"Leviathan," a Whale of a Tale

It's impossible to think about New England's past without recounting the history of one of its most perilous professions: whaling.

For centuries, whales were mined for their fat, meat, and bone. Whales kept generations of people alive and literally fueled the region's economy.

Today, a new book on whaling is coming out. It's called "Leviathan: The History of Whaling in America."

We'll hear from its author today but first, WBUR's Bob Oakes recalls a classic "whale's tale" and visits the Whaling Museum in New Bedford.