Scan barcode
A review by maximum_moxie
The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean by Susan Casey
5.0
Science books often fall into one of two camps: too scientific for the layman to fathom or too simplistic to do justice to the subject. This book succeeds in avoiding both. Out of the dozens of fashionable scientific books on popular shelves, this is possibly the best I've encountered.
The Wave follows two kinds of "wave chasers", big-wave surfers and tsunami/big wave researchers, in their quests to conquer and understand the power of the ocean. The personal stories of the surfers, many of whom died while the book was in progress, are just as fascinating as the scientific data behind the waves they follow. Looking behind the glamour of these mysterious forces of nature, Casey uncovers the progress made in research and presents it in writing as readable (or more so) than a novel's.
Highly recommended all around.
The Wave follows two kinds of "wave chasers", big-wave surfers and tsunami/big wave researchers, in their quests to conquer and understand the power of the ocean. The personal stories of the surfers, many of whom died while the book was in progress, are just as fascinating as the scientific data behind the waves they follow. Looking behind the glamour of these mysterious forces of nature, Casey uncovers the progress made in research and presents it in writing as readable (or more so) than a novel's.
Highly recommended all around.