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The Desert and the Sea: 977 Days Captive on the Somali Pirate Coast Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 729 ratings

The “highly addictive” international bestseller, “an amazing true-life thriller, one of the most suspenseful books written in recent years” (Jeffrey Gettleman, Pulitzer Prize–winning author).

In January 2012, having covered a Somali pirate trial in Hamburg for Spiegel Online International—and funded by a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting—Michael Scott Moore traveled to the Horn of Africa to write about piracy and ways to end it. In a terrible twist of fate, Moore himself was kidnapped and subsequently held captive by Somali pirates. Subjected to conditions that break even the strongest spirits—physical injury, starvation, isolation, terror—Moore’s survival is a testament to his indomitable strength of mind. In September 2014, after 977 days, he walked free when his ransom was put together by the help of several US and German institutions, friends, colleagues, and his strong-willed mother. 

Yet Moore’s own struggle is only part of the story: 
The Desert and the Sea falls at the intersection of reportage, memoir, and history. Caught between Muslim pirates, the looming threat of Al-Shabaab, and the rise of ISIS, Moore observes the worlds that surrounded him and places his ordeal in the context of the larger political and historical issues.

A sort of 
Catch-22 meets Black Hawk Down, The Desert and the Sea is written with dark humor, candor, and a journalist’s clinical distance and eye for detail. Moore offers an intimate and otherwise inaccessible view of life as we cannot fathom it, brilliantly weaving his own experience as a hostage with the social, economic, religious, and political factors creating it.

“A harrowing and affecting account.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

If you read Michael Scott Moore's book, first clear your schedule, because you won't put it down until you've finished it. The Desert and the Sea is an astonishing and harrowing story, told with great humanity, by a writer who ventures where few will ever go.

-- "Susan Casey, author of Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins"

However much you wish Michael Scott Moore had never had cause to write it, this book could not be more engrossing, harrowing, suspenseful, wrenchingly humane, and illuminating.

-- "Francisco Goldman, author of Say Her Name"

Highly addictive reading material. Michael Scott Moore delivers an amazing true-life thriller, one of the most suspenseful books written in recent years, that tracks across oceans and underworlds, culminating in a very rewarding, deeply profound end.

-- "Jeffrey Gettleman, Pulitzer Prize-winner and author of Love, Africa"

Sweetness and Blood is a lively tour de force of travel writing and enterprising research that tells the truly fascinating story of surfing's spread into unlikely corners of the globe. This is like Beach Boys music for the sun-hungry brain, imagination, and soul.

-- "Francisco Goldman, author of The Art of Political Murder: Who Killed the Bishop"

His account of his nearly three years of captivity is a testament to the strength of one man's indomitable spirit and Moore's great gifts of observation, his evident gifts as a storyteller, his humor, and his wits. Thank heavens he lived to tell the story, which everyone should now read and cheer.

-- "Tom Barbash, author of Stay Up with Me"

From the Back Cover

With echoes of Catch-22 and Black Hawk Down, author and former hostage Michael Scott Moore masterfully walks a fine line between personal narrative and journalistic distance in this page-turning and novelistic account of 977 days held captive by Somali pirates.

Moore set off for Somalia in January 2012 after reporting on a historic trial of ten Somali pirates in Germany. He went with an open mind and a grant from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. He knew the stories of poor fishermen whose livelihoods were threatened by international fishing vessels; he sympathized with the legacies of colonialism. Near the end of his trip, however, a gang of pirates captured him and demanded a ransom of twenty million dollars. Moore would be stuck in Somalia for more than two and a half years, shifted from camps in the desert bush to barren prison houses, and—for several months—he was held on a hijacked tuna vessel, where he would make friends with a crew of hostage fishermen.

As the only Western journalist to witness everyday life on a ship captured by Somali pirates, Moore recounts his dizzying ordeal as a rich and surprising story of survival. After a daring but desperate attempt to escape, he struggles with murderous fantasies as well as thoughts of suicide. Some of his guards—happy to have an American to taunt—suggest his long captivity is payback for the Battle of Mogadishu, the basis for the book Black Hawk Down, more than two decades before.

