This is easily the best book I read in 2015. Philbrick writes very well. He tells the story briskly and with sufficient background and scientific explanations to satisfy an inquisitive reader like me. For example, he explains why Nantucket became the whaling capital of the world and the fact that before the discovery of oil from the ground, oil from whales powered the Industrial Revolution.
The maps are very clear and notes detailed. Read this book as it tells the real story of how 8 out of a 22 man crew survived a 3000 miles journey to reach South America after their whaleship was rammed by an angry whale. Read how this real story inspired the famous American novel Moby Dick.