Michael J. Tougias

Michael J. Tougias (born 1955 in Longmeadow, Massachusetts) is an American writer who writes about maritime, travel, and adventure topics.

Career
Michael J. Tougias is a N.Y. Times Bestselling author of 25 books.

An avid fisherman, Tougias became a self-syndicated outdoors writer in 1990. At the time he was also managing a division of a major insurance company. He published the first of 25 books in 1998.

He travels to more than 100 small and large speaking engagements a year to discuss his books and other topics, including "Survival Stories," lessons learned from those who were shipwrecked. U.S. Coast Guardsmen and sailors are frequent audiences; Tougias' last six books have been accounts of historic sea rescues by the Coast Guard, often in the Gulf Stream.

His book The Finest Hours: The True Story Behind the US Coast Guard's Most Daring Rescue (2009), co-authored with Casey Sherman, was adapted as a Disney film by the same name, released in 2016.

Tougias is a frequent guest on NPR programs, The Weather Channel, Fox & Friends, 20/20, and national talk shows.

Education
He attended Boston College (1973–74) and graduated from Saint Michael's College in Vermont in 1977.

Personal life
He lives in Massachusetts and Florida.

He has a daughter, Kristin, with whom he wrote a memoir entitled The Cringe Chronicles.

Novels

 * Until I Have No Country (1996) ISBN 1888768029

Non-fiction

 * Autobiographies:
 * Theres A Porcupine In My Outhouse: Misadventures Of A Mountain Man Wannabe (2002, with Mike Tougias), memoirs ISBN 193186862X
 * The Cringe Chronicles: Mortifying Misadventures with My Dad: A Memoir (2014, with Kristin Tougias), memoirs ISBN 1612963404


 * Biographies:
 * Derek's Gift: A True Story of Love, Courage and Lessons Learned (2014, with Buck Harris), memoirs ISBN 1940503086


 * True events:
 * Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do (2005, with Frank Quirk Jr.) ISBN 0312334362
 * Young Readers Edition: Into the Blizzard: Heroism at Sea During the Great Blizzard of 1978 (Expected publication: 2019) ISBN 1974989100
 * Fatal Forecast: An Incredible True Tale of Disaster and Survival at Sea (2006) ISBN 0743297040
 * The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue (2009, with Casey Sherman) ISBN 1416567216
 * Overboard!: A True Blue-Water Odyssey of Disaster and Survival (2010) ISBN 1439145741
 * A Storm Too Soon: A True Story of Disaster, Survival and an Incredible Rescue (2013) ISBN 1451683332
 * Rescue of the Bounty: Disaster and Survival in Superstorm Sandy (2014, with Douglas A. Campbell) ISBN 147674663X
 * So Close to Home: A True Story of an American Family's Fight for Survival During World War II (2016, with Alison O'Leary) ISBN 1681771306
 * True Rescue: A Storm Too Soon: A Remarkable True Survival Story in 80-Foot Seas (2021) ISBN 125013756X


 * History:
 * King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotten Conflict (1999, with Eric B. Schultz) ISBN 0881504831
 * The Blizzard of '78 (2001) ISBN 0971954755
 * Above & Beyond: John F. Kennedy and America's Most Dangerous Cold War Spy Mission (2018, with Casey Sherman) ISBN 1610398041


 * Travels:
 * The Hidden Charles: An Explorer's Guide to the Charles River (1992, with Mike Tougias) ISBN 0899093426
 * Country Roads of Massachusetts (1992) ISBN 1566261252
 * Nature Walks in Eastern Massachusetts series:
 * Nature Walks in Eastern Massachusetts: An AMC Country Walks Book (1993) ISBN 187823921X
 * More Nature Walks In Eastern Massachusetts: Discover 47 New Walks Throughout the Area Including Scenic Cape Cod (1998) ISBN 1878239678
 * Nature Walks In Eastern Massachusetts, 2nd: Nature-rich Walks within an Hour of Boston, features the Bay Circuit (1999) ISBN 1878239716
 * Nature Walks In Central Massachusetts: Nature-rich Walks from Worceser County through the Connecticut River Valley (1996, with René Laubach) ISBN 187823949X
 * Quiet Places of Massachusetts (1996) ISBN 1556507291
 * New England Wild Places: Journeys Through the Back Country (1997) ISBN 0924771887
 * Cape Ann - North Shore Recreation Map & Guide (1997) ISBN 1888768010
 * Hunter Travel Guides series:
 * Autumn Rambles: New England : An Explorer's Guide to the Best Fall Colors (1998) ISBN 1556508107
 * Nature Walks In Central & Western Massachusetts, 2nd (2000) ISBN 1878239953
 * River Days: Exploring the Connecticut River and its History from Source to Sea (2001) ISBN 1929173032
 * Quabbin: A History and Explorer's Guide (2002) ISBN 0971954712
 * Trailguide: Outdoors in Franklin (2002)
 * Nature Walks South of Boston: AMC Guide to Hiking, Birding, and Exploring Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod (2006) ISBN 1929173679
 * AMC's Best Day Hikes near Boston, 2nd: Four-Season Guide to 60 of the Best Trails in Eastern Massachusetts (2006, with John S. Burk) ISBN 1934028479
 * Good Night Vermont (2007) ISBN 1602190178
 * Inns and Adventures: A History and Explorer's Guide to Vermont, New Hampshire, and the Berkshires (2015, with Alison O'Leary) ISBN 0991340140


 * Writing:
 * Cape Cod: In the Words of Thoreau and Beston (2000) ISBN 158066007X

Adaptations

 * The Finest Hours (2016), film directed by Craig Gillespie, based on non-fiction book The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue