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Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea & of the
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Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea & of the Beachcombers, Oceanograp Hers, Environmentalists & Fools Inclu Hardback - 2011

by Donovan Hohn

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Selected by The New York Times Book Review as a Notable Book of the Year A revelatory tale of science, adventure, and modern myth. When the writer Donovan Hohn heard of the mysterious loss of thousands of bath toys at sea, he figured he would interview a few oceanographers, talk to a few beachcombers, and read up on Arctic science and geography. But questions can be like ocean currents: wade in too far, and they carry you away. Hohn's accidental odyssey pulls him into the secretive world of shipping conglomerates, the daring work of Arctic researchers, the lunatic risks of maverick sailors, and the shadowy world of Chinese toy factories. Moby-Duck is a journey into the heart of the sea and an adventure through science, myth, the global economy, and some of the worst weather imaginable. With each new discovery, Hohn learns of another loose thread, and with each successive chase, he comes closer to understanding where his castaway quarry comes from and where it goes. In the grand tradition of Tony Horwitz and David Quammen, Moby-Duck is a compulsively readable narrative of whimsy and curiosity.

Summary

Selected by The New York Times Book Review as a Notable Book of the Year

A revelatory tale of science, adventure, and modern myth.

When the writer Donovan Hohn heard of the mysterious loss of thousands of bath toys at sea, he figured he would interview a few oceanographers, talk to a few beachcombers, and read up on Arctic science and geography. But questions can be like ocean currents: wade in too far, and they carry you away. Hohn's accidental odyssey pulls him into the secretive world of shipping conglomerates, the daring work of Arctic researchers, the lunatic risks of maverick sailors, and the shadowy world of Chinese toy factories.

Moby-Duck is a journey into the heart of the sea and an adventure through science, myth, the global economy, and some of the worst weather imaginable. With each new discovery, Hohn learns of another loose thread, and with each successive chase, he comes closer to understanding where his castaway quarry comes from and where it goes. In the grand tradition of Tony Horwitz and David Quammen, Moby-Duck is a compulsively readable narrative of whimsy and curiosity.

Reader reviews for Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea & of the Beachcombers, Oceanograp Hers, Environmentalists & Fools Inclu

From the publisher

Selected by "The New York Times Book Review" as a Notable Book of the Year A revelatory tale of science, adventure, and modern myth.
When the writer Donovan Hohn heard of the mysterious loss of thousands of bath toys at sea, he figured he would interview a few oceanographers, talk to a few beachcombers, and read up on Arctic science and geography. But questions can be like ocean currents: wade in too far, and they carry you away. Hohn's accidental odyssey pulls him into the secretive world of shipping conglomerates, the daring work of Arctic researchers, the lunatic risks of maverick sailors, and the shadowy world of Chinese toy factories.
"Moby-Duck" is a journey into the heart of the sea and an adventure through science, myth, the global economy, and some of the worst weather imaginable. With each new discovery, Hohn learns of another loose thread, and with each successive chase, he comes closer to understanding where his castaway quarry comes from and where it goes. In the grand tradition of Tony Horwitz and David Quammen, "Moby-Duck" is a compulsively readable narrative of whimsy and curiosity.

Details

  • Title Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea & of the Beachcombers, Oceanograp Hers, Environmentalists & Fools Inclu
  • Author Donovan Hohn
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition First American E
  • Pages 416
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Viking, New York
  • Publication date 2011-03-03
  • ISBN 9780670022199 / 0670022195
  • Weight 1.36 lbs (0.62 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.25 x 6.42 x 1.37 in (23.50 x 16.31 x 3.48 cm)
  • Age range 18 to UP years
  • Grade levels 13 - UP
  • Category Science
  • Library of Congress subjects Ocean currents, Marine debris
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 2010033608
  • Dewey Decimal Code 551.462

Media reviews

"The book [is] by turns light-hearted and serious but always a pleasure to read ... Moby-Duck is highly readable and, importantly, alive with a sense of intellectual curiosity. Indeed, what Melville did for whaling, Hohn has done for plastic bath toys lost at sea."
-The Boston Globe

"Hohn cleverly uses the deceptively whimsical premise of chasing a little plastic duck to provoke a massively complicated and thought-provoking conversation. Who knew spilled bath toys could be so important?"
-Chicago Sun-Times

" ... he writes always entertainingly, often gorgeously."
-Dallas Morning News

"Donovan Hohn ships out with an engaging Moby-Duck ... an exploration in every sense [Moby-Duck] will remind readers of the best of John McPhee and Ian Frazier. And maybe, even, of the weird and wonderful Herman Melville himself."
-The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer

"... entertaining but also philosophic ... [Donovan Hohn's] quest is puckish, profound and as irresistible as the yellow bath toy itself."
-People

"... dazzling ... Hohn seems to have it all: deep intelligence, a strikingly original voice, humility and a hunger to suss out everything a yellow duck may literally or metaphorically touch."
-The New York Times Book Review

"Adventurous, inquisituve and brightly illuminating...[Moby-Duck] works as a lively travelogue as well as a voyage of discovery and philosophical inquiry."
-Janet Maslin, The New York Times

"Delightfully wide-eyed...A gladdening, artful journey of discovery."
-Kirkus (starred review) END

About the author

Donovan Hohn is a journalist whose work has appeared in "Harper's Magazine, The New York Times Magazine" and "Outside." He is currently the features editor at "GQ." "Moby-Duck" was nominated as the runner-up for for the 2011 PEN/ E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. Hohn lives in New York City.

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Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea & of the Beachcombers, Oceanograp hers, Environmentalists & Fools Including the Author Who Went in Search of Them

by Hohn, Donovan

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Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea & of the Beachcombers, Oceanograp hers,...
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Moby-Duck: The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea & of the Beachcombers, Oceanograp hers, Environmentalists & Fools Including the Author Who Went in Search of Them

by Hohn, Donovan

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Viking. First American Edition.. Acceptable. With dust jacket. The item might be beaten up but readable. May contain markings or highlighting, as well as stains, bent corners, or any other major defect, but the text is not obscured in any way.
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Moby-Duck : The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers,...

Moby-Duck : The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them

by Donovan Hohn

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9780670022199 / 0670022195
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Penguin Publishing Group, 2011. Hardcover. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Moby-Duck : The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers,...

Moby-Duck : The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them

by Donovan Hohn

  • Used
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  • Hardback
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780670022199 / 0670022195
Quantity available
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Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2011. Hardcover. Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact, and the cover is intact. The spine may show signs of wear. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers.
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Moby-Duck : The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers,...

Moby-Duck : The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them

by Donovan Hohn

  • Used
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780670022199 / 0670022195
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Description:
Penguin Publishing Group, 2011. Hardcover. Good. Missing dust jacket; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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Moby-Duck : The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers,...
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