Reviews

Deep Blue: My Ocean Journeys by Steve Backshall

arwenundomiel03's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

This was a fantastic read - and I will caveat that by saying that a lot of my saying that comes from there being two dedicated chapters about sharks, and many, many other mentions of them in the book!! But, it is a really informative and frankly exciting read - hearing about Steve’s life and encounters with such a varied array of wildlife - as well as a varied array of people and cultures. There were many difficult topics covered in the book - such a whaling - exploring how things that we see as utterly horrific in the west have such huge cultural significance to them in other cultures and how too often we see the world and our beliefs from one point of view, without considering the impact of and on others. I found his explorations of these topics both interesting and very difficult at times to listen to (I listened to the audiobook), as he described the action in such detail - but I was also grateful to have a greater understanding of what each situation was. My overall take away from the book however, is that our oceans are in trouble, and unless we drastically alter our relationships with them and stop the sport and industrial fishing which are having such catastrophic affects on the oceans and the creatures that call them home; we soon won’t have any of the huge, and frankly astonishing diversity and range of life that currently exists in our planets seas. I can definitely recommend it - although it is not for the feint of heart. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty

cristina_h's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

5.0

lupinreads's review

adventurous funny informative medium-paced

5.0

rachelannfrench92's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

catt_meehan's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

mariannelwnicholson's review

adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Steve Backshall is a slay. Does anything else need saying? 

wrenny03's review

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

Yes I'm biased I've loved deadly 60 since I was tiny and the author is one of my biggest inspirations as an aspiring conservationist but also the book is just really fucking good

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Blood

taramayfield's review

5.0

As someone whose passion for nature was ignited by Deadly 60 as a child and who has since devoured any works put out since, I can say with conviction that this book seems a fitting continuation. It offer a comprehensive account of different beings from coral to whales, and even dips into the earliest history of marine life. The writing is highly engaging, with exciting stories as well as interesting facts delivered in an understandable and thrilling way. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Deep Blue and would recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest. It is informative yet accessible, realistic yet still hopeful and provides a deeply nuanced view of our oceans.

steph_e's review

hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

gth's review

informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0