60-Second Critic: Pirate Soul

Pirate Soul: A Swashbuckling Journey Through the Golden Age of Pirates
By Pat Croce
(Running Press; $23.95)

Former 76ers president Pat Croce, whose Pirate Soul museum opened in Key West last year, has now put out a book about his high-seas obsession. If it wasn’t Peter Pan but actually Captain Hook you always secretly admired,

Pirate Soul: A Swashbuckling Journey Through the Golden Age of Pirates
By Pat Croce
(Running Press; $23.95)

Former 76ers president Pat Croce, whose Pirate Soul museum opened in Key West last year, has now put out a book about his high-seas obsession. If it wasn’t Peter Pan but actually Captain Hook you always secretly admired, here’s an easy way to prep yourself for piracy—or at least for the next Pirates of the Caribbean.

In just an evening’s read, Croce separates pirate myth from fact, such as whether or not they really walked the plank. Colorful illustrations and sketches break down the history of piracy into short, easy segments, from seaports to ships to navigation to torture tools. (Yeah!) This interactive book, with pop-out maps, pull-out replica documents, playing cards, pirate glossary, compass and Jolly Roger flag, only has one thing missing—a bottle of rum.