Product Description
In Moby-Dick, Herman Melville captured the American whaling industry at its peak, with momentous changes ahead. Here, in "Moby-Dick" and the Mythology of Oil, Bob Wagner casts Melville's epic novel as a lesson for the ages, one that is critical for us in today's petroleum age. Wagner's interpretation of Melville's tale connects directly with today's world, even with today's headlines. Readers concerned with the American economic experience and our relationship with the earth will find much to ponder in Wagner's illumination of the parallels between Melville's time and ours. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Highly recommended
This is a thought-provoking read and a real gift. A hybrid -- literary study, mythic exegesis, cultural history, and primer in both contemporary oil production and the whaling industry -- this lucid and accessible work is the best kind of applied scholarship. It offers us a balanced understanding of the deeper currents of our relationship with energy. Without scolding, Wagner points us toward the fundamental shifts in understanding necessary -- and already in progress -- to ease our transition out of the petroleum age.

The view from Peak Oil
The author's brilliant analysis and deep reading of "Moby-Dick" reveals Melville's uncanny prescience in foretelling the crossroads at which the modern world finds itself today -- a clash between the old biblical mythology of domination and exploitation versus an impending crisis of limited resources.A must read for those wanting insight into the invisible forces moving markets and mindsets today, and particularly eye-opening for those of us working in the petroleum industry.

History Repeats Itself
The very informative and cautionary analysis of this book successfully juxtaposes the story of Ishmael, Ahab and the crew of the Pequod with the not yet complete story of humankind's global hunger for oil and the struggle between its short term profit goals and the longer term goals of protecting the planet for the future crew of the world. The background study of Herman Melville is fascinating and supports the thesis that Melville's Moby-Dick served to warn it's 19th century readers how commerce and industrialization (the pursuit of whale oil) could be a destructive force if blindly followed without self reflection. The book is convincing in its argument that the same message is vividly relevant today as we continue to blindlychase petroleum in spite of the future risks to the planet and our culture. The short history of the petroleum industry was an eye opener for this reader who had no background in the subject, and it put the issues facing us into chilling perspective when you realize the magnitude and scale of this global issue for those who profit from it as well as those who will be injured.

A demanding call to sustain life
Bob Wagner's account of Moby Dick demanded me to realize their are current Captain Ahab's in corporate
directors clothing, They lead their followers to short sighted conclusive goals that the myths invalidate.
Does our comprehension of this oil goal deny our true final destination? This really provoked my interest.

The Age of Petroleum from the top of mast....


I am an owner of a small business and oftentimes I feel in the role of Captain Ahab. Personally, I struggle with the concept of sustainability and values in my task of leading an economical enterprise at this moment in the Age of Petroleum. I particularly found Bob Wagner's approach--weaving text, author, image, mythic theme- fascinating!! I felt connected to his writing style and to him as a fellow human /author / observer. Wagner does a remarkable job placing the madness and chaos of today's economy into some form of sensibility. He must feel a strong kinship to Ishmael, the outcast / observer.

JTM ... Read more

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Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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Herman Melville's brilliant works remain vital and provocative for their dark ebullience and visionary power. The sweep of his writings-encompassing ferocious social satire, agonized reflection, and formal experimentation-is represented in this comprehensive edition. Here are Melville's masterpieces: Moby-Dick in its entirety; Billy Budd; "Bartleby, The Scrivener"; "The Encantadas, or Enchanted Isles"; the essay "Hawthorne and His Mosses"; and 21 poems, including "The House-top," an anguished response to the New York draft riots. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

not so great
This is a handsome, slightly oversized edition.Here are the contents:

1.Moby-Dick, unabridged.
2.Bartleby, The Scrivener
3.Benito Cereno
4.The Encantadas
5.Billy Budd
6.Hawthorne and His Mosses
7.Selected Poems
The Portent
The Temeraire
A Utilitarian View of the Monitor's Flight
Shiloh:A Requiem
The House-top:A Night Piece
The Swamp Angel
The Apparition
America
A Requiem:for Soldiers Lost in Ocean Transports
Tom Deadlight
The Tuft of Kelp
The Maldive Shark
To Ned
The Berg
Timoleon
After the Pleasure Party
Monody
The Bench of Boors
Art
In a Church of Padua
Pontoosuce

The problem with this edition, in my view, are the footnotes.There are footnotes, so on the one hand I shouldn't be complaining, since finding annotated editions of "Billy Budd" and "The Encantadas" is difficult.On the other hand, the footnotes are all of the "go get it yourself" kind.For example, when Melville writes, "send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger," the footnotes -- the incidence of which is not marked in the running text -- merely says "Luke 16:24".In other words, you've got to look it up yourself.So I would characterize the footnotes as sparse and taciturn:they'll clue you in to the source, but as for the exact wording of something and its accumulated historical connotations, you've got to come up with those yourself.

