The Mayflower and the Pilgrims' New World, by Nathaniel Philbrick (winner of the Massachusetts Book Award) is a gripping historical novel that explores the story of the Pilgrims. and their involvement in the New World. It is the story of the Puritans (later to become the Pilgrims), as they journey to the New World, a place where they can hope to worship their God as they wish without any persecution and/or animosity from of their peers. since no European nation was safe for them. While reading Philbrick's novel, I (and quite possibly many other readers) compared the historical text of the Mayflower to the way we personally see the world today. Additionally, I learned from the text of The Mayflower that my opinions were challenged within the confines of the text, and while it didn't address my issues on a personal level, it still addresses things that are considered important not only for me, but also for people. all over the world. The one thing that was consistently illustrated in The Mayflower was determination. It was with determination that the Puritans were able to escape a life of abuse in Europe. They even went so far as to become part of a society called The Adventurers, to raise funds for their journey to the New World. Furthermore, it was through their will (and the help of local Indians) that they were able to survive in a desolate area, filled with unburied bodies of Indians who perished from diseases brought by the explorers years ago. In this bizarre and somewhat terrifying setting, the Puritans had to try to stay alive. This concerns my way of seeing the world because in my eyes, you cannot achieve anything without determination and will. It was because of these two things (and an investment from the Adventurers), that everything... middle of paper... without knowing who is injured. I began to wonder if it was really wrong to take what you want, to satisfy your own greed, even if it might cause pain to someone else. For a split second, I thought of evil as an appropriate response to an unforgiving and prejudiced world. Even though Philbrick's intended audience was most likely "history buffs" (a group I am not a part of), his book The Mayflower was still able to pique my interest because of the way it demonstrates the value of will, whether used for good or bad. Willpower is something that I consider important because I believe that with it one can achieve one's goals, and without it one cannot achieve anything, which the Puritans demonstrated throughout the book. Works Cited Philbrick, Nathaniel and Nathaniel Philbrick. The Mayflower and the Pilgrims' New World. New York, NY: GP Putnam's Sons, 2008. Print.