Reading 'Moby-Dick' helps you discover how to live. Nathaniel Philbrick dickdiscoverhelp Change image and share on social
For me, 'Moby-Dick' is more than the greatest American novel ever written; it is a metaphysical survival manual - the best guidebook there is for a literate man or woman facing an impenetrable unknown: the future of civilization in this storm-tossed 21st century. Nathaniel Philbrick 21stamericancentury share on social
Even though I hadn't read a word of it, I grew up hating 'Moby-Dick.' Nathaniel Philbrick dickgrowhate Change image and share on social
You cannot underestimate the influence of Shakespeare. Nathaniel Philbrick influenceshakespeareunderestimate Change image and share on social
The great lesson I get from 'Moby-Dick' is that when the times are bad, when there is great foreboding, there are still ways to go about living. It's through Ishmael that I find a kind of overall cosmic approach to a meaningful life in this meaningless world. Nathaniel Philbrick approachbadcosmic share on social
When I was at Brown, I wanted to write the great American novel, but I was too scared to take a creative course. I signed up for one, got in, and just didn't have the courage to go. I was a tremendously shy person, almost pathologically shy. The thought of peers critiquing my work - oh, God. Nathaniel Philbrick americanbrowncourage share on social
If you live on Nantucket, you can't avoid its history, and 'Moby Dick' is the way most of us get into Nantucket's history. Nathaniel Philbrick avoiddickhistory Change image and share on social
Instead of being a page-turner, 'Moby-Dick' is a repository of American history and culture and the essentials of Western literature. The book is so encyclopedic that space aliens could use it to re-create the whale fishery as it once existed on the planet Earth in the midst of the 19th century. Nathaniel Philbrick 19thalienamerican share on social
As an author of narrative history, I read a lot of history books. Nathaniel Philbrick authorbookhistory Change image and share on social
In all natural disasters through time, man needs to attach meaning to tragedy, no matter how random and inexplicable the event is. Nathaniel Philbrick attachdisasterevent Change image and share on social