I have read most of Hemingway's books, and to be honest I am not really a fan. 

But this book is certainly one of the greatest short stories ever written. It is no surprise that he got the Nobel Prize for this work.

I have always thought that Hemingway's greatest weakness was his penchant for one-dimensional characters, but this turns into a great strength when nearly the entire story is just an old man and a fish. 

You really feel like you are out there on the sea with the old man, and you really empathize with his situation, feel his pain, and root for him. I have never been so drawn in to such a short story.

It is definitely a must read.