The Book

On one of the most fabled islands in the world, where moguls and movie stars come to summer in luxury, the most eagerly anticipated event of each year is, of all things, a fishing tournament. But the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass & Bluefish Derby is no sleepy tackle-shop contest. It’s more like Caddyshack with fresh bait and sharp hooks. For more than a month, sleep-starved fishermen spy on their rivals and lie to their friends. They tell off strangers, fight like teenagers, and cheat like bums. People have died trying to win this thing. Much more than just a book for fishing enthusiasts, The Big One is a spellbinding and richly atmospheric work of narrative journalism about big fish, small-town dreams, and outrageous obsession.

A Forbes Best Sports Book of the Year

“Who knew a book about a fishing tournament could be so damn compelling?”—Deadspin

“Mapcap … Essential reading … A classic fish tale and then some.”—The Boston Globe