Depending on the readers familiarity with certain countries, technologies or histories, these can bog down quickly in repetitive or overindulgence of detail. This collection of ten essays is crafted around what zweig considered to be the. Journalist simon winchester had already published a list of travel and historical titles before a footnote in a book about dictionarymaking led him to his tale of a prolific contributor to the gargantuan oxford english dictionary. Pacific by simon winchester simon winchester takes pride in being a traveler.
Winchester calls his book an account of the modern pacific, and he uses two dates as bookends for the major events he depicts. Silicon chips and surfboards, coral reefs and atom bombs. Silicon chips and surfboards, coral reefs and atom. Simon winchester has worked as a foreign correspondent for most of his career, although he graduated from oxford in 1966 with a degree in geology and spent a year working as a geologist in the ruwenzori mountains in western uganda, and on oil rigs in the north sea. Simon winchester has 59 books on goodreads with 401102 ratings. He is a writer, known for the professor and the madman 2019, truth in numbers. Winchester offers insight into the pacific s central importance in the 21st century through 10 closeups of historic moments, trends and challenges from the oceans postww2 history. Simon winchester studied geology at oxford university.
As the mediterranean shaped the classical world, and the atlantic connected europe to the new world, the. Discount prices on books by simon winchester, including titles like the professor and the madman movie tiein. Jun 01, 2018 such stories are the focus of simon winchesters new book, the perfectionists. He lives in massachusetts and in the western isles of scotland. Simon winchester is the acclaimed author of many books, including the professor and the madman, the men who united the states, the map that changed the world, the man who loved china, a crack in the edge of the world, and krakatoa, all of which were new york times bestsellers and appeared on numerous best and notable lists. May 7, 2018 nprs mary louise speaks to author simon winchester about how precision in technology has. Simon winchester is the acclaimed author of many books, including the professor and the madman, the man who loved china, a crack in the edge of the world, and krakatoaall of which were new york times bestsellers and appeared on numerous best and notable lists. Only simon winchester, the bestselling author of the professor and the madman and krakatoa, would have the tenacity and the talent to tackle a biography of the atlantic ocean. In his career at the guardian newspaper, winchester covered numerous significant events, including bloody sunday and the watergate scandal. Nov 22, 2015 winchester was inspired by a book of essays published by the austrian writer stefan zweig in 1927, dealing with what winchester calls the seminal moments in the tide of human experience. Pacific is simon winchesters latest bigpicture book. Ranging from the pacifics role as crucible for all the worlds weather through surfing to the invention of the transistor, he brings to each considerable research. To encompass this vastness in one book, winchester selects a series of key moments in the pacifics recent history. Winchester participated in a threehour discussion of his life and work.
This is an early simon winchester book bought through amazons marketplace. Like michenor, he can make people, circumstances, events and geography come. Oct 27, 2015 one of library journals 10 best books of 2015. A third world war in the far east by simon winchester and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Having read atlantic after it was published a few years ago, i developed a fondness for everything he has. Pacific silicon chips and surfboards, coral reefs and atom bombs, brutal dictators, fading empires, and the coming collision of the worlds superpowers following his acclaimed atlantic and the men who united the states, new york times bestselling author simon winchester offers an enthralling biography of the pacific ocean and its role in the. Instead, realizing the difficulty of his own task, the author focuses on 10 aspects of the ocean and its. Open book with simon winchester the berkshire eagle. Winchester has written or contributed to more than a dozen nonfiction books, has written one novel, and has. It was superbly written but bogged down a bit at the end. Navigating the newly evolving patterns of commerce and trade, the worlds most violent weather and the fascinating histories, problems and potentials of the many pacific states, simon winchester s thrilling journey is a grand depiction of the future ocean.
Another epic story by winchester, pacific, published in 1991, was an interesting look at the history and the politics of the nation states that border the planets largest body of water as well as the oceanography of the pacific. Ranging from the pacific s role as crucible for all the worlds weather through surfing to the invention of the transistor, he brings to each considerable research. Winchester achieves this spooky feat partly through numbers. It was another traveler, the explorer ferdinand magellan, who, in 1520, gave the largest body of water on our planet the name by which we have known it ever since. Simon winchester books list of books by author simon winchester. Silicon chips and surfboards, coral reefs and atom bombs, brutal dictators, fading empires, and the coming collision of the worlds superpowers. Writer, mostly nonfiction, britishborn, american now also.
