Book Description
On dry land, most organisms are confined to the surface, or at most to altitudes of a hundred meters—the height of the tallest trees. In the oceans, though, living space has both vertical and horizontal dimensions: with an average depth of 3800 meters, the oceans offer 99% of the space on Earth where life can develop. And the deep sea, which has been immersed in total darkness since the dawn of time, occupies 85% of ocean space, forming the planet’s largest habitat. Yet these depths abound with mystery. The deep sea is mostly uncharted—only about 5 percent of the seafloor has been mapped with any reasonable degree of detail—and we know very little about the creatures that call it home. Current estimates about the number of species yet to be found vary between ten and thirty million. The deep sea no longer has anything to prove; it is without doubt Earth’s largest reservoir of life.
Combining the latest scientific discoveries with astonishing color imagery, The Deep takes readers on a voyage into the darkest realms of the ocean. Revealing nature’s oddest and most mesmerizing creatures in crystalline detail, The Deep features more than two hundred color photographs of terrifying sea monsters, living fossils, and ethereal bioluminescent creatures, some photographed here for the very first time. Accompanying these breathtaking photographs are contributions from some of the world’s most respected researchers that examine the biology of deep-sea organisms, the ecology of deep-sea habitats, and the history of deep-sea exploration.
An unforgettable visual and scientific tour of the teeming abyss, The Deep celebrates the incredible diversity of life on Earth and will captivate anyone intrigued by the unseen—and unimaginable—creatures of the deep sea.
Customer Reviews:
Gorgeous, brilliant, beautiful book.......2007-10-15
I've always been fascinated by the deep sea. As David Attenborough has pointed out in the marvellous BBC series "Blue Planet", half of the world's surface is covered by water more than a mile deep, and we still know very little about what goes on down there. More men have walked on the moon than have penetrated the deepest ocean depths. This magnificent publication helps redress the balance. It takes you down to this bizarre world with its pitch blackness and crushing pressures and shows you some of its inhabitants (I believe a new species is discovered every ten days). The pictures are augmented by fascinating descriptions. The only sad note is that two of the creatures depicted, the two enormous squids (giant and colossal) with their dinner plate-sized eyes, will probably never be seen the way they have been depicted (artists' representations, as opposed to photos) - it was only recently that Japanese researchers got actual photos of the live animals. Still the artists' representations are fascinating and excite the imagination with the knowledge that there be real monsters down there and that this is what they look like.
Claire Nouvian has done us a great service by producing this book showing us an extraordinary world, and one which man is in the process of destroying without even knowing what's down there.
Magnificent Book.......2007-10-03
An incredible journey to the under sea world of mysterious aquatic life.
Fascinating photos of extraordinary creatures and their habitat. We purchased the book as a gift for our son, a recent art school graduate who specializes in creating concept art. He absolutely loved the book, and will be a valuable tool and reference work for his library.
buy it!.......2007-09-30
This is one of the best coffee table books I have! The pictures are amazing and numerous guests have used it as a conversation starter in our living room. For anyone who loved marine biology as a kid (and who DIDNT?!) this book is stellar.
FASCINATING!.......2007-09-23
This is the most amazing book that I have seen in a long time! Extraordinarily beautiful fotos of equally stunning and fascinating creatures! The beauty and creativity of nature takes your breath away! A must to have!
AMAZING!!!.......2007-09-23
Beautiful, depending upon what your definition of "beauty" is.
The animals in this book could very well be the inhabitants of YOUR nightmare, but not mine.
The incredible creatures, which we are privileged to view are breathtaking.
And yet another example of the world we have not seen...and are probably destroying.
Book Description
Following in the wake of the hugely popular PocketExpert Guide to Marine Fishes is this eagerly awaited title in the Microcosm/T.F.H Professional Series. Interest in marine invertebrates is exploding as saltwater fishkeeping technology makes it ever easier to sustain these environments in home aquaria, and A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates is the ultimate reference for these "hooked" hobbyists. The book is a compact, fact-filled guide for recognizing and keeping a host of beautiful and bizarre invertebrates- shrimps, crabs, corals, anemones, sea stars, clams, snails, sponges, ornamental worms, and many others.
