The Wide Wide Sea by Hampton Sides Summary
Overview of The Wide Wide Sea
In "The Wide Wide Sea," Hampton Sides masterfully chronicles Captain Cook's fateful final voyage, where imperial ambition met Indigenous reality. Named a Best Book by The New York Times and seven other prestigious outlets, this riveting account reveals how Cook's secret orders transformed exploration into colonization.
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When Two Worlds Collided on a Hawaiian Beach
Picture a Hawaiian fisherman in January 1778, paddling frantically toward shore, eyes wide with terror. Behind him loom two massive ships with fire burning atop them and strange holes puncturing their sides. On deck stand creatures with "deformed" heads-actually tricorne hats-and "loose and folding skin"-European uniforms. As thousands gather on the beach, a collective shiver runs through the crowd. Everyone senses the same truth: their world is about to change forever. This moment captures the essence of Captain James Cook's third and final voyage-an expedition that would chart unknown waters, bridge vastly different cultures, and end in shocking violence. Cook had already become history's greatest explorer, disproving the existence of a mythical southern continent and mapping vast stretches of the Pacific. Yet this journey would reveal something more profound than geography: the devastating complexity of first contact between civilizations. What happens when the most celebrated navigator of his age meets cultures that have thrived for millennia without European "discovery"? The answer is far more nuanced than simple conquest or collaboration.
The Man Who Couldn't Stop Exploring
The Paradox of Paradise: Mai's Journey
The Explorer's Dark Turn
When Gods Walk Among Mortals
The Fatal Return
The Legacy That Refuses to Die
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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