Moby Dick

Herman Melville

Recommended By

Book Reviews

One of Steve Jobs' favorite books.

Book Synopsis

"Moby Dick" by Herman Melville is a remarkable tale about the obsessed Captain Ahab and his relentless pursuit of the great white whale known as Moby Dick. Set in the 19th century, the novel takes readers on a perilous journey on the whaling ship Pequod, where Ahab's quest for vengeance overrides all sane judgment.

As the crew members embark on their dangerous voyage, Melville masterfully delves into their unique personalities and backgrounds, offering a captivating exploration of human nature. Ishmael, the narrator, provides a window into this fascinating world, introducing readers to the diverse crew and sharing his own thoughts and experiences.

Ahab, a charismatic yet deeply tormented character, becomes fixated on hunting down Moby Dick, whom he believes to be responsible for his lost leg. He drives the crew to the brink of madness, while the formidable whale remains an elusive adversary haunting their every move.

Amidst this relentless pursuit, Melville incorporates rich and intricate descriptions of whaling practices, revealing the arduous labor and dangers faced by the sailors. From the harsh realities of the hunt to the unpredictable forces of nature, the author immerses readers in an unparalleled maritime setting.

"Moby Dick" is not merely a story of a man's obsession; it explores themes of fate, humanity's struggle against nature, the search for meaning in a turbulent world, and the unyielding power of revenge. It is a sprawling epic that combines adventure, philosophy, and poetic language to create a literary masterpiece that continues to captivate readers today.

Explore More Books

See All
Montaigne's Essays
Mission
The World is Flat
The Origins of Virtue
The Politics Industry
Charged
Big World, Small Planet
Parents Who Lead
The Celestine Prophecy
How An Economy Grows and Why It Crashes
The Canceling of the American Mind
Healthy Buildings
The Richest Man in Babylon
Letters from a Stoic
Creating Shareholder Value
Mortal Republic
The Evolution of Beauty
That's What She Said
The Holy Grail of Investing
The Spectator
A Technique for Producing Ideas
1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die
This Brave New World
Talking to Strangers
Execution
The Narrow Corridor
On Grief and Grieving
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Voltaire
Hard Drive
Clear Thinking
Merchants of Truth
Graphs, Maps, Trees
DMT: The Spirit Molecule
Great Expectations
Rock On
Twelve Against The Gods
Concentrated Investing
Thus Spoke the Plant
The Doors of Perception
Maisy Mouse Collection
Diffusion of Innovations
Certain To Win
The Oz Principle
The Romance of American Communism
The Medici Effect
Calm Your Mind with Food
The Model Thinker
The Rise And Fall Of American Growth
If At Birth You Don't Succeed
I Seem To Be A Verb
Order Without Design
The Nature of the Beast
Cashing in on the American Dream
Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage
A Short Guide to a Happy Life
The Essential Scratch and Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Devil's Bargain
The Essential Writings
I Contain Multitudes
Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention
The Picture of Dorian Gray
How To Shoot Video That Doesn't Suck
Imaginable
The Clash of Civilization and the Remaking of World Order
Too Big to Fail
The Tyranny of Experts
All Marketers are Liars
The Painted Bird
Crash Proof 2.0
American Kingpin
The Big Short
The Halo Effect...
Nixonland
A Curious Mind
The Aspirational Investor
High Output Management
The Fortunes of Africa
Cuckoo
Personal Knowledge
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
The Robotics Primer
Prepared
The Deficit Myth
Play Bigger
Excession
The Curse of the Mogul
Markings
The Fourth Turning
The Amber Spyglass
Impro
Levels of the Game
The Founders
Dynasty
Courage
Essays and Aphorisms
The Sixth Extinction
Nixon Agonistes
The Innovators
Masters of Doom