Customer Reviews:
Great guide and a great resource!.......2007-10-05
I found this to be a great tool in researching general information on everything from corals to sea stars. The photos are great too. For a guide to things that you've purchased or are considering purchasing it's a great tool to get an overview of the requirements of the different inverts. Very helpful, and a great deal for the price. I'd highly recommend it to anyone with a saltwater reef tank.
Great guide.......2007-04-03
The pictures are clear and the descriptions are very good. I like the size, it's easy to carry along with you to the store. I have really enjoyed having this kind of information handy.
Good pocket guide.......2007-03-12
This is an excellent pocket guide for quick search. Small, well-presented and easy to use. On the other hand the book is quite complete with pictures, genus & species, aquarium compatibility, captive care tips and useful information.
Some of the captive care tips are a little bit old-fanshioned, an actualization on some feeding procedures & tech available today would be neccesary. In general terms is a must-have book.
Good book at a good price.......2007-02-19
Great color pictures and accurate descriptions on marine life. Good price.
Great book.......2007-01-12
This is a very good book with lots of info on invertebrates that are frequently kept in the home aquarium and lots of others that are not.
Detailed info on lighting, feeding, compatiblity, and difficulty in keeping these animals. Great picture quality for identification, highly recommended.
Book Description
Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water! The second astonishing ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA book from Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart is about to pop up everywhere.
While dinosaurs patrolled the lands, massive prehistoric sharks, giant scorpions, and colossal squid cruised the ancient oceans - most with just one thing in mind: eat or be eaten. In this companion volume to the best-selling ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS, pop-up masters Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart explore the prehistoric underwater world, where monsters like megalodon ruled the waves.
Full of captivating facts and more than 35 breathtaking pop-ups, this incredible volume is sure to astonish and amaze everyone from budding marine biologists to confirmed landlubbers. After all, if prehistoric coelacanths and crocodiles are still around, what else might be lurking in today's largely unexplored oceans?
Customer Reviews:
Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and other Sea Monsters.......2007-10-03
Absolutely gorgeous and intriguing pop-ups. Good information about the sharks and sea monsters. I love all things by Robert Sabuda. Good for kids 4 and older.
Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters.......2007-08-25
This is an awesome pop up book! I bought it for my 3 year old's B-Day. He loves looking at the book while I read to him about the prehistoric Mega-Beasts. I actually have learned a lot myself from this book. Although you would normally think this book is for boys. My six year old daughter also enjoys me reading these books to her. They are fun and very educational. I am a high school teacher and I really think this pop up book would be very valuable to any science classroom. I liked this book so much I also purchased the other two in the set!
Excellent pop up book, reading is complicated.......2007-08-16
Cool book. Reading is over the age category of my daughters, but they simply enjoy the pop ups.
Absolutely amazing!!!.......2007-08-13
This book is unbelievable! The attention to detail is fantastic. Absolute value for money and a must for any child who is as taken with sharks dinosaurs as my son is.
Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Sharks and Other Sea Monsters.......2007-08-12
Robert Sabuda always does a fantastic job and this is just another example of an exciting, educational pop-up book.
Book Description
Anybody can learn about the processes and creatures of the ocean by reading this visually exciting and timely textbook.
Customer Reviews:
A superbly organized and presented textbook.......2003-07-26
Now in an updated and expanded third edition, Invitation To Oceanography by oceanographer Paul R. Pinet is a superbly organized and presented textbook for advanced students of this fascinating and specialized field of science. An optional student study guide enhances the primary text, which stands well on its own with full-color illustrations, and a wide survey of topics from marine sedimentation to biological productivity in the ocean, coastal habitats, ocean circulation and much more. With laboratory exercises designed by Karl Chauffe and Mark Jefferies which make use of safe, inexpensive, reusable, and readily available materials, Invitation To Oceanography is a very confidently recommended addition to academic reading lists, as well as an excellent curriculum resource for "student friendly" classroom instruction.
Weirdest textbook I ever used.......2003-06-20
Although Mr. Pinet can explain things very clearly, some of his writing is very strange, especially for a college textbook. At one point, he refers to animals as "critters." At another point, he recommends an experiment of taking your bathtub outside and putting by your pool when the wind is blowing. This book is full of weird little things like that.
