Enemy of All Mankind: A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History's First Global Manhunt

An amazing story of historical adventure, great for any Pirate fan. This book is not only easy to read, it's a blast! Written by pirate historian Steven Johnson, this book is easy to digest, yet packed with accurate historical information. If you are curious about life on the high seas, a history buff, or just want to read a remarkable accounting of the ways of the new world circa the 17th and 18th century, then pick up this book.

Incredibly detailed and intriguing. So detailed, it became a hard read at times. A very good read, if you're interested in the late 17th or early 18th centuries and the expansion of the British Empire.

This is an easy and excellent read. It does a masterful job of developing history on a subject that I knew little about save what movies have shown--pirates in the 17th century. Henry Every was a British seaman turned pirate who had a enormous stroke of luck during an attack on a treasure laden ship from the Indian (Muslim) empire.What made the book so fascinating was its description of the pirate life--a combination of remarkable egalitarianism and ovewhelming brutality, on boats that might have had a hundred people in six thousand square feet for weeks at a time. Pirates were in some ways the first outlaw media darlings, given the media of time, the ballad and printing press. In some ways (wont give away the plot) Mr. Every was like 21st drug dealers, looking--and finding--a way to launder money consistent with the regrettable norms of the day.The book proves the maxim that "it is always about the money" by demonstrating that in contrast to "privateers" (think Francis Drake, who was knighted for stealing other countries boats) pirates who attacked trading partners (India) threatening commerce, were deemed as the title reads, Enemies of Mankind, and Mr. Every and crew were perhaps the first subjects of an international manhunt.Simply compelling and absolutely worth your time.

Enemy of All Mankind, A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History’s First Global ManhuntSteven Johnson, 2020In recent history, global terrorists have writ large in international affairs, politics, history, and news. Who were the first global terrorists? Starting in the 17th century and continuing into most of the 18th century Pirates were the scourge of global commerce. Steven Johnson tells the story of the first world famous terrorist and pirate; a man known by the name of Henry Every. He appears in history at the end of the 17th century. This was a time of a burgeoning world trade, a time of the first joint stock trans-national corporations and a time of a nascent popular press that would glamorize the rakish exploits of pirates.Along with the Dutch East India company, The British East India Company were the harbingers of the coming predominance of corporations in the both the generation and concentration of wealth, national and international commerce. In the early 17th century most of eastern India was ruled by the Mughal empire, a Moslem autocracy headquartered in the city of Agra. The Portuguese founded the first trading colony at the city of Surat in the late 16th century and its trade was mainly centered on spices and cotton. In the 17th century the British East India company was able to establish a competing trading base which capitalized on a growing demand in England for cotton and calico fabrics.This book is the saga of one of the most audacious and world changing heists to ever occur. Henry Avery came into possession of one the fastest, cutting edge warships of the time, first owned by another corporation in Spanish, Caribbean trade. Every was able to commandeer the ship by employing a mutiny of disgruntled and abused sailors. His target was the Grand Mughal’s treasure ship which made an annual trip to Mecca each year. On board this huge ship of 1500 tons was not only vast quantities of gold and silver but also members of the Mughal’s harem as well as family members. When the ship was attacked, looted and when the passengers were raped and abused by Every’s crew, huge repercussions were experienced by the East India company. Employees of the company were arrested and confined in the port cities of Surat and Bombay. Only restitution of the losses by the company and a promise to protect the sea lanes to Mecca would suffice to restore relations with the Grand Mughal. Fascinating is the fact that this led to the beginning of the militarization of the East India company, a development that within fifty years would lead the company to assume all the governmental duties for all of India. There are many interesting details here of the functioning of the East India company both in India but also England: Insider stock manipulation, political influence buying, corruption of local officials are examples of corporate malfeasance still very much with us today.Back in England the outrage perpetrated by Every and his crew leads to a global manhunt. Piracy before his time was tolerated and rewarded to a certain extent especially if the target was a country that was either on a war footing or had bad relations with England and especially if the spoils were shared with the Crown. Sir Francis Drake is an example of this type of individual. Every violated all these rules because he commandeered corporate private property, the ship, he was attacking the viability of a corporation, The East India Corporation, with many rich and influential stockholders and he wasn’t into sharing any spoils with anyone.The book looks at the lives of typical seamen of the 17th century. Many seamen of that era were impressed into service in the Royal Navy. Wages were meager and life on a ship of that era was miserable. 100s of sailors were crammed together below decks with 5 foot ceiling heights, airless, dank quarters. Food was moldy and contaminated with worms. Disease was rampant including Typhus, Scurvy and dysentery so one’s chances of returning home were chancy at best. Given these conditions Piracy would in some cases seem an attractive option. In fact, the term “strike” as related to labor disputes derives from the refusal of abused, complaining crewmembers to strike or raise the sails to allow the ship to proceed. On a Royal Navy or commercial vessel of the time. The Captain was supreme and could dictate all behavior and punishments on his vessel. If a group of common seamen were to organize a society free from authoritarianism and the power of wealth, what type of society would they create? In fact, the pirate codes can answer that question. Their codes incorporated the very democratic principles that would surface a century later in the American and French revolutions. The pirate ship was a floating democracy with the egalitarian principles of one man one vote to determine who were their leaders including captain, the course of action taken as well as how the spoils would be divided.Besides the historical context and information contained, the book is also a crime thriller. How do the pirates pull off their heist? How will they try to escape? Will the authorities manage to catch them and what kind of justice will be meted out? This is the narrative that ties the book together and makes it a not to be put down page turner.That said; “One of the most striking things about Every and his crew is the ability of such a small group of humans- working entirely outside the official institutions of power to trigger events that would be heard around the world. The mix of fear, admiration, and disproportionate influence that Every unleashed on the planet, represented a turning point in the evolution of the world system. It is a script we know by heart in the age of al-Qaeda and ISIS; rogue agents working outside the confines of traditional nation-states, using an act of violence to spark a geopolitical crisis and a global manhunt. But the first draft of that script was written by Every and his men more than three centuries ago.” Deja-Vue all over again. JACK

