My wife bought this book for me as a birthday present. She must have had a heck of a time finding this kind of book because I'm such a finicky reader. If a book doesn't grab me right away I have difficult time continuing. I'll only go so far and quit.

What caught my attention was that this exploring expedition is not well known. It seems that we Americans are more focused on he European explorers Magellan, Columbus, Vasco de Gama, etc.

I'm only at the beginning of this true adventure and I'm vastly intrigued. Nathaniel Philbrick has set the times of the political atmosphere with the young U. S. Navy and it's seniority of command manuevering. Leutenant Charles Wilkes is temporarley promoted to Admiral of the expendition so as to deal with foreign governments which is necessary to carry out the mission.

I am now starting the chapter of the launching of six wooden sailing ships that must carry out the 4 year exploration of the entire globe.