Just what I wanted!.......2000-06-15
Although a college textbook designed for non-majors, "Invitation to Oceanography" contains much information for those interested in the subject. What I especially liked and appreciated the most were the application tasks. These are mathematical problems/questions one can use and apply to the ocean on their next trip to the beach. Moreover, the Internet links provided in the book add a great supplement. Educators at the secondary (high school or college) level will enjoy teaching from this book.
Great Applications Towards Oceanography.......2000-05-28
"Invitation to Oceanography" provides a wealth of information as a non-fiction text. For those interested in the complexities of the inner-workings of oceanic events and marine biology, this is the book to read. The book is a fascinating read delving into facts and figures of oceanic characteristics and definitions. Teachers and/or those interested in marine science will find the book intriguing with its application towards the field of mathematics, marine science, and chemistry. It will forever change how you perceive the ocean on your next beach vacation.
Book Description
A comprehensive field guide for aquarists, divers and naturalists, with detailed full color photographs of hundreds of species, encompassing the majority of coral genera one is likely to encounter on reefs around the world, This book defines corals and distinguishes them form similar hydrozoans, zoanthids, and corallimorpharia. The corals are described and compared to similar looking species, and their range and the correct pronunciation of the Latin name is given.
In addition, for aquarists who grow corals in reef aquariums, information is provided in quick reference charts concerning each coral's requirements for light, water movement, and food, hardiness in captivity, aggressiveness toward other corals, and proper positioning in the aquarium.
Customer Reviews:
Good pictures.......2007-02-12
This book has very good pictures but very little written information about each.
Beautiful pictures, but incomplete text.......2006-11-29
This book is full of fantastic full-color pictures with which one can easily identify many of the corals commonly available. Also includes many rare corals.
However, the text material about the corals, care etc. is extremely brief - much too brief. General care and lighting needs for a particulate coral species is given in the form of bar graphs and placement diagrams. This could theoretically be a helpful companion and summary of a more extensive text about the coral species being described. However, in this book, these diagrams are a *replacement* for the text. In and of themselves, the diagrams are inadequate to properly gauge the needs of the coral species.
I was also disappointed that the book completely leaves out many commonly available corals (for example the corallimorphs ("Mushroom corals"), which are common beginners corals). Leaving these corals out while including many rare species which the average hobbyist will never see seems to dilute the usefulness of the book.
I would recommend instead Borneman's "Aquarium Corals" (which I have and refer to constantly), and/or perhaps Sprung and Delbeek's more extensive 3-volume "The Reef Aquarium" (which has received good reviews, but I don't own (yet)).
Good for quick reference.......2006-08-05
If you already know a bit about corals, this is a nice book to have around for quick reference. I especially like that it lists similar corals and gives some basic information on how to tell them apart. It can be deceptive, though. The information it gives on the specific corals is very general, and should not be considered a good source for research on a coral you're planning to actually buy. Don't get me wrong, though. I'm happy I have this book, but I'd suggest supplementing it with a text such as Eric Bourneman's "Aquarium Corals: Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History". This text will actually give you much more specific information on requirements to care for the corals, as well as some better techniques to identify certain corals, since many look very similar, and there's no way any book could show every possible shape and color for many species.
good picture book.......2006-05-31
Book has lots of good pictures to help you identify corals. IN this manner it can be used as a min-coral atlas.
However, the book comes up seveley lacking when you wish to get information on said corals. All info is in bar graph form -- not narrative. A coral may be listed as preferring light 3-7.
That is not helpful... 3 could mean keep it in the dark while 7 could mean it prefers direct light... the 3 and 7 are not informative! Same for feeding icons, coral placement icons, etc.
If you want a book that TELLS you all about different corals, how you care and feed them, etc, then this book is NOT for you!
BUT, the pictures are really nice, closeup, and clear.
Good First Reference Text, pity about poor quality binding and packaging.......2005-10-16
A wonderful first reference text from Julian Sprung. The necessary information is well presented and communicated in a clear manner. A word of advice, don't get the hardcover version as it looses pages through poor binding and Amazon's inability to package adequately results in the corners being damaged in transit.
