Mini Book Review: The Sailing of the Intrepid

This is a short, surprisingly moving history of the USS Intrepid, focused mainly on its first combat voyage in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. Somehow, this ended up being my favorite read of 2025. I say “somehow” because I have very little natural interest in the Navy, ships, or military history, and yet I was completely pulled in. It’s easy to read, briskly paced, and often feels closer to an adventure story than a dry history book. I was genuinely surprised by how emotional I felt while reading it. At several points, I found myself inexplicably teary-eyed, and yes, apparently I can become emotionally attached to a boat. I’d recommend this especially to readers who want to try nonfiction but prefer something short, accessible, and story-driven. Serious naval history buffs may find it a little introductory, but for civilians like me, that’s part of the appeal.