in whatever form it takes. History is full of examples of powerful men justifying slavery. Even the Supreme Court allowed it to go on. While Lincoln is given credit for ending slavery, his plan was not so altruistic when you consider that he also suggested that former slaves be deported to Central America.

Slavery had such a hold on America that it would take another seventy years before slavery was outlawed. ...more

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Zenith Man: Death, Love, and Redemption in a Georgia Courtroom
by McCracken Poston Jr. (Goodreads Author)

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You can't judge a book by its cover—or, in this case, its title. When I first read the title of this book, I did not react positively to it. I don't know what exactly turned me off about the title, except that I didn't like it. After reading the book ...more

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The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Obsession
by Michael Finkel (Goodreads Author)

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I was immediately attracted by the premise behind Michael Finkel's book The Art Thief. Not only was Stephane Breitwieser the most prolific art thief in history, but he didn't sell his stolen artwork. He proudly displayed the many items in the attic r I was immediately attracted by the premise behind Michael Finkel's book The Art Thief. Not only was Stephane Breitwieser the most prolific art thief in history, but he didn't sell his stolen artwork. He proudly displayed the many items in the attic room he shared with his girlfriend, Anne-Catherine Kleinklaus.

Author Michael Finkel tells Stephane's story starting with his first stolen artwork, an ivory representation of Adam and Eve. He follows the art thief on a mostly sequential journey as he pilfers paintings and works of silver, copper, wood, and ivory from museums and art shows throughout Europe.

In the early stages, Stephane is a sympathetic character obsessed with fine art. After he is finally caught and tricked into confessing his many crimes, it becomes harder to sympathize with someone who doesn't have enough self-control to stop sabotaging any chance he has for a more respectable path.

The majority of his crimes were done with the help of his girlfriend. She stood as a lookout, watching the movements of security guards and museum visitors. She occasionally helped Stephane carry items out of museums in her purse.

You know it can't go on. Sooner or later, he is going to get caught. He has several close calls. He does get caught stealing from one museum but talks his way out of it, claiming to be a first-time offender and promising never to do it again. It's his second arrest when his world starts to crumble.

I wanted to read about the investigators climbing the stairs to his mother's attic room and finding over a billion dollars worth of stolen artwork. I wanted to know what happened to him, his girlfriend, and his mother, who claimed ignorance over the thefts. And I wanted to know what happened to all of that artwork. I won't give away any spoilers here, but this story has a shocking ending regarding the artwork and who is punished and who is not.

A while back, I purchased the digital frame Meural. It's like having an art museum in my home. Besides being a great way to display photos I've taken, I use it to display artwork from museums worldwide and by artists from every genre: Picasso, Monet, Jackson Pollack, Banksy, and hundreds of others. One feature I like is that with the swipe of my hand, I can get information about the artist and the background of the specific painting I'm viewing. I have created a playlist of some of Stephane's stolen pieces. Now, I can view the artwork he once cherished and displayed in a small attic in France. ...more

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Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
by Trevor Noah

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I remember the first time I saw Trevor Noah sitting behind the desk of the Daily Show. He was replacing Jon Stewart. Where did they get this guy from? I thought. It wasn't long before I became a fan of his wit and humor. The Daily Show was in good ha I remember the first time I saw Trevor Noah sitting behind the desk of the Daily Show. He was replacing Jon Stewart. Where did they get this guy from? I thought. It wasn't long before I became a fan of his wit and humor. The Daily Show was in good hands.

As much as I would have liked to have read about his rise through the comedy ranks and onto American television, this memoir covers his growing up in South Africa. We'll have to wait for his second memoir to catch up on his more recent escapades.

For most of the book, I listened to the audiobook, which Trevor Noah narrates. The few times I read from the Kindle, I heard Trevor's voice. This is one book where the audiobook is the best way to enjoy this funny and heartfelt memoir. I don't think anyone else could have pulled it off as well as he did. One advantage of having Trevor as the narrator is that you get to hear him imitate the many characters in the book. It's like having Trevor sitting next to you in a bar and listening to him tell you his stories firsthand.

