Name: Shadow Divers
ISBN: 9780345482471

Robert Kurson

Recounts the 1991 discovery of a sunken German U-boat by two recreational scuba divers, tracing how they devoted the following six years to researching the identities of the submarine and its crew, correcting historical texts and breaking new grounds in the world of diving along the way. Reprint.

The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II

Shadow Divers

Recounts the 1991 discovery of a sunken German U-boat by two recreational scuba divers, tracing how they devoted the following six years to researching the identities of the submarine and its crew, correcting historical texts, and breaking new grounds in the world of diving along the way. Reprint. 200,000 first printing.

The True Adventure of Two Americans who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II

Erik Wallace

I'm changing my rating system so in the past this would have been a solid 4 star book. This was a fascinating story and I would definitely recommend it.

rumbledethumps

It took me a few chapters to get past the author's style, which was flowery and full of weird, nonsensical metaphors. But, ultimately, once I settled in, I really enjoyed the story and the portrayal of the two main divers. 

If you don't like hearing metaphors like, "he faced a smorgasbord of other perils, each capable of killing him à la carte," or "his shoulder blades became spires on his emaciated frame, his jaundiced skin and stringy hair a goulash of self-abandon," or if the phrase "reached through time and chokeholded his imagination" grates against your sensibilities, this might not be the book for you.

But, if you can stick through this kind of writing and want to read a well-researched, thoughtful, and just overall good adventure yarn, then this book probably is for you.

Tuago

I must say that it's tough to read a book full of misogynous language in 2023 even if it was written 15 years ago. The story seemed like it could be exciting and the topic interesting, but I couldn't put up with the glorification of macho jerks and locker room talk. Overall, the writing style is pretty annoying and had to put it down after a few chapters.

Nish Bhat

Holy cow. Incredibly well researched, has changed my perspective on diving, the historical record, and human potential.

Luke Jones

I was apprehensive about this book. I don't like the idea of people diving to a wreck and desecrating remains so they can scavenge and grave rob, and I was worried this book was going to be a glorification of that behavior.

It wasn't at all. It's a story about modern-day adventurers who risked their lives so they could identify U-869 without any bureaucratic red tape. From their telling, they were respectful to the dead, and the epilogue of the book had me holding back tears.

What you'll also learn in this book is what divers put themselves through when diving to these wrecks, and how even a few extra minutes can cost them hours of decompression.

Shadow Divers The True Adventure of Two Americans Who Risked Everything to Solve One of the Last Mysteries of World War II

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