Scan barcode
A review by lizaroo71
The Whale Warriors: The Battle at the Bottom of the World to Save the Planet's Largest Mammals by Peter Heller
3.0
I think as humans, we know the damage we do to the planet. Or, I would like to think most people are aware, and take steps to be proactive in protecting the fragile balance between us and nature.
Heller journeys on the Farley Mowat - a ship piloted by Paul Watson. Watson has founded a group of vigilantes of sorts that protects the endangered cetaceans of the ocean. Watson's mission is to stop the illegal slaughter of whales by the nations that still practice this barbaric ritual. On this particular run, Watson is after a fleet of vessels out of Japan.
Heller captures many moments of life out at sea for two months. Watson is definitely a man that stands by his beliefs and is willing to lose his life for the sake of his convictions. He may be the reason many endangered whales have lived to see another day.
Watson's crew is often made up of novices of the sea; people driven only by their passion for the whales. One person jumps on board at the last minute with only the clothes on her back and flip flops. When you are traveling along the shores of Antarctica, flip flops don't cut it. These people may seem fool-hardy to some. And while I would never dedicate two months of my life sailing the treacherous waters at the bottom of the world, I am in awe of those that do.
I read this book, because I really love Heller's fiction. Writing non-fiction and making it engaging isn't easy. Heller does a good job of remaining objective here, but there aren't enough opportunities for him to really engage the reader. This ship he is on sails around for two months with little happening other than seasickness or listening to Watson as he delivers a jeremiad on different subjects. There were moments where Heller is reflective or gives context to the environmental catastrophe taking place in regard to our oceans, but it doesn't happen enough. Nonetheless, this is an important book for what it does tell us: the whales are in trouble, our oceans are in trouble and we must act now.
Heller journeys on the Farley Mowat - a ship piloted by Paul Watson. Watson has founded a group of vigilantes of sorts that protects the endangered cetaceans of the ocean. Watson's mission is to stop the illegal slaughter of whales by the nations that still practice this barbaric ritual. On this particular run, Watson is after a fleet of vessels out of Japan.
Heller captures many moments of life out at sea for two months. Watson is definitely a man that stands by his beliefs and is willing to lose his life for the sake of his convictions. He may be the reason many endangered whales have lived to see another day.
Watson's crew is often made up of novices of the sea; people driven only by their passion for the whales. One person jumps on board at the last minute with only the clothes on her back and flip flops. When you are traveling along the shores of Antarctica, flip flops don't cut it. These people may seem fool-hardy to some. And while I would never dedicate two months of my life sailing the treacherous waters at the bottom of the world, I am in awe of those that do.
I read this book, because I really love Heller's fiction. Writing non-fiction and making it engaging isn't easy. Heller does a good job of remaining objective here, but there aren't enough opportunities for him to really engage the reader. This ship he is on sails around for two months with little happening other than seasickness or listening to Watson as he delivers a jeremiad on different subjects. There were moments where Heller is reflective or gives context to the environmental catastrophe taking place in regard to our oceans, but it doesn't happen enough. Nonetheless, this is an important book for what it does tell us: the whales are in trouble, our oceans are in trouble and we must act now.