Of Whales And Men

by R.B. Robertson and Robert Blackwood Robertson

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1125252332
• ISBN13: 9781125252338
• Release Date: January 1954
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Simply the best read ever

I still can't believe that a book about whaling would be the best read i ever had. Written by a medical doctor, it narrates the daily life on board a whaling ship in the 50's. A way of life and times long gone, but amazingly interesting. Got two copies of it, one to lend to friends, one that will never leave my bedside. A real treasure of a book.

Adventures from another era

In the 1960s worked on a Norwegian whaler and later out of Valparaiso in Chile in the fishing grounds described in this book. It is a very good insight into that whole life - a life that is all but gone now. It was tough work and you met real 'characters' and this book gives you a first-hand insight into that life. In today's world where so may people are office-bound it is refreshing to read of such adventurous times. Dr Robertson's writing is a bit formal but it is of the era and overall this book is a great read.

Reader from Israel

Very good book , probably one of a kind , recommend highly.

The inside scoop on whaling

I highly recommend Dr. Robertson's account of his experiences on a whaling ship. He provides detailed information of not only the whaling process, but also the psyches and personalities of the whalemen. Because this was his first voyage aboard a whaleship, Dr. Robertson takes the view of the novice, asking the whalemen questions that most experienced sailors would not bother inquiring about. He signed on as the ship's doctor, though he was more interested in probing into the psychology of whalemen.In doing this investigation, Dr. Robertson reveals the scientific methods involved in whaling, as well as the lore and superstitions associated with some of the whalers' procedures. He encompasses both the tradition of whaling as well as the advances afforded by modern technology. I'm not sure how outdated this information is, as it was written more then 40 years ago or so, but even still it opened my eyes into what actually goes on on a whaleship. Each chapter was fascinating, filled with the personal stories of the whalemen and insightful tidbits about each whaler's role on the ship. There is a ton of "inside scoop" given to the author from several whalemen approaching him with the introduction, "Here, let me show you somethin', doc." Never boring or mundane, a great read if you're interested in the process of whaling from the eyes of a beginner.