Into the Deep: A Memoir From the Man Who Found Titanic

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Best known for finding the doomed ship Titanic, celebrated adventurer Robert Ballard has a lifetime of stories about exploring the ocean depths. Now he gets personal, telling the stories behind his most exciting discoveries including how a top-secret naval mission provided the opportunity for his Titanic discovery and opens up about his private tragedies. He frankly recounts the struggles he has worked through, rising to prominence as a scientist whose celebrity drew academic scorn. And he reveals the triumph and agony in the years after his Titanic find: While media around the world clamored for interviews, he confronted the death of his 20-year-old son as well as the collapse of his marriage amid academic and military career demands. Finally, he addresses his late-in-life discovery of his own dyslexia, which he now sees as a gift that has shaped his life and accomplishments. Brilliant, insightful, and surprising, Into the Deep is the definitive story of the dangers and discoveries, conflicts and triumphs that have shaped the remarkable life of an American hero.

ROBERT D. BALLARD has conducted more than 150 deep-sea expeditions and is a pioneer in the development of advanced deep submergence and telepresence technology. He is best known for finding the wreck of the Titanic, but he also discovered hydrothermal vents, the wreck of the PT 109, ancient ships and artifacts in the Black Sea, and many other famous sites and phenomena. Since 2008 he has managed the E/V Nautilus, his flagship for exploration, operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust and funded in part by NOAA. Among his many honors he holds the Explorers Club Medal, the National Geographic Hubbard Medal, and the National Endowment for the Humanities Medal. He lives in Lyme, Connecticut. nautiluslive.org Twitter: @EVNautilus Facebook: Nautilus Live

Into the Deep "details the struggles the oceanographer overcame to become a famed adventurer--and finally achieve his dream."--New York Post "An amazing story, brilliantly told."--Drs. Brock and Fernette Eide, authors of The Dyslexic Advantage "An explorer's memoir of discovering the wreck of the Titanic--and so much more. Although Ballard is best known for the Titanic, he has made numerous remarkable discoveries . . . 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."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "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."--Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and author of The Nature of Nature "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. . . . The book is certain to be an adventure classic."--John Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy and author of Oceans Ventured "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 "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 "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 "Ballard is a national treasure, the kind of man many of us can only aspire to be. He's lived a life that is the stuff of legend, and Into the Deep is a genuine gift to readers everywhere."--Jathan & Heather "While his book features numerous stories about his favorite research expeditions and discoveries, the major revelations are more personal . . . including his recent discovery that he is dyslexic."--URI Today, University of Rhode Island [In this book, Robert Ballard] "delves into his astonishing career . . . and also opens up about some of the most defining moments in his personal life."--CNN Travel "Fascinating, page-turning . . . This exciting memoir, recounted by a wonderful storyteller, will be relished by by readers who enjoy adventure, oceanography, underwater archaeology, and scientific discovery."--Library Journal