Simon Winchester Pacific: Silicon Chips, Surfboards, Coral Reefs, Atom Bombs, and Global Superpowers

Simon Winchester, the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of "Atlantic" and "The Men Who United the States," offers an enthralling biography of the Pacific Ocean and its role in the modern world in his latest work, "Pacific." This captivating book explores our evolving relationship with this imposing force of nature, as the Pacific Ocean assumes an increasingly prominent position in shaping our global landscape.

As the Mediterranean once defined the classical world and the Atlantic connected Europe to the New World, the Pacific Ocean is now primed to define our collective tomorrow. With the rise of China, the American cities along the West Coast, including Seattle, San Francisco, and the Silicon Valley, are also on the ascent. Today, the Pacific is ascendant, and its geological history has long transformed us, with its tremendous earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis.

However, the human history of the Pacific, from a Western perspective, is quite young, beginning with Magellan's 16th-century circumnavigation. It is a natural wonder whose most fascinating history is currently unfolding before our eyes. In "Pacific," Winchester takes the reader on a sweeping journey, from the Bering Strait to Cape Horn, the Yangtze River to the Panama Canal, and to the many small islands and archipelagos that dot the vast expanse in between.

Winchester's personal experiences are vast, and his storytelling is second to none. His historical understanding of the region is formidable, making "Pacific" a paean to this magnificent sea of beauty, myth, and imagination that is transforming our lives. The author observes the fall of a dictator in Manila, visits aboriginal communities in northern Queensland, and is even jailed in Tierra del Fuego, the land at the end of the world. His journey encompasses a trip down the Alaska Highway, a stop at the isolated Pitcairn Islands, a trek across South Korea, and a glimpse of its mysterious northern neighbor.

"Pacific" is one of Library Journal's 10 Best Books of 2015, and it is a testament to Winchester's skill as a writer and his deep appreciation for the complex history and evolving significance of the world's largest ocean. As the Mediterranean shaped the classical world and the Atlantic connected Europe to the New World, the Pacific Ocean now defines our tomorrow, and this captivating book offers a sweeping exploration of its past, present, and future.

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