The book I read is Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea, which is about an elderly fisherman named Santiago and the conflict he's in with both himself and nature. Santiago's fishing days seemed over because of his bad luck with fishing. No matter, Santiago went out for the last time hoping that his luck would change. Apparently, it did and Santiago caught what seemed to be a marlin. For three days he spent battling the fish as it poured out blood, which hinted to hungry sharks for food. In the end, the sharks battled Santiago for the hooked marlin and finally gave up the fish. He was proud of himself because Santiago went where no normal man could have. During the battle, he also reminded himself that he fishes for food, not for sport which uplifted his morale.
             The Old Man and the Sea deals with the fishing industry, which has been an enormous part of maritime history. The setting of the novel takes place in a small village in Cuba where fishing is very popular. The tactics of fishing have been dated back since the age of medieval times. Santiago was patient, quiet, and alert, which are all tactics of fishing that fishermen today use as well.
             The Old Man and the Sea gives a second-hand impression of the long times out at sea. Santiago's eighty-four days of fishing yet fishless, explains to me how patient one must be to finally reach their reward. Santiago's last attempt was a reward unlike any other which was well worth all the days of unlucky fishing he spent out at sea. This tells me that as a student in the Maritime Industry, I will also be out at sea for countless amount of days and I too will have to learn how to be patient, which can only be acquired through the first-hand experience.
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