Book Description
"From space, Planet Earth is blue. It floats like a jewel in the inky black void. The reflection of the sun's light from the vast expanse of water covering its surface creates it gemlike blue color. In the entire solar system, Earth is the only planet that has water in liquid form in such quantities." Scientist have calculated that 70 percent of our planet is covered by water; small wonder that the human being shave always been so fascinated by the oceans and what lies beneath. Today, while we still have so much more of the ocean realm to uncover, we have discovered enough to know that beneath the waves lies a vast treasure-trove of rich and diverse life. Accompanying the television series of the same name, The Blue Planet leads up on a voyage of exploration from the coasts, the very edges of the oceans, to the deep where weird and monstrous fish lurk in a world of perpetual darkness. Along the way we are introduced to a whole host of wonderful creatures -- from tiny copepods to majestic blue whales, and from the grotesque hairy anglerfish, to the amazing tripod fish that stands on its three delicate legs waiting to snap up unsuspecting prey. Complete with a foreword by Sir David Attenborough and 400 full-color photographs, The Blue Planet is the first complete and comprehensive portrait of the whole ocean system.
Customer Reviews:
The Book of the Ocean.......2007-01-10
This was a very good book and it goes great with the Blue Planet video series. Ocean creatures are amazing. I bet you'll at least find at least one thing in this book you have never known before. If you love the ocean and want to know what's in it, this will be an excellent book to read.
Beautiful Book.......2006-12-27
I bought this book for my 9-year-old daughter when she wanted to learn more about the ocean. It's a very beautiful book with amazing pictures.
Fascinating facts about the ocean........2006-07-26
The book is truly fascinating. Turning the pages of the book you will see the beauty that lies within the depths of water. Even in the most ugliest of blue whales you will find beauty which you will enjoy...
Water world.......2006-05-25
A wonderful book with absolutely staggering photography throughout. You can snorkle and scuba-dive without even leaving your armchair. Just flicking through it when it first arrived I saw page after page of creatures I had never seen before. Packed with information, beautifully presented on good quality paper. What else can you expect from a product linked to the BBC, David Attenborough, and Discovery Channel. DK publishing excel again. The authors Andrew Byatt, Alastair Fothergill and Martha Holmes deserve a round of applause. This is a much valued addition to my collection of books.
Truly a great book.......2003-08-28
After watching the 'Blue Planet' documentaries on TV I developed an interest about life under the sea. Some of the documentary footage was truly groundbreaking work in terms of capturing the animals on film and bringing it to our homes in such a unique way.
The book, like the documentary is truly a great piece of work. It's well planned, presented and written. It covers all aspects of ocean life with out becoming to specific with regard to certain species. Some of the photographs throughout the book are truly wonderful; this book is a must for everyone, of all ages. It will satisfy any appetite for deep-sea discovery, shore life and marine biology.
5 Stars, This book has everything you need and more, and the presentation is second to none.
Average customer rating:
- Misleading, inaccurate waste of money
- A Good Introductory Textbook
- Marine Biology w/ OLC bind-in card (Hardcover)
- Excellent for newcomers and veterans alike
- just what we needed, fast shipping
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Marine Biology
Peter Castro , and
Michael E. Huber
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math
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ASIN: 0070121974 |
Book Description
Introductory, one-semester text designed for non-majors. Covers the basics of marine biology with a global approach using examples from numerous regions and ecosystems worldwide.
Customer Reviews:
Misleading, inaccurate waste of money.......2007-01-13
It's implied that this is a paperback version of Castro and Huber's "Marine Biology," when it most definitely is not. The definitions, presumably to help one understand the text's terms, are often laughably inaccurate in terms of marine bio, e.g.,"sinus" is defined as "a pouch or cavity in any organ or tissue..." when the word is used in the textbook to describe the Sinus Borealis, precursor to the Arctic Ocean. In a similar vein, "hot spots" are defined as "sites within a gene that mutate..." instead of hydrothermal vents. "Distribution" and "skin" are likewise erroneously (for marine bio) defined, and "Plate tectonics refers to the study of the global-scale movements of Earth's crust that have resulted in." Yes, that's the entire "definition." And these are just from Chapter Two! The glossary in the back of the real textbook is more than adequate, and much better than this so-called "ultimate student resource tool." The company was also impossible to reach, which we tried to do, in an honest attempt to inform them of their product's inaccuracies. Who needs the wrong definitions, especially when you then doubt all the definitions! Save your money.
