India, Dec. 4 -- Hijacked, a real-life story about being taken hostage by Somali pirates, begins rather unexpectedly with the author, Pralav Dhyani's failed education stint in Canada. After he returned to India with no degree and no plan, his father enrolled him in the merchant navy, hoping it would have a positive influence. A true brat, the young man enrols with his PlayStation, speakers and a small TV in tow. His self-centred ways continue until he is reprimanded by the captain, a major turning point in his life. Dhyani writes with disarming honesty about his early failures followed by waves of remorse and self-awareness.

Afterwards, life seemed to be falling into a reassuring pattern when, after seven months at sea, on a lazy Sunday,...