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The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea Audio CD – December 31, 1981

by Sebastian Junger (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 3,129 ratings
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Man's struggle against the sea is a theme that has created some of the world's most exciting stories. Now, in the tradition of Moby Dick comes a New York Times best-seller destined to become a modern classic. Written by journalist Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm combines an intimate portrait of a small fishing crew with fascinating scientific data about boats and weather systems. In late October, North Atlantic seas are unpredictable. Still, one last good swordfish catch is a chance to start the winter with a fat wallet. As Captain Billy Tyne steers his 72-foot longboat Andrea Gail toward the Grand Banks, growing weather fronts are moving toward the same waters. The Andrea Gail is sailing into the storm of the century, one with 100 mile per hour winds and waves cresting over 110 feet. As each man on the boat faces this ultimate foe, Sebastian Junger gives the account an immediacy that fills The Perfect Storm with suspense and authenticity. Narrator Richard M. Davidson's reading adds further drama to this unforgettable sea adventure. An interview with the author concludes the audiobook.
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  1. Print length
    1 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Recorded Books, Inc. and Blackstone Publishing
  4. Publication date
    December 31, 1981
  5. ISBN-10
    1664423451
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1664423459
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Recorded Books, Inc. and Blackstone Publishing
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 31, 1981
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Unabridged
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 1 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1664423451
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1664423459
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 pounds
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 3,129 ratings

About the author

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Sebastian Junger

Sebastian Junger

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Sebastian Junger is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of War, The Perfect Storm, Fire, and A Death in Belmont. Together with Tim Hetherington, he directed the Academy Award-nominated film Restrepo, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. He is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and has been awarded a National Magazine Award and an SAIS Novartis Prize for journalism. He lives in New York City.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
3,129 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book keeps them enthralled and consider it better than the movie adaptation. The information quality receives positive feedback for its level of research and detail, particularly about the sea and fishermen, while the storytelling is praised for being more factual than fiction and more detailed than the movie. Customers appreciate the pacing, with one noting the technical details of wind, and the emotional content moves readers to tears. While many customers enjoy the book, some find it boring.

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ReadabilityInformation qualityStorytellingStory qualityPacingEmotional contentBoredom
126 customers mention "Readability"121 positive5 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a compelling and well-written narrative that keeps readers enthralled, with several noting it's better than the movie adaptation.

"I donate most books that I read, but I kept this one. It is an interesting book, and I liked the facts and history about sea storms and weather." Read more

"...Junger does a good job of trying to lay out what may have happened to the crew of the Andrea Gail during that fateful fishing trip in late October..." Read more

"...or through-walking the Appalachian Trial, this would be a good book for you to try...." Read more

"...It is a fascinating and extremely well-written and researched account of the 1991 collision of Hurricane Grace with a nor'easter, creating a massive..." Read more

56 customers mention "Information quality"47 positive9 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched, providing detailed information about the sea and fishermen.

"...It is an interesting book, and I liked the facts and history about sea storms and weather." Read more

"...In summary, a must read for those who love weather disasters, fishing life, and how tough the fishing industry is, as was not aware, as the job of..." Read more

"...It is a fascinating and extremely well-written and researched account of the 1991 collision of Hurricane Grace with a nor'easter, creating a massive..." Read more

"Factual? I think very probably. Are the facts selected fair? Hard to say. Is the presentation masterfully gripping? Definitely! —..." Read more

46 customers mention "Storytelling"46 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's storytelling, describing it as a well-written account of true events that is more factual than fiction and more detailed than the movie adaptation.

"...It is an interesting book, and I liked the facts and history about sea storms and weather." Read more

"...In summary, a must read for those who love weather disasters, fishing life, and how tough the fishing industry is, as was not aware, as the job of..." Read more

"...So there you have it. The book combines a personal life story, history, psychology, and world economics and even international relations...." Read more

"Factual? I think very probably. Are the facts selected fair? Hard to say. Is the presentation masterfully gripping? Definitely! —..." Read more

23 customers mention "Story quality"18 positive5 negative

Customers praise the book's narrative, with one review highlighting the harrowing true story of men against the sea, while another notes the bravery of the Coast Guard and pararescue jumpers.