A Good Introductory Textbook.......2006-07-25
I found Marine Biology by Castro to be a fairly good introductory textbook to marine biology. The reading is not too technically difficult that an average high schooler could comprehend most of what is said without becoming lost in science talk. There are plenty of pictures and diagrams to supplement the reading and make the pages appealing to the eye without boring you to death. However, as most academic textbooks go, reading alone is almost never enough to fully understand the material. I used this book as part of an introduction to marine biology course and found it to be very helpful to read before lectures. It can be a little dry at times and hardly goes into full detail of topics, but being an introductory book, it fully met the needs of my course. Overall, it's a good textbook that I'd recommend to someone taking an introductory course to marine biology.
Marine Biology w/ OLC bind-in card (Hardcover).......2005-12-16
This book when purchased NEW is shrinkwrapped and has the ISBN 0-07-293356-9. The shrinkwrapped package contains the Marine Biology textbook (ISBN 0-07-250934-1) which contains "The Premium McGraw-Hill Online Resources" access code (ISBN 0-0-250935-X). If you are buying a used book keep in mind that the online access code may only be used once and is not transferable, so if any of the previous owners have used the code it will not work for you. If your instructor uses Blackboard or WebCT, you may NEED a valid access code. A new access codes may be purchased from the McGraw-Hill "Premium" Site for $12 if you get stuck with a used book without a valid OLC code.
The book is great, I highly recommend it to anybody interested in the subject. For instructors though, I feel that this book based on the length and the number of chapters is probably better suited for classes on the Semester system (16 weeks) rather than those on the Term system (11 weeks.)
Excellent for newcomers and veterans alike.......2005-10-20
Anytime you look for a sourcebook on a specialized topic such as Marine Biology, you want to make sure it covers all the groundwork. By that, I mean the full foundation of the field needs to be established. What Castro and Huber might lack in specifics, they make up for by encompassing the true nature of Marine Biology and what it entails.
For anyone new to Marine Biology, this is the book to go with. It is well structured and covers everything in an instructive, yet simple to understand manner. There are a plethora of illustrations, diagrams, and tables to help aid the reader, and the text is well placed. The information touches most everything, including the very nature of Marine Biology, the habitats involved, the diversity presented, and even man's impact on the stature of the subject. I have no complaints on the presentation, and any inexperienced learner should find themselves involved in a very fascinating subject.
For those already experienced in Marine Biology, there is still much included that will catch your eye. Although the text is obviously leant for beginning, I found myself quite interested in much of the text and enjoyed analyzing and recalling sections of the field that I hadn't dealt with or devoted time to for months or even years.
There are some weaknesses, but most are minor or insignificant. Because Marine Biology is such a diverse field, it is near impossible to include EVERYTHING the subject entails. This text leaves some intriguing (albeit small) parts out, but overall I did not feel cheated about what I might have missed. There was also little focus on evolutionary associations, but then again, this is designed for a beginner and I expected little in this regard.
Overall, one way or the other, I feel that Castro and Huber have really developed a text that is very nearly a "can't miss" in Marine Biology. I recommend it to anyone, from the newest pupil to the most experienced professor. The bottom line is that you WILL learn.
just what we needed, fast shipping.......2005-09-23
The right textbook at a great price. It came quickly and was just as advertised. Thanks so much.
Book Description
Today, nearly forty years after his death, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck remains one of AmericaÂ's greatest writers and cultural figures. Over the next year, his many works published as black-spine Penguin Classics for the first time and will feature eye-catching, newly commissioned art.
Penguin Classics is proud to present these seminal works to a new generation of readers—and to the many who revisit them again and again.
Customer Reviews:
Look for the Hansen Sea Cow..........2007-07-30
This is a classic book that is the synergy between two very different people. By the time you finish this, you will find you really like them... and wish you could have spent some time with them as well.
The science in the entire book is pretty good too.
The Log from the Sea of Cortez.......2007-03-22
The Log from the Sea of Cortez by John Steinbeck is the story of a group of men on a journey through the Gulf of California with the plan to study the marine organisms that lived there, but they ended up studying a lot more. As the book was written by a writer and not a scientist the scientific side is seen through a different angle. Amongst all of the stops to collect specimens are thrown Steinbeck's tangents about the ideas of the world, the way that people behave, and philosophical ideas.