In the face of threats to kill him, or sell him to al-Shabaab, Moore maintains his humanity and his sardonic wit. He relates his captivity with calm detachment, brilliantly weaving his own experience as a hostage with the religious and political factors behind Somali piracy. His wide-ranging narrative brings us into the destitute lives of his guards, as well as memories of his father’s self-destruction. The Desert and the Sea falls at the intersection of reportage, memoir, and history, and it will take its place next to titles such as An Evil Cradling and Even Silence Has an End.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07RDKG3RM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper; Reprint edition (May 28, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 28, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 483 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 729 ratings

About the author

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Michael Scott Moore
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Michael Scott Moore is a journalist and novelist, author of a comic novel about L.A., "Too Much of Nothing," as well as a travel book about surfing, "Sweetness and Blood," which was named a best book of 2010 by The Economist and Popmatters. He was kidnapped in 2012 on a reporting trip to Somalia and held hostage for two and a half years.

His book about the ordeal, "The Desert and the Sea," is due out from Harper Wave in mid-2018. He’s covered the European migration crisis for Businessweek, and politics, travel, and literature for The Atlantic, Der Spiegel, GQ, The New Republic, The Paris Review, The New York Times, the L.A. Times, and The L.A. Review of Books.

His web site can be found at www.radiofreemike.net

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
729 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book gripping and worth reading for its story. They praise the writing style as well-written, eloquent, and talented. The history is interesting and informative, providing insights into social and historical dynamics. Readers find the emotional content touching and personal. They describe the book as stunning and brave. However, some feel the book is too long and a chore to read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

64 customers mention "Readability"58 positive6 negative

Customers find the book readable and engaging. They describe the story as riveting, fascinating, and great. The author weaves the account of his captivity with vivid details. While some readers felt the writing was rough, they found the events themselves compelling enough to overcome any shortcomings.

"...The story moves along brilliantly; the author weaves the account of his captivity with cultural history, personal past mis-giving’s and captors’..." Read more

"I liked the main storyline of his captivity, especially the insights into the Somali culture and pirate network, by way of his observations of the..." Read more

"What a fascinating read. Even if this book were a novel instead of a true story, it would still be a riveting page-turner...." Read more

"...way through according to my Kindle and I would say this was truly a great book...." Read more

19 customers mention "Writing style"19 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style. They find the book well-written, eloquent, and engaging. Readers praise the author's literary skill and ability to weave a gripping true story of survival with humor. The book is described as literate, thoughtful, and easy to read.

"...Moore’s book was written so well, it touched my psyche deeply. His unjust imprisonment was wrong on so many levels and stomach turning...." Read more

"...You are a true survivor and a gifted writer." Read more

"...The book is well written and absorbing despite its length as the reader is compelled to learn when somehow the author was to regain his freedom...." Read more

"...than just the events , he gives us access to his thoughts, feelings, ramblings and emotions that he experienced during the almost three years he..." Read more

17 customers mention "History"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's history. They find it informative and engaging, providing an insight into Somalia's social and historical dynamics. The book provides a gripping true story of survival, with accounts of political history and ancient wisdom. Readers appreciate the historical perspective and the perspective of those who perpetrate piracy.

"...The historical content he provided throughout the book about Somalia, pirating and the Muslim religion was greatly appreciated...." Read more

"...Some of the historical context was useful but sometimes it was a bit much...." Read more

"I enjoyed the story, the pirate tale, the hostages’ plight and most of all the sparks of humanity the author noticed and conveyed...." Read more

"...Incredible story of the will to survive but also the dark places your mind can go when the will to survive fades...." Read more

15 customers mention "Educational value"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and educational. They appreciate the comprehensive research, history, storytelling, and deep psychological insights. The writing is thought-provoking and eye-opening, showing that ideas are powerful. Readers say it inspires them and provides a fair amount of knowledge about Somalia and the mindset of those who perpetrate violence.

"...and sinister Somalia pirate trade only shines a bright light on the importance of education, a free economy, democracy, and religious freedom." Read more

"...main storyline of his captivity, especially the insights into the Somali culture and pirate network, by way of his observations of the various..." Read more

"...There is just the right amount of historical/political background here to put this experience in context...." Read more

"...However, this book keeps you interested in reading and just surprised along the way...." Read more

10 customers mention "Emotional content"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book touching and personal. It gives them access to the author's thoughts, feelings, and ramblings. The book blends history and personal narrative to provide an important portrait of a person's past.

"...Moore’s book was written so well, it touched my psyche deeply. His unjust imprisonment was wrong on so many levels and stomach turning...." Read more

"...his personal life experiences made the book feel very real and very personal...." Read more

"...But we can still thank him for writing such a heartfelt and riveting memoir about the most difficult 3 years of his life...." Read more

"...But more than just the events , he gives us access to his thoughts, feelings, ramblings and emotions that he experienced during the almost three..." Read more

4 customers mention "Look"4 positive0 negative

Customers like the book's appearance. They describe it as stunning and a masterpiece.

