An Unofficial 'The MeatEater Podcast' Reading List

Ep. 790: The Sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald

November 10, 2025

Description

Steven Rinella talks with best selling author John U. Bacon about his new book, The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Joined by Brody Henderson, Randall Williams, Phil...
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Books Referenced

The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald

Author: John U. Bacon

Context:

This is the main book being discussed in the podcast interview. It's about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald and was released for the 50th anniversary of the wreck.

The Perfect Storm

Author: Sebastian Junger

Context:

Hampton Sides compared 'The Gales of November' to this book in his blurb, describing it as one of the great shipwreck narratives. Sebastian Junger is noted as having been on the podcast previously.

Dead Wake

Author: Erik Larson

Context:

Another book mentioned in Hampton Sides' blurb comparing it to 'The Gales of November.' The hosts mention they should try to get Erik Larson on the show.

In the Heart of the Sea

Author: Nathaniel Philbrick

Context:

Third book mentioned in Hampton Sides' blurb as comparable to 'The Gales of November' in terms of being a great shipwreck narrative.

The Great Halifax Explosion

Author: John U. Bacon

Context:

John Bacon's previous book from 2017 about a World War I disaster in Halifax harbor when a ship carrying explosives collided with another ship and exploded. Bacon mentions this was his first foray into deep history before writing about the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Let Them Lead

Author: John U. Bacon

Context:

John Bacon's book about coaching his old high school hockey team in Ann Arbor. He describes himself as 'the worst player in school history' who played 86 games without scoring a goal. The book is in its fifth printing and is being developed as a potential project with Disney Plus.