Throughout the journey of the Western Flyer the company made many stops along the coast of the Baja peninsula and along mainland Mexico. At each one of these stops Steinbeck tells of the collecting and the names of the different organisms along with the environments that they lived in. Steinbeck does a careful job of describing the animals and plants and using their scientific names in order to make the book useful for scientific purposes.
The journey also contains many stops in the towns and cities that border the Gulf. At each one of these stops Steinbeck gives a detailed account of their experience and a description of the people and their culture. One feels like he is actually traveling through Mexico and meeting the people while reading the book.
The Log From the Sea of Cortez.......2007-03-04
This book is about a small crew of men, most of which are scientists. They rent a boat and set sail off the coast of California. They travel all over the sea on the coast of California and Mexico, in the Sea of Cortez. The point of this voyage is not for mere joy, it is for collecting, observing, and preserving species that inhabit the sea. The focus on the interdial zone for the most part.
This book documents the journey and all the adventures that take place. One of my favorite quotes from the book is " the reports of Biologists are the measure, not of science, but of the men themselves". These men took the time to log everything that they did. They were meticulous in their gathering, and studying.
This book is not just about the species they collected. It is about the men and the things they learned along the journey. They learned to slow down and actually look at life. They were able to ponder all kinds of life, theirs and those of land and sea. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about themselves and the adventures that can occur while doing research.
Journal of travel and research.......2006-02-24
This nonfiction book is an account of a research/specimen collecting trip Steinbeck made with his friend and marine biologist Edward Ricketts off the coast of Baja California in 1940. They rent a boat, a purse-seiner called the "Western Flyer," stock her with supplies, hire a crew, and set sail on the afternoon of March 11, 1940.
The raison d'etre of the trip is collecting sea specimens, but Steinbeck is interested in more than just recording scientific data. The men go ashore at various ports along the way, and encounters with other men are related (in one, the inspiration for what later became THE PEARL is told). Both Ricketts and Steinbeck have a philosophical bent, and they discuss in detail teleological vs. nonteleological ways of interpreting the world. Likewise, ecology and their theory that everything in nature has its place and makes a contribution to the whole world system is examined. Both men enjoy drinking, and that becomes a topic of conversation at one point. It's plain from Steinbeck's writing that they are having a good time in addition to the successful collecting. At one stop, at which they are given an icy welcome, they believe they've come amongst gun smugglers. The trip comes to a happy end on April 13 as they head for Monterey Bay and home.
The books initial publication coincided with the attack on Pearl Harbor and was virtually forgotten. Only recently have critics studied the book carefully, especially in terms of what it has to say about the environment. Regardless of that, the book is entertaining and informative. His prose is at times lyrical, at other times outright funny (after talking to other boat captains over the radio about how much fish was caught, he says after they found out they were on a collecting mission the other boats paid no attention to them: "We were obviously ridiculous"). Included is Steinbeck's lengthy and lively biographical portrait of Ricketts, who was killed in a train accident. Worth checking out.
Non-teleological thinking.......2005-03-22
This book represents the log of a voyage Steinbeck took with Ed Ricketts collecting biological specimens from the Sea of Cortez during the spring of 1940. The goal of the trip was to document the variety of sea creatures that lived in the tidal pools of the region, as well as to bring back specimens for identification and further study. In total, the voyage lasted about 4 weeks, during which time Ricketts, Steinbeck, and the rest of the crew documented hundreds of species, thousands of specimens, and discovered several new creatures that had not been known before.
The book begins with a lengthy preface introducing readers to Ed "Doc" Ricketts. Ricketts, of course, was the mythical Doc featured in the Steinbeck classics "Cannery Row" and "Sweet Thursday". In this biography of Ricketts, Steinbeck provides some of the details of Rickett's life, and describes his chief character traits as Steinbeck perceived them.
