Preview of The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey Summary:

In the preface to The Hungry Ocean Greenlaw tells us that "people are intrigued with my life as the captain of the Hannah Boden . . . and their interest often results in questions about the day-to-day details of a typical month-long swordfishing trip to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland." She goes on to say that while fishing is a thrill, "the greatest challenges any captain faces are often keeping the crew focused, making sure the vessel remains mechanically sound, and returning safely to port." Until Sebastian Junger wrote The Perfect Storm, an account of the loss of the Andrea Gail with its crew in the "Halloween gale" of 1991, Greenlaw says that she "fished for seventeen years and nobody cared."

To survive, the crew of the Hannah Boden must respect one another and work together. Decisions are made, first to ensure the survival of the boat and crew, and then to...