Dynasties of the Sea

The Shipowners and Financiers Who Expanded the Era of Free Trade

By: Lori Ann LaRocco

Narrated by: Kitty Hendrix

Dynasties of the Sea is the first audiobook to examine one of the most powerful forces in global trade and economic development: world shipping and the magnates who drive the industry.

Operating from Monaco to Hong Kong, London to Athens, Singapore to Oslo, shipowners and their financiers have changed the world in every way. From transporting agricultural products from Brazil to Africa and the Middle East, to delivering Australian iron ore to China, to carrying Middle East crude oil to Asia and the Americas, to carrying almost every article of clothing you are wearing and every electronic device in the world, ship-owners have enabled global economic development and helped raise the global standard of living.

While ocean shipping remains one of the most important businesses in the world, it is also one of the most volatile. Affected by such imponderables as weather and political upheaval, ship-owning cultures have maintained their commitment to an industry that has endured for centuries - and will continue to endure for centuries to come.

©2012 Marine Money International (P)2013 New Street Communications, LLC

Excellent all around

What made the experience of listening to Dynasties of the Sea the most enjoyable?

The portraits of these titans of the shipping industry are cleverly and eloquently painted by author Lori Ann LaRocco, and the narration for this audio edition is authoritative and effective. Highly recommended for those with an interest in the subject. I never realized the shipping industry, and the complex capitalization behind it, was quite the gamblers' game that it turns out to be. Makes most other entrepreneurial risks seem quite trivial and tame by comparison. Learning this was alone worth the price of admission.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The elaboration of the "crap shoot" aspect of capitalization for international shipping, and the high-stakes complexities of the trade.

What does Kitty Hendrix bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator does an excellent job of rendering often complex material in an inviting and intuitively-compelling manner.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Once again, the complex and high-risk capitalization behind such ventures.

The Industry King of Free Trade

Would you consider the audio edition of Dynasties of the Sea to be better than the print version?

The audio version brought the book up to a whole new level

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The depth of the characters introduced through industry short stories

What does Kitty Hendrix bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A female twist to a dominant male industry - changing everyday

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No particular moment

Any additional comments?

90% of the things we own at home and at the workplace were delivered by ship. A long history filled with many players throughout the world. A difficult subject rarely discussed and the book introduces the men and women that continue to make this industry a leader in Global trade. Well Done

allows for an understanding of the shipping world

fantastic and rich in history and the forgotten back stories. it allowed me an insight into strategies and risks of the industry.

Enjoyable and informative

Dynasties of the Sea is a fantastic listen. As someone in the early stages of my career, I found the audiobook to be full of great advice about what it takes to become a successful leader - not just in shipping, but in any business. The narrative contains an interesting blend of old world stories, such as the family lessons Intercargo's Nicholas Pappadakis takes to heart, and is relevant to the 21st century, with anecdotes like Peter Evensen's implementation of social media into Teekay's business practices. Great fun!

An interesting read

There are dozens of books about the lives of the great robber barons of the past that amassed great wealth. This was a very interesting sneak peek at the lives of the modern day magnates of shipping.