A good introduction to Melville's works
Although this book should not be called a complete volume, it is rather a collection of Melville's writings, it provides a enjoyable and interesting introduction to one of the most impressive american writers of the 19th century. It contains a real classic -the novel Moby Dick - and some novellas from The Piazza Tales, such as "Bartleby, The Scrivener" (in my opinion, Melville's masterpiece), "Benito Cereno" and "Billy Budd, the Saylor". There is at least a big surprise inside: the essay "Hawthorne and His Mosses", a text from the youth, but full of insights about Melville's friend, Nathanael Hawthorne. A fantastic gift, like most of Library of America editions.

best one-volume melville?
After a lot of browsing among different editions of Melville's works, I chose this one because it was attractive and cheap and contained all of his acknowledged masterpieces. Getting "Moby-Dick," "Billy Budd," and his greatest short stories and poems in one well-made volume, for ($$$) bucks, is indeed a pretty good deal. I wish Library of America would start commissioning some scholarly introductions for their books, though. Their volumes seem to be geared towards intelligent people who are not necessarily experts in a particular field, and it would be useful to provide an introduction that places the works in context and gives a brief idea of the latest scholarship.

There is a "Note on the Texts" here, which is really of interest only to specialists, and a chronology of Melville's life, and some rather random and cursory endnotes: there are only a few pages' worth for "Moby-Dick," for example, which could be annotated much more extensively (and I'm sure it has been). It's unclear why the editors choose to explain some of Melville's allusions but not others. So if you're looking for a well-annotated "Moby-Dick," look elsewhere.

As for the works themselves, there's little I could say about them that hasn't been said a thousand times before. Every one of Melville's lines crackle with dark intensity; his writing is relentless, wild, eccentric, sometimes out of control, but even then it's a pleasure to follow him on his fiery way. His is a kind of uniquely American tragic sense, the dark flip side of Emerson and Whitman's democratic individualism. Ahab, and Bartleby, are supreme individualists, but their uncompromised visions lead to doom rather than liberation. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Incredible book.
This is a truly incredible book. Whether you are an expert Melvillian, or wonder what the book is all about, this book wil provide you with insights on Moby Dick and life.Every graphic creation is a masterpeice artistically worthy of its frame and wall and spotlight.What really sets this book apart from anything out there is the insights on Mellville's masterpeice and all of human striving. I very few words, worth reading over and over for their terse insights, the prose and artwork hang together like nothing else I've ever seen. Get it now, and read it and enjoy the art, and then pick it up again in a couple of years, and you will be richly rewarded. ... Read more

Product Description
You get the full original text of this book interwoven with a smart, plain-spoken guide to the characters, quotes, themes, symbols, and more from Shmoop.Published by Herman Melville in 1851, Moby-Dick is a classic American tale about a sea captain named Captain Ahab who seeks revenge on a the White Whale, also known as Moby Dick.Moby-Dick is told from the perspective of a common seaman who sails on Ahab's ship, the Pequod, and who identifies himself only as Ishmael. Famous for its density and length and often resurfacing in pop culture, Moby-Dick is a timeless, weighty classic not to be missed. Designed exclusively for Kindle readers, Shmoop Classics for Kindle offer the original text of some of the greatest works of literature with a built-in interactive guide to help you dig deep into the characters, symbols, themes, and big questions of the book.For the student and the life-long learner alike, take your classroom on the road and build your brain muscles daily.No need to weigh your backpack down, no need to waste paper, no need to get sleepy in class. Shmoop is here to make you a better lover of literature and to help you discover connections to other works of literature, history, current events, and pop culture.You'll find thought-provoking character analyses, quotes, summaries, themes, symbols, trivia, and lots of insightful commentary.Key quotes from the original text are linked to deep analysis from Shmoop. Academics from top universities, including Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard, and Columbia, have written content designed to engage you and to get your brain bubbling.With Shmoop's fun, conversational, and accessible tone, you'll feel as though you are chatting with friends over coffee. These interactive study guides will help you discover and rediscover some of the greatest works of all time.For more information, check out http://www.shmoop.com/kindle/ "Best of the Internet" - PC Magazine"Shmoop impresses me because it is intentionally about learning, and the joy of learning, not just about passing courses and jumping through educational hoops." - Paul Hamilton, teacher and education blogger"Shmoop features deep analysis of topics in history and literature, sprinkled with a heavy dose of wry humor." - eSchoolNews ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Wow - an amazing guide on Moby Dick
This guide on Moby Dick is a treasure-trove. While reading it, I felt like I was sitting with an expert who was taking me through the text and pointing out all of the amazing things about it -- all with a fun voice and attitude.

