Mrelia's Reviews > The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines & the Secret Mission of 1805

"The Pirate Coast" chronicles America's first attempt at regime change. Results, as always, were mixed. Despite the obscurity of this mission, readers will find many of the circumstances and events to be quite familiar. Let's just say that history does tend to repeat itself.

Mr. Zacks style is, as always, engaging and readable. He makes no obvious effort at comedy, yet the absurdity of several situations are nearly laugh-out-loud.

For me, the most interesting lesson in this book is on the importance of communication in diplomacy, warfare and covert actions. The world hasn't really changed that much in the past 200 years, but communications have certainly changed the speed at which things happen.