By today's standards, their approach and attitudes towards the animals they were catching seem rather appalling. In the tidal pools, it seemed they grabbed everything that moved, as well as everything that didn't move but merely showed some signs of life. In this manner, they collected rare as well as common species. The ship's crew enjoyed the sport of catching a sea turtle, shooting a shark through its fin, and harpooning giant rays. Modern readers can at least take comfort in the thought that society has advanced to the point that such behavior is no longer found acceptable on a biological expedition. Even Steinbeck, however, was shocked by the methods used on a Japanese shrimp trawler that they encountered dredging in Mexican waters. The Japanese, with full permission from the Mexican government, were literally dredging the ocean floor, bringing up every last living thing, from sea fans to sharks in their nets. Whatever wasn't shrimp they threw back, where injured or dead, it was reduced to seagull food. Steinbeck noted the short-sightedness of this approach, how it left nothing behind for future generations, no shrimp, but also no other fish.
In the Steinbeck Museum in Salinas, CA, there is an exhibit with photographs of the expedition. In the center of one of the photographs is Carol Steinbeck, John's first wife, who was a crew member on this voyage, but who John managed to expunge completely from this written record. Nevertheless, he leaves us with a clue to her existence at the end of chapter 24, where he writes of a strong prejudice when there is a woman along on a voyage of scientific exploration, "the wife of one of the members of the party. She is never called by her name or referred to as an equal....She is nearly always a stringy blonde with leathery skin who is included in all photographs to give them `interest.'" Clearly, this account of the voyage is carefully crafted not to tell exactly what happened and to whom, but to represent the events as John chose to tell them. Most of the prose explores Steinbeck's and Rickett's concept of non-teleological thinking, where they take an idea and push its consequences beyond reasonable limits. Still, Steinbeck does provide a narrative account of the various collection stops they made, and what kinds of creatures predominated at each stop (this description was based on Rickett's notes). At the end of the book are a glossary of biological terms used and an index.
Average customer rating:
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Encyclopedia Prehistorica Sharks and Other Sea Monsters: Special Edition (Encyclopedia Prehistorica)
Manufacturer: Candlewick
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0763629367
Release Date: 2006-04-11 |
Book Description
Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water! The second astonishing ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA book from Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart is about to pop up everywhere.
While dinosaurs patrolled the lands, massive prehistoric sharks, giant scorpions, and colossal squid cruised the ancient oceans - most with just one thing in mind: eat or be eaten. In this companion volume to the best-selling ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS, pop-up masters Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart explore the prehistoric underwater world, where monsters like megalodon ruled the waves.
Full of captivating facts and more than 35 breathtaking pop-ups, this incredible volume is sure to astonish and amaze everyone from budding marine biologists to confirmed landlubbers. After all, if prehistoric coelacanths and crocodiles are still around, what else might be lurking in today's largely unexplored oceans?
Average customer rating:
- A must read for anyone who wants to know about the state of our world fishery resources
- Highly Informative... A Must-Read!
- The rape of the oceans by commercial fishing
- If you love eating fish, you should buy this book!
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The End of the Line: How Overfishing Is Changing the World and What We Eat
Charles Clover
Manufacturer: New Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Environmental Science
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Fisheries & Aquaculture
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| Nature & Ecology
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General
| Oceans & Seas
| Nature & Ecology
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Marine Life
| Oceans & Seas
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Conservation
| Environment
| Outdoors & Nature
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General
| Conservation
| Outdoors & Nature
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Reference
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Environmental Science
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Aquaculture
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ASIN: 159558109X |
Book Description
Picking up where Cod left off, an "invaluable" (Financial Times) look at the global crisis of overfishing.
Gourmands and health-conscious consumers alike have fallen for fish; last year per capita consumption in the United States hit an all-time high. Packed with nutrients and naturally low in fat, fish is the last animal we can still eat in good conscience.
Or can we?
In this vivid, eye-opening book—first published in the UK to wide acclaim and now extensively revised for an American audience—environmental journalist Charles Clover argues that our passion for fish is unsustainable. Seventy-five percent of the world's fish stocks are now fully exploited or overfished; the most popular varieties risk extinction within the next few decades.
Clover trawls the globe for answers, from Tokyo's sumptuous fish market to the heart of New England's fishing industry. He joins hardy sailors on high-tech boats, interviews top chefs whose menu selections can influence the fate of entire species, and examines the ineffective organizations charged with regulating the world's fisheries. Along the way he argues that governments as well as consumers can take steps to reverse this disturbing trend before it's too late. The price of a mouth-watering fillet of Chilean sea bass may seem outrageous, but The End of the Line shows its real cost to the ecosystem is far greater.