In the themes and quotes sections, there are "close readings" of tons of passages, which made me think that the writer must really love Moby Dick, and know it well. The in-depth exploration of characters -- particularly Ishmael, Ahab, and Queequeg -- brought those characters to life, and really helped me to understand them. And I loved the guide's fascinating coverage of symbols in Moby Dick. All of the sections of the guide also include great excerpts from the actual text to further strengthen the points raised.

I also think it's fun that Shmoop manages to use humor and teach the reader all at the same time.For example, from the "Why Should I Care" section:

"Well, Shmoop won't lie to you. It is long, and it can be a difficult read because the vocabulary and syntax are complicated. But it is not tedious or boring - not if you're concentrating so that you can get the jokes.

Pretty much every chapter contains some kind of hilarious gag, accompanied by a nudge in the ribs from Melville. One thing Moby-Dick tries to be is Shakespearean, not only in the sense of Majestic Writing, but in the sense of having a lot of sex jokes."

Overall, I highly recommend this study guide! It is a wonderful and fun companion text while reading this challenging book.

Moby Dick with attitude
Shmoop's attitude is clear - they want you to like great books but they want to engage you in the process. While some might want dry writing that bores your to tears, this version of Moby Dick was worth reading.

Some of Shmoop's comments:

Moby Dick is fundamentally a revenge tragedy.

In Moby-Dick sexuality is expressed in the social and homoerotic bonds between men.

Some novels might be subtle about issues of fate vs. chance, but Moby-Dick thrusts questions of free will vs. determinism right into the reader's face, starting in the very first chapter.

Terrible. Don't call me Ishamael, Shmoop.
First off, this is not the complete text: it is missing the etymology section and extracts by a sub-sub. These are important preludes to the core of the book, and their omission is premonitory of the trashy notes that accompany the text itself.

The notes read as though they are written for somebody who totally, like, y'know wants to sound cool and groovy, but they are pretty much devoid of any analytical insights or thoughtfulness.

Vapid and insipid, and misleading too.

The Product Description features the comment:

"Shmoop features deep analysis of topics in history and literature, sprinkled with a heavy dose of wry humor."

from something calling itself eSchoolNews. Unless this is simply a piece of paid puffery -- in which case, it is understnadably but worthless -- by praising this piece of crap, eSchoolNews has relegated itself to the same level of stupidity and banality as the offering from Shmoop.

Avoid, and get one of the many EXCELLENT free versions of this important text. ... Read more

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Para la mayoría, Mobyt Dick es la encarnación marina de Leviatán, "que hace hervir los mares como una cacerola", según nos dice Lord Bacon en su versión de los Salmos. No es de extrañar, pues, que cuando el herrero se dispone a templar el acero del arpón destinado a la gran ballena y pide que le acerquen un tonel de agua, Ahab le niega el agua yofrece en su lugar la sangre donada por tres arponeros. [...] Lo que sí podríamos decir es que en Moyi-Dick se narra la historia de la lucha de un hombre contra su terrible obsesión. La novela, que apareció en el año 1851, no fue bien recibida por la crítica ni tampoco por el público. Fue preciso esperar hasta los "felices años veinte" para que la novela fuese debidamente valorada. Moby Dick está hoy considerada como una de las mejores obras de la llamada Edad de Oro de la narrativa norteamericana. Vale de verdad la pena navegar por sus páginas. ... Read more

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Call him Stinky. In this third adventure, the hero with a heart of gold and a stink to high heaven enters the 238th Annual Catfish Rodeo and Fish Fry. A catfish of preposterous proportions has confounded the fishermen of Hottenholler for generations. Once again, the whole town has gathered to see if anyone will catch the elusive fish. T.V. personality and all-around big shot, Barry Cooter harbors a particular resentment of Ol’ Whiskers—he blames the fish for the terrible incident that resulted in the loss of his hiney. Will Barry be the one to finally hook the great white catfish or will Uncle Stinky’s secret weapon prove irresistible fish bait? PLUS! Hootenholler’s One of a Kind Self-Guided Tour of Rocks and a terrifying tale about zombie chickens. ... Read more

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Inspired by "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville, "Moby Dog" finds Wishbone and Joe Talbot on the quest of a lifetime, searching for the dastardly villain that stole Joe's basketball--someone wearing a White Whales team emblem. Ages 4-8. Pub: 2/98. . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Moby Dog
Our 7-year old girl finds this story to be humorous.The copy received was in fine condition.

