This book is generally a good read as l enjoyed learning about the Merchant Marine within the context. However, I think this book could have been edited a little better and I would have liked some more information regarding some key issues i.e. why don't merchant ships carry any weapons as well as the reason why the fire hoses did not work this time to repel the pirates? How about a little more research on the pirates' claims about their over fished waters? It was fairly hard for me to easily visualise some of the scenes in my head, particularly around the configuration of the ship and lifeboat. Maybe some detailed illustrations would have helped too. Anyway, I raced through the book at top speed. Even though I knew how it was going to turn out, the story captured my attention. Some of the crew members from the Maersk Alabama are now coming forward saying that Phillips was reckless and perhaps even wanted to be captured. I find that very hard to believe after reading the description of life on the tiny lifeboat for the captain and his four captors until the Navy intervened.
Personally, all the family background portion bored me out of my brain hence I found myself skimming through those sections to get to the so much needed pirate portions. I also was somewhat set aback early in the book by some bashing of the Navy by Capt Phillips. I kept saying to myself "Hey dude,these are the guys who saved you. You'd better make up for it later in the book".
