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sparky_lurkdragon's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
5.0
theseasoul's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
|| 5 ⭐️ ||
Aquanaut is a stellar deep-dive into the story of the Thai cave rescue as well as Rick Stanton’s history and various experiences in cave diving throughout his life. This book goes into even more detail than did the documentary on the rescue, which I watched a year or two ago and was awestruck by. In reading Aquanaut, I was once again thoroughly engaged. It’s a stunning, thrilling, suspenseful true story, and I was kind of glad I already knew where it was going to end up, because even so the book had me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
It was super interesting to get more insight into Rick’s life and background in cave diving, since I don’t remember there being as much of that in the documentary. There were detailed accounts of many of his past major diving projects, rescues, and recoveries. My interest never once wavered.
Despite my love of the water and desire to get my diving license someday, I don’t think cave diving is something I could do, nor would want to do. But it only increases my admiration of the people brave and skilled enough to do extreme things like this. Especially when, in the end, it leads to lives being saved.
|| Content warnings ||
F-bombs are thrown around a lot. Drowning and death are a major theme. Some medical content and a few graphic mentions of bodily fluid.
whitecat5000's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
This was an interesting look at cave diving and the true experience of a rescue that is mismanaged.
daria_nedelcu19's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.25
Enjoyment 3/10
Writing 3/10
Accuracy & Authenticity 7/10
Content & Perspective 4/10
Intrigue 5/10
Personal impact 3/10
Audio Performance 6/10
Rating: 2.3/5
Writing 3/10
Accuracy & Authenticity 7/10
Content & Perspective 4/10
Intrigue 5/10
Personal impact 3/10
Audio Performance 6/10
Rating: 2.3/5
trittenger's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Great read, super interesting. Rick is not precious about himself and that makes for a fascinating look into a unique life.
anothersarah's review
3.0
So....... the pacing is great, and the parts where he details out his vast experiences caving are well written, engaging, and interesting. However, Stanton himself is a lesson in skim reading and enduring obnoxious, old, white man bullshit. If you can get though (or skim past) the subtle racism, callous jokes, etc. then his personal experiences of cave diving is really remarkable.
nerdyboy's review
4.0
Just as much a biography of Rick Stanton as it is of the Thai Cave rescue. A fascinating story decently told.
rushxsoubi's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Great story, and although im not interested in caving whatsoever, I enjoyed learning about all Ricks adventures. His own life was as interesting as the rescue.
To be honest, I live under a rock and had no idea of how the story ends. So I was at the edge of my seat reading for the first time how the story unfolded.
What I did not enjoy about this book is the diverse number of people, titles, and committees mentioned. It was hard to keep track of everyone. At the end of the book, I was confused about who was who. I understand that this is Rick's memoir and certainly to people interested in Caving, many names may be familiar. I am not necessarily the target reader. Aside from that, the random emails interpersed were hard to follow.
I found the ending to not be well written. The foreshadowing was done in a confusing way as it had already happened.
All that being said, I am critiquing the writing and not the story because Rick lived such an adventurous life, and im happy he decided in the end to share it with the world.
To be honest, I live under a rock and had no idea of how the story ends. So I was at the edge of my seat reading for the first time how the story unfolded.
What I did not enjoy about this book is the diverse number of people, titles, and committees mentioned. It was hard to keep track of everyone. At the end of the book, I was confused about who was who. I understand that this is Rick's memoir and certainly to people interested in Caving, many names may be familiar. I am not necessarily the target reader. Aside from that, the random emails interpersed were hard to follow.
I found the ending to not be well written. The foreshadowing was done in a confusing way as it had already happened.
All that being said, I am critiquing the writing and not the story because Rick lived such an adventurous life, and im happy he decided in the end to share it with the world.