The Titanic For Dummies (For Dummies (History, Biography & Politics) [Kindle Edition]

This year is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the "RMS Titanic". Many books are being published to mark the anniversary, and this one, "The Titanic for Dummies", by Stephen Spignesi, is a fun book for the casual reader, interested in the basics of the disaster.

There are many "Titanic" experts who pour over every book written on the subject. This book is not for them. Instead, it gives the "basics" of the sinking - iceberg meets ship. The author delves into the behind-the-scenes details, from the development and building of the ship, to its design and claim to be "unsinkable", to the three levels on the ship, First Class, Second Class, and Steerage. Curiously, for all that I've read about "Titanic", most emphasis has been on the First Class cabins and passengers, and the Steerage cabins and passengers. Second Class seems to be ignored in many books, and this book actually showed a cabin in Second Class and gives other details of that ignored group of passengers.

Also delved into are the "politics" of the ship. Who built it, who designed it, and who steered it into that iceberg. And who went down with the ship. The tragic lack of lifeboats and the mishandling of many of the life boats the ship actually had, meant that fewer passengers survived than could have had the management of the boats been handled better by the crew. What happened after the "Titanic" sunk? Spignesi writes of the many ships in the area who had picked up the "Titanic's" distress calls, rushing to the scene but arriving to late to do anything but pick up the survivors in the life boats. He also tells of the many investigations, both in the US and the UK, which tried to parcel out blame for the sinking and suggest ways to prevent another tragedy. Like: have as many life boats needed for both passengers and crew.

"Dummies" is a quick read, a book that actually doesn't have to be read in one sitting. In fact, the author advises against reading it that way. I see it as a treat for that reader who wants to know a little about a very interesting topic.

I've read many books about Titanic and this ranks as one of the better ones. It is full of information, much of which was new to me, but it is very well structured / presented and easy to digest. I read from cover to cover but it would serve equally well as a reference text to be dipped in and out of. I recommend this book unreservedly.

Did you ever wonder where you could find gobs of interesting facts about The Titanic in one hand spot? If so, go straight for "The Titanic for Dummies". I have long been interested in the Titanic but was by no means a "Titanic Groupie" but I enjoyed every page of this book.

It is organized along the lines of the for "Dummies" series. Each part covers a different aspect of the Titanic story. We are first confronted us with the question of why the Titanic still mystifies us a century after its aborted and tragic voyage? It takes us through its construction, introduces us to its passengers and crew and their lives on board. We are next guided through its short voyage, its sinking, minute by minute, and places us in the boats with the survivors as they heard the screams, watched its stern rise and then disappear and waited for rescue.

Titanic's story did not end after five days. It was just beginning. Author Stephen Spignesi explains the official investigations, both the American search for truth and the British whitewash. We read about the unsolved mysteries, the search to find the cause and to place the blame. What about that novella, "The Wreck of the Titan" that eerily mimicked Titanic's story-14 years before?

It then goes into the quest to recover and explore the Titanic, the role its artifacts and presentations on screen and stages have played in our culture. Finally, The Part of Tens: Fascination Artifacts, Myths Debunked and Terrific Documentaries.

One thing that I really like about this book is the way that Spignesi tries to investigate the myths against the discernible facts. Did you ever hear the story that Titanic was jinxed because the champagne bottle used at its Christening did not break? Wrong! The White Star Line did not Christen its ships. What about Molly Brown insisting that her boat go back for survivors? This one is true. It seems that he tells it as he sees it without trying to either defend or debunk legends merely to be a follower or a cynic. The content acquaints the reader with a broad array of facts about the Titanic and its lore in a very readable format. I devoured it it from cover to cover but one could just as profitably pick and choose the topics that are of interest. To add even more benefit, about 14 hours after finishing the book I went to a trivia night that had three Titanic questions, all of which I aced. I have just gotten into the "Dummies" series in recent months but "The Titanic for Dummies" has to be one of the best.