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Rating: 
Summary: Not much suspense but a solid story.
Review: "The Desperate Hours" is an account of the collision between the passenger liners Andrea Doria and Stockhlom, which occurred on the night of July 25, 1956 south of Nantucket. Fortunately, the accident took place in summertime within heavily traveled shipping lanes. DH is not another "Night to Remember", which was the tale of the vastly more tragic and heartbreaking Titanic sinking of April, 1912. Author Goldstein is a New York Times journalist and like a good reporter faithfully follows the who-what-why-when-where- and how path to constructing solid news stories. Sergeant Joe Friday from the old "Dragnet" show always wanted "the facts ma'am" and this is exactly what readers of DH will get. Mr. Goldstein touches all the bases here, including a brief history of the ships, various personalities among the passengers (mostly those of the more glamorous Doria), a background of word the ships' Masters, and a retracing of the actions of the 2 crews leading up to the collision. Goldstein solidly recounts the frustratingly contradictory versions the 2 skippers gave of their actions in the final critical moments. "Who did or didn't do what" is explained and analyzed in layman's language. The author also covers the post accident investigations and follows up with tales of the subsequent lives of various passengers and crew. The only objection from this reviewer is its title! The rescue operation was not "desperate" at all- in act it was amazingly orderly. 5 ships, including the Stockholm, carried survivors back to New York, with 2 more vessels standing by at the scene. The Doria lingered for nearly 12 hours (the Titanic lasted 3!) before sinking. All fatalities were caused by the ships' impact, none by drowning. This is the virtual opposite of the Titanic tragedy, where an inadequate rescue effort gravely worsened the situation. Author Goldstein deserves 5 star credit for a solid soup to nuts reporting. One star is deducted for the implication of excitement and suspense that simply is not there. Those who approach DH as a first class news story, with no frills added, should not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Compelling Story
Review: A compelling first hand account of this terrible accident and the needless loss of the beautiful Andrea Dora. One thing I was disapointed was the book has few pictures. The DORIA was one of the most drop dead beautiful ocean liners ever made. I was hoping for more pre accident pictures. If you want first hand accounts from the survivors this book is the last word. If you want to learn more about the DORIA itself look elsewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Focus on people makes the story come alive
Review: Goldstein has taken a well known story and put a new face on it. Those of us old enough to remember the sinking of the Andrea Doria will match our long ago memories with fresh, new information which brings the story back as if it happened yesterday. Those of us who didn't know about this ship will find a facinating account focused on those aboard the ship. The technical details are sufficent; the confusion during the 'desperate hours' are brought alive; the people become very real. I recommend Goldstein's book to history buffs, ship buffs, and anyone who enjoys a good story, told very well.
Rating:
Summary: Desperate Hours
Review: I enjoyed reading this book on the tragedy of the Andrea Doria. However, I found that I didn't really learn anything new that I hadn't read years ago in the books by Alvin Moscow and William Hoffer. Yes, there were more Third Class passengers mentioned and their experiences on the Doria were recounted.Goldstein did fill in a few gaps that others had left out. But, Goldstein didn't tell the story with as much breathless anticipation as previous books on the subject. All in all, I'm glad I read the book but equally pleased that I borrowed it from the public library.
Rating: 
Summary: A+!
Review: I sat down with a coffee to flip through this; a few hours later, I had finished it, without a pause. The accident is viewed from the perspective of crew and passengers, from first-class to tourist class. "Desperate Hours" lacks the tedious scientific detail that bogged down "A Perfect Storm," yet adds enough (through diagrams and photographs) to give a chilling portrait of an experienced crew sailing a seaworthy vessel -- and sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean only hours from land. A great read.
Rating:
Summary: A Gripping Book
Review: Richard Goldstein has taken a well-known subject--the sinking of the Andrea Doria--and injected mystery and suspense into it. The depictions of the wealthy passengers, and their behavior on the rapidly sinking ship after the collision, are memorable. And the account of the rescue of hundreds of passengers is gripping and well told. Definitely a great read.
Rating:
Summary: Good Nautical Disaster Book
Review: With "Desperate Hours," author Richard Goldstein effectively recreates the sinking of the Andrea Doria in 1956, one of the last great ocean liner catastrophies, but also perhaps the greatest martime rescue in history. Nearly 1700 passengers and crew were rescued from the ship after its collision with another liner, The Stockholm. Goldstein starts his story by developing the backgrounds of the key players, the two captains, the mate who was on watch on The Stockholm's bridge at the time of the collision, and many of the key passengers. He then takes the reader on board both ships during their journeys and in the fatal moments before the crash. The rest of the book deals with the rescue efforts and the heros (an yes, a few villians) that emerged from it.Goldstein also recounts the international politics of the disaster (involving the governments and national pride of both Italy and Sweeden) and the history of Trans Atlantic travel that help give it the proper context. A little touch like including the fact that Walter Lord's bestellar about the Titanic disaster, "A Night to Remember," had just come out and helped increase passenger anxiety makes the narrative seeme even more real. He explains the mistakes that led to the collision and deals well with the aftermath, including trhe settling of the myriad of lawsuits that resulted. Many of the stories are first hand accounts from the survivors, which increases their effectiveness. Goldstein possesses a good narrative touch as a historical author, and if the book has a flaw, it is that at times it is a bit too detailed. Overall, an "Desperate Hours" is fine reading for nautical disaster buffs and anyone with an interest in seafaring stories in genereal.
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