Into the Deep

Bob Ballard is larger than life: scientist, engineer, naval intelligence officer, charmer in chief. His is a story of determination in the face of insurmountable barriers. Yet, with relentless, infinite curiosity, and a hero's courage, he went around all those barriers, to become what he wanted to be: a modern-day Captain Nemo. Into the Deep is a page-turner, every chapter a cliffhanger that delivers yet another surprise, until the final surprise is delivered. At that sudden moment of realization, the armor is shed, and the hero shows a deep, soulful humanity that only confirms why he is such a towering figure. Into the Deep is a book for every kid who dreams of growing into something, for every person who's been told 'you cannot do this, ' for every scientist (fledgling as well veteran) who wonders why we do what we do. Ballard's story is a modern Odyssey, where the hero has a destination in mind but often has to tack and take shelter until, eventually, he reaches his personal Ithaca. --Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and author of No living explorer can claim a career as varied or fascinating as that of Robert Ballard, who has explored the world's oceans, including a deep dive to the Titanic. His life is a testament to the power of imagination, scientific rigor, and dogged hard work. Now, as never before, Robert Ballard illuminates the world's oceans in a spellbinding memoir of courage and discovery. --Henry A. Kissinger An explorer's memoir of discovering the wreck of the Titanic--and so much more. As a young boy, Ballard was perpetually in motion. Feeling confined in school and suffering from dyslexia, he found that he learned better by seeing and doing. From an early age, his mother had given him license to roam, so he spent much of his time fishing, swimming, and exploring the tidal pools of Southern California. After seeing Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea at age 12, he was hooked on the ocean: It blew my mind. Although Ballard is best known for the Titanic, he has made numerous remarkable discoveries in the face of significant obstacles. Among his other adventures and accomplishments: witnessing the ocean floor expanding at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; investigating alleged Loch Ness monster sightings; finding the Bismarck and the Yorktown; exploring the wreckage of the Lusitania; tracking ancient trade routes of the Romans and the Phoenicians; stumbling upon a site that pointed the way for Israel to find a significant offshore oil and gas field; making findings that confirmed a theory that a catastrophic event occurred in the Black Sea (which some believe was the biblical Noah's flood); locating John F. Kennedy's PT-109; discovering a German U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico; and his current quest to find the wreckage of Amelia Earhart's plane. All of this would be enough to fill multiple lifetimes, but Ballard has also developed and improved technologies to aid in the exploration of the ocean floor, made speaking appearances and written numerous articles and books about his work, and created video documentaries and live broadcasts of his adventures, bringing science to life for schoolchildren. Throughout the book, the author discusses the many challenges and setbacks he faced along the way, noting that failure should be embraced, since every failure is a learning lesson. Ballard's incredible achievements and gift for storytelling will captivate readers from all walks of life. --(starred review) Of course I loved the section about the search for Titanic and his exploration of the wreck, but was enthralled at the first hand accounts of the decades of exploration that preceded and followed that signature event in Dr. Ballard's life. He was, and still is, a true exploration pioneer, and has inspired generations of ocean explorers, myself included.--James Cameron Of course I loved the section about the search for Titanic and his exploration of the wreck, but was enthralled at the first hand accounts of the decades of exploration that preceded and followed that signature event in Dr. Ballard's life. He was, and still is, a true exploration pioneer, and has inspired generations of ocean explorers, myself included.--James Cameron An amazing story, brilliantly told.--Drs. Brock and Fernette Eide, authors of Embarking on a world cruise you might pack a suitcase with books by or about Shackleton, Fulton, Hornblower, Twain, Cronkite, and the most inspiring teacher you ever had. Bob Ballard saves you all that weight with his new memoir Into the Deep. Here is an explorer who discovered Titanic, Bismarck, PT-109, and many others in the abyss, a scientist who proved theories on hydrothermal vents that remade geological research, an engineer who imagined then built revolutionary marine robots, a naval officer who led secret missions into the most hostile regions, a natural storyteller whose wry wit enlivens every tale, and a trusted confidant of some of the most influential figures of his time. As an educator and philanthropist he has done more than any other person to re-energize the teaching and inspire the growth of students in math science and engineering. The book is certain to be an adventure classic. --John Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy and author of It seems as if Robert Ballard has lived three lives--or maybe ten--and these pages are filled with a riveting account of his adventures, each one seemingly better than the last. I envy his grandchildren and the tales he must tell them.--Ken Burns