"...Stunning and brave! There are plenty of books to read that won't aggravate you to death, so pass on this one." Read more

"...The writing is thoughtful, insightful, and beautiful...." Read more

"I really liked the balanced unbiased look at the terrible ordeal the author went through...." Read more

"A masterpiece" Read more

4 customers mention "Page turner"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book's engaging story. They found it hard to put down and found the descriptions of Michael's external world riveting.

"...book were a novel instead of a true story, it would still be a riveting page-turner. I could not put this book down...." Read more

"Riveting, during all descriptions of Michaels external circumstances, as well as his internal emotional/psychological journey through 977 days of..." Read more

"This was a page turner for me. I really enjoyed the book and despite what took place, it actually made me want to travel." Read more

"...Everything I could want from a book. A real page-turner!" Read more

4 customers mention "Length"0 positive4 negative

Customers find the book too long and a chore to read.

"...I felt for starters the book is too long, many of the individual aspects of his captivity, dreadful though they were were also redundant...." Read more

"...While the text seemed long and moved slowly at times, this quality helped reinforce the true experience of captivity." Read more

"...It was a chore to read, and that’s a shame because it’s an amazing thing to have lived through." Read more

"A long book, but an easy enough read for anybody...." Read more

An excellent and timely memoir
5 out of 5 stars
An excellent and timely memoir
I've been reading a lot of memoirs lately, starting with this one over the summer. This is an outstanding piece. Moore addresses heavy topics and tells his story with deft reflection, commentary, and some humor. Moore's experience was difficult enough, but no one should fear reading this narrative -- Moore tells it all without undue graphic gruesomeness. His writing is clear and engaging, and the tale of his dreadful experience worth reading. As the best memoirs do, he ties the tale at hand to reflections on his life before it starts. He says he started out to put a human face on pirates, and in this he completely succeeds; unfortunately, what makes us human is not always good. This is a valuable thing to be reminded of, and I suspect that understanding this via experiences and reflections such as Moore's can make us all better people.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2018
    Many of us live unaware of the flagrant gifts a civilized society extends to each one of us and how the pillars of our peaceful communities are taken for granted. Michael Scott Moore’s book, “The Desert and the Sea” will make you wake-up from your western world slumber.

    I just finished reading “The Desert and the Sea”. The cliche phrase, “I couldn’t put this book down” is true! The story moves along brilliantly; the author weaves the account of his captivity with cultural history, personal past mis-giving’s and captors’ odd personalists. To be perfectly honest, I did put the book down once or twice because I found myself absorbing the author’s pain and anxiety. Moore’s book was written so well, it touched my psyche deeply. His unjust imprisonment was wrong on so many levels and stomach turning. But I stepped away from the book to mostly reflect on the lethal combination of how poverty, lack of education, political chaos, and religious zeal can turn humans toward ugliness, entropy and insanity. The book shows us that Ideas are indeed powerful; both positive and destructive.

    The intensity of Moore's story lies in its realness – “This isn’t fiction,” I had to keep reminding myself as I read. As an American citizen, I noted and often appreciated the author’s non-American (European) view on various political and social issues – not completely void of bias. The historical content he provided throughout the book about Somalia, pirating and the Muslim religion was greatly appreciated. And how he noted and quoted other authors who wrote about these subjects so the reader could go beyond the book and learn more. Mr. Moore should be honored as a true survivor. But most importantly, I thank him for sharing his story with those who live in simple ignorance to the favors of a civilized society. Mr. Moore's accounts of the dark and sinister Somalia pirate trade only shines a bright light on the importance of education, a free economy, democracy, and religious freedom.
    35 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2019
    I liked the main storyline of his captivity, especially the insights into the Somali culture and pirate network, by way of his observations of the various guards and pirate bosses. Some of the historical context was useful but sometimes it was a bit much. There was a fair amount of philosophical musing, sometimes more than I preferred. I wished there'd been information provided about how or if his efforts to be rescued were noticed. You'll enjoy this if you like history or travelogues.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2018
    What a fascinating read. Even if this book were a novel instead of a true story, it would still be a riveting page-turner.