Customer Reviews:
A must read for anyone who wants to know about the state of our world fishery resources.......2007-06-06
For those of you who are concerned about the state of our fisheries and declining fish populations worldwide, I would suggest a newly published book, "The End of the Line," by Charles Clover. As The Independent suggests, his book is "the maritime equivalent of Silent Spring." Clover takes the reader on an unbiased tour of many of the most important fisheries throughout the world from Africa to Iceland, offshore to nearshore. His appraisal and commentary of fishery management is candid and insightful. I highly recommend this book to anyone who finds themselves trying to contemplate the disequilibrium between fishery management and sustainability. The book ends with some positive examples of fishery management of which there are sadly too few, and he has some helpful tips for all of us to do our part to ensure fish stocks for the next generation.
Highly Informative... A Must-Read!.......2007-01-03
"The End of the Line" is a well-written, highly informative book which addresses a serious global issue.
"Imagine what people would say if a band of hunters strung a mile of net between two immense all-terrain vehicles and dragged it at speed across the plains of Africa.... left behind is a strangely bedraggled landscape resembling a harrowed field... this efficient but highly unselective way of killing animals is known as trawling... it is practiced the world over every day, from the Barents Sea in the Arctic to the shores of Antarctica and from the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean and the central Pacific to the temperate waters off Cape Cod."
Overfishing is a serious problem that must be addressed. The statistics are staggering. As journalist Charles Clover shows in his global exploration of the destruction caused by overfishing, we have inflicted a crisis on the oceans in a single human lifetime greater than any yet caused by pollution.
The rape of the oceans by commercial fishing.......2006-08-22
This is one of the most important books I've read. I have purchased several copies of this book to give away. It speaks up on behalf of those denizens of the oceans that we think should belong in cans and sandwiches or pies or curries, or pet food - yielding their flavoursome goodness of Omega 3 oils - with plenty more replenishing themselves without end. I did know in the back of my head that something was wrong when we put faceless tuna into cat food and no one discusses byecatch on a can except for a "Dolphin Friendly" logo. The appalling horror of millions of tonnes of these things being hoovered up with up to 50 to even 90% of the take being discarded back to the ocean because they are not the target species is spelled out in this book along with the moribund state of just how little we as a species care for the oceans or engage in managing its most vital food resources.
As usual much of the blame falls flatly at the feet of politicians and fishing interests as well as the consumers abject ignorance that advertisers and chefs have been milking and continue to milk. When the oceans belong to us all, to enjoy recreationally - they have become the preserve of fishing interests that continue to suppress so much biodiversity. This is a story of greed gone mad with absolutely no safeguards in place by the very people who are in charge of doing anything about it.
Japan and the EEC come out as some of the most environmentally tarnished political units - the madness of the EEC fishing policy is revealed in all its glorious folly.
Tuna and swordfish, the most magnificient bony fish in the sea get a special mention along with the poor critically endgangered mega sharks that are often bycatch in tuna catches.
This is such a powerful book speaking up for dumb fish that I will try and do everything in my power to at least highlight the problem to others. So well written in this with Chapter 14 showing us some fine solutions from New Zealand - that you ought to buy this book now and share it with any of your concerned friends.
Charles Clover from the London Daily Telegraph has done a fantastic job of highlighting our superpredatory theft from the seas.
If you love eating fish, you should buy this book!.......2006-07-26
It is a fascinating, very well written book on a subject most people forget about in spite of how important it is: the food resources of the sea. When I first saw the book I wondered how the author could make an interesting topic out of it...when I started to browse it, I discovered a great amount of information about the wonderful world of the seas, about what so many companies are doing to our resources, about the repercusions hardly anyone is aware of.
I bought it and read it immediately.
One of the best non-fiction books I have read in the last few years.
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- The Economic Value of Water (RFF Press)
- The erotic ocean;: A handbook for beachcombers and marine naturalists
- The Genus Iris
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- The Rainbow Follows the Storm: How to Obtain Inner Peace by Connecting With Angels and Deceased Loved Ones
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