The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook

"This deep dive into Captain Cook's final voyage, exploring themes of imperial ambition and first contact, fits Barack Obama's interest in historical narratives that illuminate complex global dynamics. It aligns with his past selections of non-fiction exploring pivotal moments and their lasting impact."

"I’m a sucker for sea stories, for tales of man against nature, for people who put themselves on the line. So I picked up this book on a whim and read it straight through. I knew a sentence or two about James Cook, but not how famous he was in the 1700s or what he accomplished. This account of his final voyage puts you right on his leaky, smelly, cockroach-infested ship. What proves most dramatic is not his struggle with nature but with other people, the Polynesian islanders who Hampton Sides does much to bring to life. This is a story of exploration but also of empire, with all its dark implications."