Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them

( 35 )

Overview

A revelatory tale of science, adventure, and modern myth.

When the writer Donovan Hohn heard of the mysterious loss of thousands of bath toys at sea, he figured he would interview a few oceanographers, talk to a few beachcombers, and read up on Arctic science and geography. But questions can be like ocean currents: wade in too far, and they carry you away. Hohn's accidental odyssey pulls him into the secretive world of shipping conglomerates, the daring work of Arctic ...

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Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them

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More About This Book

Overview

A revelatory tale of science, adventure, and modern myth.

When the writer Donovan Hohn heard of the mysterious loss of thousands of bath toys at sea, he figured he would interview a few oceanographers, talk to a few beachcombers, and read up on Arctic science and geography. But questions can be like ocean currents: wade in too far, and they carry you away. Hohn's accidental odyssey pulls him into the secretive world of shipping conglomerates, the daring work of Arctic researchers, the lunatic risks of maverick sailors, and the shadowy world of Chinese toy factories.

Moby-Duck is a journey into the heart of the sea and an adventure through science, myth, the global economy, and some of the worst weather imaginable. With each new discovery, Hohn learns of another loose thread, and with each successive chase, he comes closer to understanding where his castaway quarry comes from and where it goes. In the grand tradition of Tony Horwitz and David Quammen, Moby-Duck is a compulsively readable narrative of whimsy and curiosity.

2012 PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award Runner-up

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Editorial Reviews

Janet Maslin
…adventurous, inquisitive and brightly illuminating…a book that works as a lively travelogue as well as a voyage of discovery and a philosophical inquiry of sorts…
—The New York Times
Elizabeth Royte
…dazzling…Moby-Duck succeeds as harebrained adventure, as a cautionary environmental tale, as a deconstruction of consumer demand, and as a meditation on wilderness and imagination…Hohn seems to have it all: deep intelligence, a strikingly original voice, humility and a hunger to suss out everything a yellow duck may literally or metaphorically touch. Naturally, he can't, but the chase is, after all, the thing.
—The New York Times Book Review
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780143120506
  • Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
  • Publication date: 2/28/2012
  • Pages: 416
  • Sales rank: 215,775
  • Product dimensions: 5.40 (w) x 8.40 (h) x 1.10 (d)

Meet the Author

Donovan Hohn is a journalist whose work has appeared in Harper's Magazine, The New York Times Magazine and Outside. He is currently the features editor at GQ. Moby-Duck was nominated as the runner-up for for the 2011 PEN/ E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. Hohn lives in New York City.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 3
( 35 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(9)

4 Star

(7)

3 Star

(7)

2 Star

(3)

1 Star

(9)

Your Rating:

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 36 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 3, 2011

    A screed on plastic pollution

    I expected to read an interesting book on how ocean currents work and quite a bit about beach combing. Instead I got page after page of lament regarding plastic pollution in the ocean and the beaches. While this may be an important topic, it was not the one I bought the book to read about in so much repetative detail. Its not even a particularly insightful look at the problems plastics are causing in our oceans - just repetitive.

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted January 30, 2012

    Unknown - book not here yet.

    Paperback version is not out yet. So I do not have the book yet.
    Clean up your automated software asking for reviews of books you have not even mailed out yet. Mach schnell.

    2 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted September 16, 2011

    Won't recomment

    HORRIBLE Book, make Moby Dick look interesting. His time would have been better spent spending time nurturing his son in his early formative years

    2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 7, 2011

    Sample won't download to Nook app on iPad

    The Moby Duck icon is in the Nook library, but when it starts to download the actual sample you get a message saying, "Sorry, this item cannot be read on this device." I have downloaded other Nook samples to my iPad, so I know it works. I'm glad I tried to "sample" this before purchasing. Very disappointed.

    2 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted November 1, 2011

    Most interesting

    Enjoyable and informative. Always a good combination.

    1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 30, 2011

    Sample not downloadable?

    I downloaded the sample to my nook, but when I open it I only get the 2-page review. When I click on the Download button on the review page, I get an error message saying to call B&N. I see other people have been having this same problem since May so I'm assuming downloading a sample must not be an option for this book?

    1 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 6, 2011

    No sample

    Read a sample icon is there, but not downloadable. Huh?

    1 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 4, 2013

    SHELBY TO QUEENIE

    NOT ME SEE??

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 31, 2013

    Ally to sammy

    I wou lik to fuq u alone

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 31, 2013

    Sammy

    Sure but i want u to ra.pe me

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 31, 2013

    Shelby

    Is gone

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 16, 2013

    Samle wont download???

    The sample is not downlaodins. I think that this book is cheap even tough I havnt read it.

    0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 2, 2012

    Cannot access

    I have a nook and cannot read the sample because it says my reader does not support this file type.

    0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 7, 2012

    Sample doesnt work

    Tried but doesnt work

    0 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 21, 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted February 14, 2012

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 21, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 30, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted September 30, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 31, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 36 Customer Reviews
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