This riveting narrative examines the world of the Somalian pirates: how they live, the forces that have created piracy in Somalia, how they spend the ransom money, and how they deal with their hostages.

Prologue : where the white man runs away -- Boyah -- A short history of piracy -- Pirate lore -- Of pirates, coast guards, and fishermen -- Garaad -- Flower of paradise -- The land of Punt -- Momman -- The policemen of the sea -- The law of the sea -- Into the pirates' lair -- Pirate insider -- The cadet and the chief -- The freakonomics of piracy -- The road's end -- Epilogue : the problems of Puntland.