"I saw the movie years ago and it was very impactful...." Read more

"...I truly enjoyed this book immensely and would recommend it. It makes a person think and it may make a person think to behave in a more responsible..." Read more

"...It left me wanting to know more about these hearty, brave and strong people...." Read more

"...and your heart will break with despair.......although the story end is not strong, the book is more factual than fiction and has historical..." Read more

14 customers mention "Pacing"12 positive2 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one review highlighting its detailed explanation of how the storms converged, while another describes it as a terrifying story of men against the sea.

"...look at the world of long-line fisherman, and a sobering study of the power of wind and water, and the brave souls who challenge those forces...." Read more

"...Linda Greenlaw's book The Hungry Ocean is a good companion to The Perfect Storm...." Read more

"...the victims, shudder at the process of drowning, tremble at the power and mystery of the ocean, and cheer for the bravery of the Coast Guard...." Read more

"...I learned a little about meteorology, oceanography, marine biology, and even marine architecture...." Read more

11 customers mention "Emotional content"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging, with several mentioning they wept while reading it, and one customer noting how it makes them relate to the victims.

"...The book combines a personal life story, history, psychology, and world economics and even international relations...." Read more

"...book, be prepared for an equally exciting, thrilling and ultimately heartbreaking tale of men who fish for a living and the many hazards they face...." Read more

"The Perfect Storm, will have you laughing, and crying, and weeping, and chuckling, and sobbing. Mostly sobbing...." Read more

"Lots of detail, a lot of technical information! Totally riveting, heart breaking and frightening, a book I couldn't put down!..." Read more

5 customers mention "Boredom"0 positive5 negative

Customers find the book boring.

"...It managed to be a lackluster, Norman Rockwell painting...." Read more

"...Truly a boring drudgery of a book...." Read more

"The most boring book I've ever read, respectively, I did not finish it, because I decided not to spent my expensive free time with this book...." Read more

"...Seriously? Paragraphs in the wrong places? Really? This is a real disappointment and difficult to read as a result...." Read more

Book bent during shipping
1 out of 5 stars
Book bent during shipping
Book arrived as shown in photo. This seems to happen with Amazon. Might go back to buying books in person and avoid this hassle.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Carla
    5.0 out of 5 stars As advertised
    Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    As advertised and got here in a timely manner
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  • Susan Y.
    5.0 out of 5 stars I kept this book instead of donating...
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I donate most books that I read, but I kept this one. It is an interesting book, and I liked the facts and history about sea storms and weather.
    One person found this helpful
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  • W & T Perry
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Halloween 91 Storm(s) - Fishing at its worst
    Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The Perfect Storm, know to many as a movie, was a meteorological anomaly of sorts, that impacted more people that you could imagine.

    Junger does a good job of trying to lay out what may have happened to the crew of the Andrea Gail during that fateful fishing trip in late October 1991.

    The book not only covers the Andrea Gail, but other boats/ships/vessels who either survived the storm and lived to tell about, as well as the rescue crews from both the Coast Guard and Air National Guard. There is more to the story than the Andrea Gail, but this is a story that needed to be told.

    As a meteorologist, back in 1991, NOAA/NWS was limited to an extent on model data, relying on just 2 or 3 models. Even in today's technology and models galore, rare events like the Halloween 91 storm can be tough to forecast.

    Needless to say, Junger tries not to throw NWS under the "boat", but explains the wildness of 3 systems interacting with each other.

    The first part of the book introduces the crew, family and friends. The middle covers the trip from Gloucester to the Flemish Cap and the possibilities of what may have happened once contact was lost with the Andrea Gail. The last part is about recovery, other rescues, and coping with the loss of loved ones, and even some who changed their mind to sail that day, were later caught by the sea.

    There was even a section of a chapter detailing of how it feels to drown.

    No idea what the crews in the North Atlantic that day dealing with. Worst I experienced was on a cruise ship in the Gulf of Alaska with 20 foot seas and 60 mph wind gusts, which was exiting as a meteorologist, but nothing you could do about it but wait it out, and try not to get sick.

    In summary, a must read for those who love weather disasters, fishing life, and how tough the fishing industry is, as was not aware, as the job of the fishermen is the deadliest to have in the U.S.
    12 people found this helpful
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  • Holly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating story
    Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I saw the movie years ago and it was very impactful. My husband and I recently returned from a vacation to Gloucester, MA and it was our first visit since the huge storm in October of 1991. We had spent quite a few vacations in that area in the late 1980s and we stayed in the same place this time that we had way back then. The inn had pictures taken in the aftermath of the storm which just heightened my interest in the storm so I decided to read the book.

