Listen free for 30 days

  • In Harm's Way

  • The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors
  • Written by: Doug Stanton
  • Narrated by: Mark Boyett
  • Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (56 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
In Harm's Way cover art

In Harm's Way

Written by: Doug Stanton
Narrated by: Mark Boyett
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $33.01

Buy Now for $33.01

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

Winner, 2017 APA Audie Awards - History/Biography

A harrowing, adrenaline-charged account of America's worst naval disaster - and of the heroism of the men who, against all odds, survived.

On July 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed in the South Pacific by a Japanese submarine. An estimated 300 men were killed upon impact; close to 900 sailors were cast into the Pacific Ocean, where they remained undetected by the navy for nearly four days and nights. Battered by a savage sea, they struggled to stay alive, fighting off sharks, hypothermia, and dementia. By the time rescue arrived, all but 317 men had died.

The captain's subsequent court-martial left many questions unanswered: How did the navy fail to realize the Indianapolis was missing? Why was the cruiser traveling unescorted in enemy waters? And, perhaps most amazing of all, how did these 317 men manage to survive?

Interweaving the stories of three survivors - the captain, the ship's doctor, and a young marine - journalist Doug Stanton has brought this astonishing human drama to life in a narrative that is at once immediate and timeless. The definitive account of a little-known chapter in World War II history, In Harm's Way is destined to become a classic tale of war, survival, and extraordinary courage.

©2001 Reed City Productions, LLC.; "Afterword: 2001" copyright 2002 by Reed City Productions, LLC. (P)2016 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What the critics say

"With a delivery like a seasoned storyteller, Mark Boyett makes this riveting story of the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis even more compelling. The combination of Boyett's reading and the author's straightforward style and heavy use of declarative sentences creates a presentation that will fully engage listeners." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about In Harm's Way

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    50
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    40
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    43
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Masterfully told

No doubt every disaster has a compelling backstory and it takes a writer like Doug Stanton to make it live. His matter of fact descriptions of the horrendous ordeal that the men endured (he called them 'boys' throughout because their average age was just 19!) was gut wrenching. It seems like a miracle that any survived. I wish I could give this more than 5 stars.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Rob
  • 2021-06-10

Read the second time around.

This is the second time I have listened to this story. So well written and performed, it leaves me tearful and angry at the injustice served to Captain McVay. The comfortable and self serving collusion of higher ranks with dogmatic and ignorant conclusions reminds one of the weakest characteristics of man(un)kind.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

incredible story

unreal story... hell on earth big time... no escort ships or responsibility for messages recieved

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An Absolute Must Read!

I must confess I was initially interested in this book as I am a huge fan of the movie Jaws. However, the true story of the sinking of The Indianapolis and her crew was a story which will haunt me for years to come. The heroics of Captain McVay and his crew were examples of honour and courage in the face of tragedy amid the horrors of surviving the sinking of their ship. The sharks were only one aspect of their fight to survive. In spite of helping his men to survive the Captain was made a scapegoat for the Navy and the government’s political purposes. Although the Navy ‘s ineptitude resulted in a staggering death toll, the response of cowardly officials contrasts greatly with the great dignity of the captain. The world lost a truly great man to the expense of political and selfish ambitions. It is about time that Captain Charles Butler McVay III’s record be totally expunged. I read a minimum of 125 books per year and this is the best book I have read in years. I will definitely reread it. It educates and exposes historical facts using first hand accounts. Everyone should read this book- it will change you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome book

Fantastic read. I'm a little bit of a history buff and I really enjoyed this book. Once started was hard to pause.#Audible1

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

History told in all its painful truth

As deep this story is human horror
It shows human strength.
The whole story has finally been told.
God bless Captain and your men.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!