Pacific: Silicon Chips and Surfboards, Coral Reefs and Atom Bombs, Brutal Dictators and Fading Empires

Pacific: Silicon Chips and Surfboards, Coral Reefs and Atom Bombs, Brutal Dictators and Fading Empires by Simon Winchester says it all in the title and subtitle.  Winchester has written a series of essays about the Pacific Rim.  Many subjects are covered; the writing is somewhat compelling, but a bit flat.  The thread of the “Pacific” is very thin.  Sure, there is a connection, but the book could easily find another center of gravity.  At the end, there is no feeling of deep satisfaction with either the length or depth of what was covered.