Explorations: A Life of Underwater Adventure [Paperback]

Robert D. Ballard (Author), Malcolm McConnell (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 407 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Books (Adult Trd Pap) (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786883898
• ISBN-13: 978-0786883899
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,593,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A lifetime of great achievement., July 16, 2009

By 

Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Explorations: A Life of Underwater Adventure (Paperback)

Robert Ballard will be forever remembered as the man who found the Titanic. For most people, having discovered the world's most famous shipwreck would be enough. But consider this; He did not just stumble across that wreck like a scuba diver might happen upon across a previously unknown sunken vessel simply by chance. Furthermore, although the Titanic made him famous, he went on to find many more shipwrecks the most celebrated of which was the Bismarck. In addition he visited the site of the Battle of Midway where he located the remains of the 19,900 ton aircraft carrier USS Yorktown and other important ships. Then he produced a work which, for me at least, is probably his finest. That book was "The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal" in which the position of a large number of warships are mapped on the seabed and individual accounts include the loss of the heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (the "A" stands for Australian) and USS Quincy - to name but two. All these finds - and others, are recorded in his various outstanding books.

In this autobiography, Ballard starts in 1967 with his attendance at a very important lecture. From that point onwards, we follow his career through the peaks and troughs of success and tribulation as we join him on his life spent in search of whatever he might be seeking underwater - not all of which are shipwrecks. From the study of lava formations to the Jason Project, this is an account of one of the most interesting and illuminating lives of modern times.

The book does suffer from a few annoying little errors - such as the photograph of USS Barton on the seabed being upside down and a reference to "HMS" Canberra but these do not spoil one's enjoyment of the work which provides a full and accurate appreciation of this man's life and achievements.

Because it is an account of his life, I would have liked to have found a desire to see the Titanic preserved. My understanding is that no vessel can be considered for international protection until she has been lost for 100 years. The Titanic was, of course, lost in 1912 and huge sections of the ship have already been brought to the surface. I earnestly believe that if Dr Ballard had launched a campaign to protect that ship, she might well have been considered for early designation - after all, over 1,500 people did lose their lives when she sank.

That, however, is a personal comment and this is an altogether excellent, often riveting, read and one which will be thoroughly enjoyed.

NM

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Explorations, February 18, 2001

By 

IntelSldr (Ft Huachuca, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Explorations: A Life of Underwater Adventure (Paperback)

An excellent read. This is the life story of one of the Greatest marine geologists and explorers of our time. From top secret navy submarines to luxurious ocean liners to deep sea marine life this man has seen it all, this book helps to explain what wasn't in the other great books he has written, it is a personal account of everything he went through to get where he is now. It was one of the best books I have ever read and a must have for all fans.