Moby-Duck - Donovan Hohn

When the writer Donovan Hohn heard of the mysterious loss of
thousands of bath toys at sea, he figured he would interview a few
oceanographers, talk to a few beachcombers, and read up on Arctic
science and geography. But questions can be like ocean currents: wade
in too far, and they carry you away. Hohn's accidental odyssey pulls
him into the secretive arena of shipping conglomerates, the daring work
of Arctic researchers, the lunatic risks of maverick sailors, and the
shadowy world of Chinese toy factories. Moby-Duck is a journey
into the heart of the sea and an adventure through science, myth, the
global economy, and some of the worst weather imaginable.