Despite the simplicity of the title, I didn't know what this book was trying to be, and in the end it wasn't worth the effort. I found this book interesting, but that's about it. He neglected to give definitions or provide maps, (which would have been helpful in the first section especially) but this was the least of my worries by the end. 
 Kurlansky doesn't convey the extent of the urgency facing cod, fish, and the ocean, and instead provides recipes and the failure of government to protect fishermen (despite referencing the wonders of Adam Smith several times throughout). 
 In the last chapter, after a poor attempt at describing the role of employment in the identity of former fishermen, he leaves off complaining about the apparent ridiculousness of whale watching. In the last paragraph he states, "Nature is being reduced to precious demonstrations for entertainment and education, something far less natural than hunting." To end such a critical, potentially influencing book this way is bizarre to me. 
 Ultimately, the decline of cod and other sea-life is something that should concern everyone and readers should be encouraged to change their consumption habits, seek out organisations and movements they believe in, and continue researching the current state of the natural world. It is wholly inappropriate that the last passage in the lengthy recipe section is "How to Cook the Last Large Cod."