Reviews

Deep: Freediving, Renegade Science and What the Ocean Tells Us About Ourselves by James Nestor

angelatru's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

taylorinsley's review against another edition

4.0

Incredibly interesting but very long chapters which made it hard to find good stopping points. Overall an amazing book though especially during/right after a dive trip.

jocelyn_cole's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

lutra_lutra's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

Loved this. Well written in a really engaging way. Learnt so much about the human body alongside marine life. 

myra_c's review against another edition

5.0

Just 50 pages in, I'm completely mesmerized by the mysteries of the human body and our inexplicable connection to the ocean. In our embryonic state, we were immersed in fluid nearly identical to the ocean's salt water. As soon as we plunge our faces in water, we activate reflexes that we are far from understanding.

I have no interest in diving hundreds of meters with a single breath of air. But I would like to learn to increase my lung capacity and learn more about how I can explore deeper water, totally free.

Update: I don't like to give my stars out too freely, but dang, this book deserves 5 for the research alone. It is captivating non-fiction that will grow your brain.

themis_biblos's review against another edition

5.0

Wonderfully explained and incredibly fascinating! A great intro book into freediving and life underwater. I learned so much, I loved it.

kellerko's review against another edition

4.0

Fascinating read. A reported is assigned a free diving competition to cover and over time becomes a free diver himself. Lots of science and trivia included (in the 60s most competitive tennis rackets were strung with sperm whale sinew and the man who’s logged the most deep hours built a sub at 15). I loved the people who use free diving for good - to tag sharks, interpret dolphin communications, and study sperm whales.

shewwimonster's review against another edition

5.0

I was hesitant to read this at first because I thought that it was going to only be about freediving as a sport. I'm glad I was wrong because it's about so much more and contains some solid, thoughtful writing. Nestor takes us through the layers of the ocean, and we learn a little about the creatures, a little about the science, and a little about diving in each layer. I loved watching him form this deep connection with the ocean.

I read this right after I finished The Extreme Life of the Sea by Stephen Palumbi & Anthony Palumbi and they worked great together. It was an awesome reading experience all around. :)

davfive's review against another edition

5.0

Great writing, variety of fascinating stories, learned a ton. Also, best Acknowledgements chapter I've ever read.

lewisr1's review against another edition

5.0

This is a book that you will recommend to everyone you know. You just won't be able to stop yourself. The author writes with enthusiasm and realism that draws the reader in. I was hooked right from the start and couldn't put it down.

I can guarantee you will learn a lot about the ocean and its creatures. You'll also find yourself itching to go freediving. You'll also learn that competitive freediving and recreational / research freediving are too VERY different things, so be prepared to espouse newly formed opinions on the freediving people might already know about.

This is a book that created in me a desire to learn more, and I believe that is what many authors love to hear. "I read your book, but now I must find out more" Helpfully, the author has a lot of information in the acknowledgements to guide your further study.

Enjoy!!