Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea - Gary Kinder

In the year of 1857 the SS Central America was headed on the return leg of its regular trek between Panama and New York City. Now, being that it was in the mid 1800s, and being that it was picking up a load of cargo coming from San Francisco, you can imagine what was on this ship. There were some 21 tons of gold straight from the western United States aboard this side-wheel steamer. The ship runs into one of the biggest hurricanes the world had ever seen and ends up going to the bottom of the sea in 8,000 feet of ocean. Kinder spins the tale of the sinking ship as well as any novelist, and then gets to the meat of Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea.

Skipping ahead some 130 years, Kinder's story picks back up in the late 1970s and goes through the entire decade of the 80s. It is a tale of invention, of a guy named Tommy who is one of those people that has that certain something that nobody else gets, and his relentless quest to find the Central America. The problem, however, is that at the time this story takes place the technology to do what Tommy wants to do is just not available. So, being the unique individual he is, Tommy creates the technology himself, along with an entire array of experts in various fields of engineering, Sonar technology, mechanics, etc... One of the things I most enjoyed about this book was Tommy's remarkable ability to look at a problem and solve it, whether or not the leading scientist in what ever field he/she is engaged in says it is impossible or not - time and time again. I look at Tommy and think, how can I apply that problem-solving aggressiveness and undying persistence in my own endeavors.

The development of technology, the treasure hunt, the competition, a shipwreck, and 21 tons of gold make this book as good as most any treasure hunt tale one can read nowadays. The fact that it is a true story makes it more remarkable. This book was an unexpected find on my reading adventures, and came up as a surprise. Nevertheless - I would recommend it to anyone who likes shipwreck tales, treasure hunting, technology, is looking for a book of remarkable leadership or just a good ol' read. I give this one a full five-star rating.

Now I'm off to read another book recommended to me by the same person who recommended this one. I'll be starting Titan, which is a biography of John D. Rockefeller. Until then....