    I could not put this book down. It is an adventure from the first page. It describes Michael's predicament, the result of one fatal mistake any of us could make, in excruciating detail. From disgusting pirates to false hope to "man's inhumanity to man" to finding beauty in the cruelest of conditions, it carries the reader from despair to hope, and back to despair again

    Philosophy, religion, colonialism, slavery, economics, politics, love, hate and the entire human condition show up.

    Thank you Michael for having the courage to both stay alive (I probably would have taken a few of them out and killed myself), and share this with the world. You are a true survivor and a gifted writer.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2018
    I am 88% of the way through according to my Kindle and I would say this was truly a great book. I had to look hard for a place to stop reading for the day, so that's my definition of a good book. His time in captivity and his willingness to pursue every avenue towards gaining his freedom is inspirational and the way that he wove it in with his personal life experiences made the book feel very real and very personal. I felt like I knew Michael better than the pirates did, and, of course with the language barrier, that is certainly true, but it lent a certain feeling of empathy or "relatable-ness" towards the author and the despicable situation he was in and the guilt around the hardships that he put upon his family. This book would make a GREAT movie, if it hasn't been thought of already?
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2024
    Most of the book is very good, but it is ruined by the epilogue. Out of nowhere, the author starts raging that “orange man bad!” and makes blanket statements about immigration without justifying it… he said so, therefore it is true. He also misrepresents the illegal immigration debate and uses the common strawman of treating disagreements about illegal immigration as disagreements about immigration in general. It is also obvious anytime he says something that might offend the liberal elite he starts using disclaimers. I guess he wants to make sure people understand he is a GOOD progressive! LOL. Anyway, having said that, 99.9% of the book is very good, too bad he decided to get political at the end and lecture us dummies on how brilliant his opinions are and how dumb we are.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2019
    The author obviously made an asinine mistake in venturing to Somalia in the first place, but who among us that have taken risks haven't been fools? This was a terrific read that might have been overly criticized by readers that can't possibly imagine the introspection and doubt that would overtake the human mind in such a situation.
    The book is well written and absorbing despite its length as the reader is compelled to learn when somehow the author was to regain his freedom.
    One thing left a question to my mind was the fact that an uncle was instrumental in funding the ransom yet forgotten in the acknowledgments?
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2018
    I enjoyed the story, the pirate tale, the hostages’ plight and most of all the sparks of humanity the author noticed and conveyed. No one was all bad nor greedy, no one was without fault (except the mom). The outlandish conditions of the hostages were astounding, hardly believable. The many languages, countries and beliefs of the hostages at first a difficulty, but became less divisive. The outcome was bittersweet and asks us to notice and care about hostages and the Somalis who find being pirates their best options.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Brittany
    5.0 out of 5 stars Boyfriend Loved it!
    Reviewed in Canada on February 9, 2019
    Arrived in good condition and my boyfriend loved it!
  • Michael T
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book with a (sort of) happy ending.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2018
    I bought this book because it was reviewed on the BBC Radio Four together with an interview with the author.
    The BBC Reviewer informed us he was unable to put the book down because it really was a 'page turner' and
    the reader just had to know what happened next.
    It is certainly a different sort of book to that which I normally read. Although not brilliantly written, I did find it very interesting and, through the author's description, was able to form a mental picture of most of the people mentioned in the book. It was easy to put down and pick up from where you left off. To have spent 977 days held as a captive and moving so frequently from one 'prison' to another the author has filled the pages very well. To have chances of escape or to shoot his way out he also had to weigh up the odds in his head so quickly that the chance of escape had timed itself out as fast as it had arrived. Certainly a very interesting and thoroughly readable book. I was sorry to have come to the end but, of course, very pleased he came away with his life. The final few pages describe his life after his terrible time in captivity and it is this happy time that the reader (well I did) gets a big lump in his/her throat and maybe even a few tears too. As I was reading this book my mind also centered upon the many other innocent pople who were also held captive whilst I was fortunate to be simply reading about their dreadful plight. The author comes across as a very nice man and he is so lucky to be alive to tell his story. Yes I recommend this book.
  • HonestBob
    5.0 out of 5 stars Courage of an incredible man against all odds
    Reviewed in Germany on November 23, 2018
    Superb account, thought provoking.
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in Canada on September 13, 2019
    This book was recommended to me by my sister. A good read, was hard to put down. I have recommended this book to friends.
  • C. A.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good account of a harrowing story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2018
    This sounded like a horrible ordeal to have gone through, but the author told it without making it a miserable read. It was compelling and sped along nicely.

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