4.5. This starts off slowly as David Grann establishes a sense of place and introduces his readers to key players, so I was a little skeptical that I would be able to follow and stay engaged. But once that ship gets moving, Grann weaves a compelling story about what happens when humans are reduced to their base instincts.

Grann relies on admittedly conflicting accounts from those on both sides (some from the mutineers, some from the captain’s final crew), but he does an admiral job balancing these viewpoints. He also adds depth to what is, essentially, a true crime story about a shipwreck by discussing the broader implications of imperialism and racism that affected not only this crew, but also other militaristic endeavors by the British.

It’s short—the story itself is maybe 250 pages—so it’s worth a read if you’re at all interested in history.