I can't remember when I laughed so hard from a book. I know I caused a few stares at the gym as I listened in my earbuds. Because it's a memoir and not a stand-up routine, Trevor has time to set up each story. He carefully creates each character, describing their background and then mimicking their voice. He paints a picture that's easy to see. The story of him taking a crap in the kitchen and his blind grandmother sensing, or smelling that something wasn't right, had me laughing out loud. I can still hear his voice as he was tasked with having to say a prayer to rid the house of whatever demon had left a turd in the trash.

Trevor owes a lot to his mom. She was the one constant in his life, a teacher, caregiver, and disciplinarian. Later in the book, Trevor talks about his brother Andrew, who had a different father. He describes how his mom treated Andrew differently and didn't spank him as much as she did him. When Trevor confronts his mom about this disparity in corporal punishment, his mom claims that Andrew is small and thin and Trevor has an ass made for whippings.

As funny as the book is, it is also poignant and philosophical. Trevor talks about his short stint in jail after being arrested for car theft. He talks about how some parents, including his mom, would insist that their sons or daughters face the consequences of their misdeeds and not offer to help them in their time of need. While there may be a time for such tough love, Trevor explains that by not helping them, they risk setting their children up for a lifetime of difficulty.

The book contains many lessons about racism and culture. Trevor, who grew up in South Africa during Apartheid, has the background to speak authoritatively about these subjects. But he does it through humor.

I look forward to hearing more from Trevor Noah. In the meantime, listen to the audiobook. ...more

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Adrift: A True Story of Tragedy on the Icy Atlantic and the One Who Lived to Tell about It
by Brian Murphy

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Having just read The Graves Are Walking about the Irish potato famine, I was intrigued by this survival story set ten years later. Many of the people described in this story were likely impacted by the famine. The immigration from Ireland to the Unit Having just read The Graves Are Walking about the Irish potato famine, I was intrigued by this survival story set ten years later. Many of the people described in this story were likely impacted by the famine. The immigration from Ireland to the United States, which had begun due to the potato blight, was still going strong ten years later. And for the sorry folks who boarded the John Rutledge, which struck an iceberg and sunk, their quest for a new beginning didn't end any better than those who stayed behind.

Author Brian Murphy does an excellent job of compiling a mountain of research into a readable narrative. The story of the thirteen people who find themselves adrift at sea in a lifeboat and how only one survives is compelling, but it takes up only a small portion of the story. The rest of the book is a history lesson about the boat, the people, and the harsh realities of life in the mid-nineteenth century.

The author describes many other vessels, besides the John Rutledge, that also met an uncertain fate in the same three-month period. One such vessel was the steamship the SS Pacific. With ship-to-ship communication not yet available, ship captains did not have up-to-the-minute information about weather, sea conditions, and ice warnings. Those who were made aware of the dire conditions during this period, from boats arriving at port, altered their trek across the Atlantic to a more southerly course. Unfortunately for the survivors of the John Rutledge, who managed to board three lifeboats, it meant there was less chance of being spotted by a passing boat on the same route.

Besides the lack of food and water, the survivors had no protection from the elements. The sinking had occurred so unexpectedly that many were dressed inappropriately for the conditions. Being adrift at sea in a lifeboat in 1856 was not a desirable place to be.

Of all the stories of what transpired before, during, and after the sinking, one story stuck with me. The lone survivor was Thomas Nye. He was rescued by the boat HMS Germania. At one point after the rescue, while the ship's captain sets out to look for the survivors on the other two lifeboats, one sailor tells the captain about hearing voices he could not identify coming from the water a few days earlier. It was foggy at the time, and he didn't tell anyone, unsure of what he had heard. Once they picked up Nye, and learned that there were two other lifeboats out there, he realized that what he heard may have been pleas from the survivors from one of the other boats.

Once Thomas Nye is rescued, the author follows the characters in the story until Nye's death. One of the last anecdotes he tells is about a message found in a bottle many years after the Pacific disappeared. The message, supposedly written by a crewmember aboard the boat, describes the sinking of the ship after colliding with an iceberg. ...more

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	35 Miles from Shore: The Ditching and Rescue of ALM Flight 980 3.92 avg rating — 679 ratings — published 2008 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Scapegoat: A Flight Crew's Journey from Heroes to Villains to Redemption 3.98 avg rating — 178 ratings — published 2016 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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