The Last American Sailors: A Wild Ride in the Modern Merchant Marine

Product Details

A sadistic captain puts his crew on edge. A young officer has a breakdown in a near-collision. A sailor jumps to the bottom of the sea. The Last American Sailors recounts one man's decade in a misunderstood industry--the merchant marine, a fleet with a glorious past and an uncertain future. If On the Road met The Perfect Storm, we would have The Last American Sailors, the definitive travelogue of a merchant seaman and an encompassing look into the mysterious world of merchant shipping.

Customer Reviews ::

The Hobo Philosopher - Richard E. Noble - Florida Panhandle
My dad was a Merchant Marine during World War II and again after the war in the late 40s and through the 50s. He told many stories about his adventures and his life aboard ship. He dreaded going to sea. He craved a land job. I wanted to find out more about my father's dread of life on the sea. This book provided that incite. The stories about life on board ship and off conformed with my dad's renditions. Mr. Rawlins' narrations were more detailed and more elaborate but the similarities were obvious.
This book was just what I was looking for. I was surprised to find that a seafarer's union still existed and that it was international. I intend to do more reading on this subject. I found this book useful, informative and a good picture of what my dad was dealing with.
The book is straight forward and professionally written. I would say that Mr. Rawlins did a good job of painting a picture of the modern day Merchant Marines.

Books written by Richard Noble:
"Hobo-ing America: A Workingman's Tour of the U.S.A.."
"A Summer with Charlie"
"A Little Something: Poetry and Prose"
"Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother" Novel
"The Eastpointer" Selected newspaper columns.