A Man and His Ship: America's Greatest Naval Architect and His Quest to Build the SS United States

by Steven Ujifusa

Book Overview

"A fascinating historical account...A snapshot of the American Dream culminating with this country's mid-century greatness" (The Wall Street Journal) as a man endeavors to build the finest, fastest, most beautiful ocean liner in history.

The story of a great American Builder at the peak of his power, in the 1940s and 1950s, William Francis Gibbs was considered America's best naval architect. His quest to build the finest,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1451645090
• ISBN13: 9781451645095
• Release Date: June 2013
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.7" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Pianos!

Yes, pianos! Mr. Gibbs feared fire aboard ship. He avoided anything flammable in the ship's construction. But he wanted pianos.... The Steinway company proved that their pianos would not burn. The doused a specimen with gasoline and lit it. The gas flared but the piano didn't catch. They did it again. Same result. Result? Two glorious Steinways were aboard the United States. I showed this story to a friend, a superb pianist. He busted the proverbial gut laughing! This book is supposed to be about a ship but is so much more!