A Captain's Duty
Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea
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4.0 • 19 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
The heroic tale of Captain Phillips, who was held captive on a lifeboat by Somali pirates—and survived.
It was just another day on the job for fifty-three-year-old Richard Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama, the United States-flagged cargo ship which was carrying, among other things, food and agricultural materials for the World Food Program. That all changed when armed Somali pirates boarded the ship. The pirates didn't expect the crew to fight back, nor did they expect Captain Phillips to offer himself as hostage in exchange for the safety of his crew. Thus began the tense five-day stand-off, which ended in a daring high-seas rescue when U.S. Navy SEALs opened fire and picked off three of the captors.
A story of adventure and courage, it provides the intimate details of this high-seas hostage-taking—the unbearable heat, the death threats, the mock executions, and the escape attempt. When the pirates boarded his ship, Captain Phillips put his experience into action, doing everything he could to safeguard his crew. And when he was held captive by the pirates, he marshaled all his resources to ensure his own survival, withstanding intense physical hardship and an escalating battle of wills with the pirates.
This was it: the moment where training meets instinct and where character is everything. Richard Phillips was ready.
"I share the country's admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans." —Former President Barack Obama
Customer Reviews
A Captain's Duty: Richard Phillips
Captain Phillips writes a very raw, engaging, human-level accounting of his experience as the Captain of a container ship taken hostage by Somali pirates. He tells the story in the first person as if he's just an average guy who's only become a ship's Captain through sheer hard work and dedication to learning the job.
The story is gripping not only because it is real and being told by the 'hero', but also because the author includes all of the flavour of the setting - both physical and emotional. We see the spectrum of human worries, emotions, triumphs and strains as they each collide with Captain Phillips and his crewmen and family; and we see the strength of the human spirit under the most difficult of emotional and physical experiences.
Through it all, Captain Phillips never fails to direct credit away from himself and to other people. He is undoubtedly proud of his crew, of being a Merchant Mariner, of his family, of the United States' Navy and of his country. The title is a perfect reflection of how he viewed his position in this situation - as a Captain unwaveringly dedicated to the responsibility to his crew and ship, putting each of them ahead of risk to himself. Yet as a human being, and a practical Captain, he remains vigilant to exploiting opportunities to thwart his would-be captors any way he can. He never gives up anything without a smart fight. Because of this he presents a character to which all of us gravitate: he wears his responsibilities like a comfortable sweater yet is prepared to give every last ounce of his life to opposing injustice.
Before you start reading this book, find a quiet place and a few unoccupied hours. "A Captain's Duty" will engage you like few other books; and you will come away feeling pride in the nature of the individual human being.