I finished Moby-Dick, and now I understand why the two McKennas, Jed and Terence, love it so much. Melville wrote some of the finest prose I've ever read, surpassed only by Nabokov's Lolita. Many people criticize the chapters that focus on whale biology, but Moby-Dick is not a boring textbook. It's a work of art. Melville's prose is beautifully intricate, so I didn't find the chapters about whale biology boring; In fact, I didn't want it to end. Don't read Moby-Dick, if you want an exciting adventure story, or if you're looking for something profound. Read it, if you love great literature, if you love marvelous prose, if you love the English language. Savor it.  The word "masterpiece" gets used too liberally these days. I reserve that accolade for flawless and timeless works of art like Moby-Dick. Moby-Dick is an astounding accomplishment, and Melville finished it in only 18 months.