The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias

3.58 AVERAGE

1998firebird's review against another edition

4.5
challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced
violetadia's profile picture

violetadia's review against another edition

5.0
Lots of details about a true rescue story. I found it to be a good read.

airsax's review against another edition

5.0
challenging emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

x_oblivionxx's review against another edition

4.0
hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

lazy_raven's review

4.0
Good retelling of when the Coast Guard rescued sailors for 2 ships that broke in half at the same time in the same area without modern technology.

the_schaef's review against another edition

4.0
I really enjoyed this short book. It gives you a great deal of respect for the brotherhood that must transcend the Coast Guard and the willingness to confront outrageous conditions to save the lives of men who have decided to make their living on the ocean.

lmh5235's review against another edition

3.0
This was a major heroic event, one of the largest and most dangerous rescues, but I feel the writing and style short-changed the story and left it kind of blah. It was difficult to keep myself engaged in the story.
notcolleen's profile picture

notcolleen's review against another edition

4.0
Truly in awe of these Coast Guardsmen and their incredible bravery in rescuing the stranded crew of the Fort Mercer and Pendleton after both tankers split in half during a powerful Nor’easter off the coast of Cape Cod during February of 1952. This book details the strength of human courage when faced with the sublime power of the Mother Nature.

The vivid descriptions of the rescue are riveting, and the high stakes keep the pages turning. The humility of all these rescuers after the fact is amazing. I was especially captivated with the story of Bernie Webber, Richard Livesey, Ervin Maske, & Andy Fitzgerald, who fought against the odds and 70ft waves to rescue all but one of the crew members left on the Pendleton stern.

did find that this book (incorrectly) assumed I already had a lot of maritime knowledge. I found myself start-stopping-start-stopping to look up boating terms and getting easily distracted with some awkward pacing.

Ultimately, I did really enjoy this read and would recommend it. After all, who doesn’t love an underdog story?!

zaphod46's review against another edition

3.5
adventurous inspiring fast-paced

magis1105's review against another edition

2.0
slow-paced