    While the book and the movie differ (from little things like The Crow's Nest doesn't back up to the harbor to large things like the movie's speculation of what went on on-board the Andrea Gail), if you enjoy one of them you will enjoy the other. I watched the movie again shortly after finishing the book just for comparison.

    For anyone who enjoys non-fiction books about people facing tremendous odds against nature such as climbing the huge mountains such as Everest or through-walking the Appalachian Trial, this would be a good book for you to try. As in most situations like this, each individual decision isn't necessarily bad or wrong, but when taken as a whole the results can be catastrophic.

    It also gives the reader a better understanding of the lives of the commercial fisherman on the eastern seaboard. While it is often romanticized, it is actually a very hard life with lots of grueling work that contains a lot of danger for both life and limb.

    I enjoyed the book tremendously and I am sure I will re-read it in the future. Even my husband (who isn't a big reader) found himself fascinated with it.
    38 people found this helpful
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  • Mike A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Still great after all these years
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I read the book long before the movie came out and was riveted by it. I decided to re-read it for the first time in over 25 years and it was just as good as the first time I read it.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Bill L.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Literally finished this book in one reading while at the beach. It is a fascinating and extremely well-written and researched account of the 1991 collision of Hurricane Grace with a nor'easter, creating a massive "perfect storm" off the coast of the north east United States during the height of fishing season.

    The main focus of the story is on the crew of the Gloucester Massachusetts sword boat 'Andrea Gail', caught in the heart of the storm, and the friends and family of the crew waiting to hear news of their fate. The author also details the plight of two women on a pleasure cruise unlucky enough to be caught at sea. But perhaps most compelling is the story of the Coast Guard teams tasked with rescuing those unlucky souls battling the immense storm.

    This book is a real page-turner, and one that I did not want to put down. I highly recommend it those interested in real-life drama.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Ashley S
    3.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't get through the first chapter
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I highly enjoy the film version of this, but I couldn't get in to the book. There's a lot of grammar issues that I noticed early on, or that other reviews mention. They don't use quotation marks to let your brain know that a character is speaking, like the bit where Bobby woke up with a black eye. I couldn't tell if they were actually talking to each other or just thinking to themselves. I didn't feel like I could handle an entire book written like that and just gave up, I guess.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Ole
    5.0 out of 5 stars ein sehr spannendes Buch, man darf allerdings nicht das Buch zum Film erwarten.
    Reviewed in Germany on August 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Eins vorne weg, wer ein Buch wie den Film sucht der ist schlecht beraten. Das Buch ist für denjenigen spannend, der neben Einzelheiten der Berufsschifffahrt auch an meteorologischen Details Spaß hat. Als Segler bekommt man beim Lesen dessen was hier beschrieben wird regelmäßig Gänsehaut. Aber auch Respekt vor Berufsfuschern. Insofern meiner Meinung nach absolut lesenswert. In der englischen Original Ausgabe allerdings nur für Leute die in der Sprache wirklich zu Hause sind.
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  • Surojit mondal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting
    Reviewed in India on June 22, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great true story I have ever read. Description of nature and natural calamity is awesome.
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  • Hyppocrates85
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Storm: sono molto soddisfatto.
    Reviewed in Italy on August 6, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Il livello della lingua è il B2. La trama è avvincente e la lettura è tutt'altro che noiosa. Si presta per la preparazione dell'esame Cambridge First.
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  • Mohannad A.
    1.0 out of 5 stars Damaged
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on November 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Bad quality and delivered damaged book !!
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  • Tilly
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous writer
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 15, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I've read two books by Sebastian Junger: The Perfect Storm, and War. Both books are equally captivating and written with a level of detail that is fascinating giving the reader an amazing insight into the lives of the people involved and what it must've been like to live through the experiences he describes. I was a little sceptical about reading The Perfect Storm at first because in truth we will never really know exactly what happened to the Andrea Gail and her crew but Sebastian finds other ways to piece the events of this tragedy together as accurately as possible that it's hard to leave the book alone. The knowledge base he draws from is both scientific and experiential and with so many other vessels at sea during this fateful storm you get a pretty clear picture of how things probably transpired. A simply brilliant yet heart wrenching story of true courage on the high seas and the fisherman who risk it all to make a living for themselves and their families.
    One person found this helpful
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