Nathaniel Philbrick

Herman Melville's Moby-Dick is indisputably one of the "great American novels," yet its length and esoteric subject matter often keep readers at bay. With his trademark enthusiasm, Nathaniel Philbrick skillfully navigates Melville's world and illuminates the book's humor and unforgettable characters, finding the thread that binds Ishmael and Ahab to our own time, and to all times.A great guide for those who've thought about reading Moby-Dick but never have, or for those who can read it multiple times and find something new with each reading, Why Read Moby-Dick? will start conversations, inspire arguments, and bring new readers to a classic tale. Nathaniel Philbrick is the author of numerous bestsellers about American history, including In the Heart of the Sea, winner of the National Book Award, and Mayflower, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He is the founding director of the Egan Maritime Institute on Nantucket Island and a research fellow at the Nantucket Historical Association.www.nathanielphilbrick.com Recorded On: Tuesday, October 18, 2011