Great Book!
This is one of the best books I've read so far. The Books inspired by the classic tale Moby Dick, written by: Herman Melville. A very goos and interesting book. ... Read more

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"There is a whale in the sea, as white as a ghost, and it haunts me. Sometimes, when I'm afloat in sleep, like a drowned sailor, he swims towards me--a nightmare all in white, jaws gaping, and I wake up screaming and salt-water wet with sweat. Somewhere out there in the bottomless oceans lives Moby Dick, a great white winter of a whale, and I shiver still at the thought of him."

In vivid and compelling language, the award-winning author Geraldine McCaughrean retells Herman Melville's classic story of the obsessed Captain Ahab and his relentless hunt for the great white whale, Moby Dick. Together with Starbuck, the mate; Queequeg, the harpoonist; the sinister crewman Fedallah; and the innocent narrator, Ishmael, Ahab travels the oceans of the world in pursuit of the elusive monster, braving waves like strips of volcanoes and lightning like the visitation of angels.

McCaughrean's text is beautifully complemented by Victor Ambrus's evocative pictures of ships and the sea and of the white monster, Moby Dick, a creature as vast and dangerous as the sea itself. Children and young adults will be thrilled and captivated by this wonderful adventure tale. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Moby Dick, by Geraldine McCaughrean
Our family enjoyed this book!It is a wonderful way to sharea classic with a child.My 8 year old son loved the beautiful language and the illustrations. This book was perfect for younger readers who may not be ready for the full version. There are great moral lessons covered in Moby Dick. Reading this book provided a natural environment to discuss these important charachter traits. It also allowed us to take off with a further study of whales. A great book!

The book was pretty good
I liked the book, I just think it could of had a little more detail at the very end. But I recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
For much too long now, a literary work, once completed, has been viewed as having a separate existence, no longer under the author's control, and so left open to a variety of responses, regardless of how widely variable, or even contradictory, they might prove to be. However, that misguided approach simply ignores the fact that the three authors, in each case, have maintained a strong controlling presence within their completed works, a pervasive presence that is clearly revealed through the meticulous crafting we can discover throughout each work. The Art of Literary Thieving invites its readers to follow in the clearly marked footsteps of these three classic authors, as each of them crafts his materials into one of the world's truly exceptional literary experiences. The close, and as yet undiscovered, relationship that exists between these three works offers readers a more revealing light that shines forth from each of them upon the other two, bringing a greater clarity to these always challenging literary creations. That relationship also helps to highlight the detailed crafting within each work that has been meticulously designed, in each case, to guide the reader to the author's ultimate goal: a vibrant, imaginative experience, imbued with meaning and emotion, that the author wishes to share with the reader. The three authors, without question, have each succeeded in reaching that goal. And they also remain, within their works, ready to show their readers how to join them.This is an important book for all literature collections. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

finr
fine

(note to Amazon:
Reviews are provided as a convenience.
If Amazon makes submission inconvenient: NO MORE REVIEWS)

Interesting Cold War story.
Before reconnaissance satellites and spy planes there was a covert program pentrate denied areas in Eurasia by the US Government with high tech, high altitude, and high risk missions using balloons. A nice work on a little known subject area. Were the balloons the real UFOs? ... Read more

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FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. This 80-page adaptation has been painstakingly edited to retain the integrity of the original work, and to convey a sense of the author's style and the novel's theme. A low reading level assures success and stimulates a desire for further exploration of this classic tale. ... Read more

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6 CDs, 6 hours

... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Amazing author read by an amazing narrator
I listen to audiobooks during my commute to school, and this is my favorite to date.Melville is brilliant, and this animated narrator really brings the book alive.LOVED it, and have been lending it to friends since I finished it!

good read
This book was OK.Atleast that is how I felt after reading it.I know so people, including some teachers I grew up with, who go crazy with excitement whenever they talk about this book.I don't know guess it just did not hit me like it hit most people that read it.

Very good.Couldn't tell it was abridged.
Moby Dick is Moby Dick.It's safe to assume you know what you're getting into as far as the book goes.This CD book had a very good narrator, and the abridged version was a good job.I'm guessing they probably chopped several hundred pages out of this to get it onto the 4 CDs.

Whale of a Tale
Great way to get reacquainted with a classic that has been told numerous times, in numerous variations.This being the original is absolutely the best. The narrator brought the CD to life.

audio cd
Excellent narration a pleasure to listen too. ... Read more