Simon winchester is the acclaimed author of many books, including the professor and the madman, the men who united the states, the map that changed the world, the man who loved china, a crack in the edge of the world, and krakatoa, all of which we. Simon winchester audiobooks download instantly today. Simon winchesters latest book, pacific, is based on a fairly simple westward focused premise. The ocean of the future 1st edition by simon winchester isbn. Winchester examines how a desire for precision has driven. He is the author of atlantic,a crack in the edge of the world, krakatoa, the map that changed the world, the professor and the madman, the fracture zone, outposts, korea, among many other titles. In 2006 winchester was made an officer of the order of the british empire by her. His recent titles include atlantic and the men who united the states. Simon winchester is the new york times bestselling author of the professor and the madman. Simon winchester was born on september 28, 1944 in england. Following his acclaimed atlantic and the men who united the states, new york times bestselling author simon winchester offers an enthralling biography of the pacific ocean and its role in the modern world, exploring our relationship with this imposing force of nature as the mediterranean shaped the classical world, and the atlantic. In his biography of an ocean, simon winchester finds an optimistic note among all the doom we humans trail in our wake. Pacific is simon winchesters latest bigpicture book the. Winchester is a superb author who writes on many diverse topics.
Simon winchesters most popular book is the professor and the madman. The ocean of the future by simon winchester goodreads. I remember the imprisonment of some journalists back then but had no idea that one of them was simon winchester. Nov 23, 2015 writer and journalist simon winchester talks about his new book, pacific, an enthralling biography of the pacific ocean and its role in the modern world, exploring our relationship with this.
He starts in 1950 with a bravura chapter, the great thermonuclear sea. The extraordinary story of the making of the oxford english dictionary is a subject perfectly suited to winchester s magpie mind winchester s book is not just an entertaining crib for a certain kind of trivial pursuit. Everything, according to wikipedia 2010 and canals. He spoke about his early career as a geologist and how he became a professional writer. The prelude to his prison diary was far more interesting to me and wish it had been expanded a bit more to discuss the political background. May 07, 2018 in the perfectionists simon winchester looks at history of precision engineering. Silicon chips and surfboards, coral reefs and atom bombs, brutal dictators, fading empires, and the. I like printing, cidermaking, bees, stamps, wood and trains. Winchester, who now lives in massachusetts, does not do the expected. Books by simon winchester meet your next favorite book. Often we think of the pacific ocean as an ocean conquered by western civilization, but as simon winchester shows in this book, westerners really dont fully. Winchester can e,plain difficult topics such as plate tectonics easily understood and learned. Pacific is a sweeping overview of the oceans recent history and the people who inhabit its lands and impact its future. Winchester spells out how the worlds largest body of water has been a player in subjects as varied as war and pop culture.
In pacific, author simon winchester closes with the image of the vessel hokulea, which he views as a symbol of hope for the people of the pacific islands and a physical manifestation of a return of respect for indigenous traditions. The format simon winchester uses to capture this massive subject was inspired by austrian author stefan zweigs 1927 volume, shooting stars. A modernday melville, he takes to the waters in pursuit of a largerthanlife creature, adeptly capturing his prey in the engaging atlantic. Winchester was inspired by a book of essays published by the austrian writer stefan zweig in 1927, dealing with what winchester calls the. Following his acclaimed atlantic and the men who united the states, new york times bestselling author simon winchester offers an enthralling biography of the pacific ocean and its role in the modern world, exploring our relationship with this imposing force of nature. Pacific simon winchester ebook harpercollins publishers. To encompass this vastness in one book, winchester selects a series of key moments in the pacific s recent history.
Simon winchester, obe born 28 september 1944 is a britishamerican author and journalist. Simon winchester brings a unique and wellexplained perspective, studying the worlds most significant ocean via a series of ten essays each with a different starting point. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It can be recommended in all seriousness to committed scrabble players. Simon winchester books list of books by simon winchester. Most importantly, he serves it up with a light touch. Silicon chips and surfboards, coral reefs and atom bombs, brutal dictators, fading empires, and the coming collision of the worlds superpowers, was published in 2015. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Winchester was awarded an order of the british empire obe for his services to journalism and literature.