Into the Deep

Robert D. Ballard, an oceanographer and marine biologist, reflects on a career that spans major scientific finds, from new forms of deep-sea life to the discovery of the Titanic's wreck. He tells the backstory of his best-known achievements, including how a classified naval operation made his search for the Titanic possible.

The book also looks at the personal side of his life. In the years after the Titanic discovery, international media wanted his attention, while he struggled with the death of his son and the breakdown of his marriage, all while balancing the demands of his academic and military work. He describes these hardships candidly.

Ballard also writes about discovering, late in life, that he has dyslexia. He presents the condition as something that has shaped his life and work in ways he now values.