I have read a number of books by Steven Johnson. My absolute favorite was Ghost Map. When comparisons between Ghost Map and Enemy of All Mankind were made (including by the author in his acknowledgements at the end of the book), I ordered a copy and was eager to read it. Ghost Map was a page-turner. Not Enemy of All Mankind. I forced myself to read the last 30 pages. Hardly anything is known about Henry Every, so the book turned into a history of piracy and a pretty dry recounting of the facts known. I haven't given up on Steven Johnson as an author, but this book will go right to my recycling bin. No need to share.

This book does not read like a typical Johnson book (with the exception of The Ghost Map), as it follows one storyline throughout its entirety. As he points out in the acknowldegements, the difference is that many people had heard about the ramifications of Jon Snow but the story told here is full of mystique and a lot of possibilities. As you read, it is difficult to figure out who to root for, what is going to happen (because it's likely NOT someone you've heard of before) and what are the long term implications of the actions of this pirate crew from an international perspective. Johnson builds suspense masterfully and makes it a tough one to put down. I don't like pirates or books about them, I bought it because I've loved every book by this author and if you like to read good writing, then you will enjoy this one for sure!

Livro excelente contando a história de Avery, com a visão do governo inglês, do governo indiano e dos corsários e piratas se desenrolando em paralelo. A escrita é de fácil leitura e envolvente.

Great book, the writing is perfect on reporting in three different fronts at the same time (England, India and the Americas/Africa). This book makes the actual history be much more interesting than any fiction.

Best storytelling ever!!!

The story is interesting but the author is not a good writer. He does not use words well. It reads a bit like a high school book report, tainted by a slightly desperate attempt to make it all seem really insightful and important. It’s neither.

Nice read