Series: Sierra Club Books Publication | Publication Date: May 13, 2003
Dolphins and humans have always been curious about each other, and since ancient times the kinship between our species has been celebrated across cultures and continents in myth, art, literature, and science. Only recently, however, have we gone beyond our own view of this interspecies connection and begun to ask: What might this bond look like from the dolphins' perspective? Now, Between Species brings together for the first time eminent scientists and gifted writers to help shed light on this intriguing question. Edited by wildlife researcher Toni Frohoff and nature writer Brenda Peterson, the text selections range from tales of transforming dolphin encounters to views on how to protect cetaceans and their habitats, and from poems honoring dolphins to provocative critiques of swim-with-the-dolphins programs and acoustic pollution. Pieces include Diane Ackerman's essay on "deep play" with a wild dolphin; Marc Bekoff's ethical questions concerning our intrusion in dolphins' lives; and the late Dr. John Lilly's call for a "Cetacean Nation." This groundbreaking anthology not only explores the depths and beauty of the dolphin-human bond but encourages new generations to respect the complexities and responsibilities inherent in such interspecies kinship.
The prospect of interspecies communication is replete with utopian and even religious implications, an animistic spirituality wrapped in scientific trappings. This interesting but uneven collection, edited by behavioral biologist Frohoff and nature writer Peterson (Living by Water), brings together essays by writers, scientists, poets and even musicians, all of whom claim some ambassadorship to the cetacean world. Diane Ackerman, in her essay "At-One-Ment," recounts a blithely enchanting round of dolphin horseplay in the Bahamas. The late John Lilly-counterculture neurophysiologist, inventor of the isolation tank and most eloquent spokesperson for dolphin sentience-delivers a final, previously unpublished plea for a "cetacean nation." Many of the essays weigh in on the topic of "swim with the dolphins" programs that have blossomed in popularity over the last decade or so, and which pose tough questions about the tourist economy that often arbitrates the dolphin/human interface. While many of the essays are amateurishly written, or somewhat treacly in their New Age world view (one writer brags of playing live reggae music to a pod of beluga whales in the Arctic, punctuated with Tibetan gongs), the collection presents an important group of voices in the world community of dolphin lovers, perhaps providing a step towards more sophisticated writings in the future. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"Takes the classic 1974 collection of essays, 'Mind in the Waters,' compiled by Joanna McIntyre, one step further. . . . A gentle book by people whose lives have been changed by their relationships with dolphins. Some of the writers want to be forgiven; others set free. A few, and these are the best, just want to tell you what it feels like to be made more human by their relationships with dolphins."--Los Angeles Times Book Review, Discoveries column -- Review
"TOP TEN BEST NON-FICTION BOOKS OF 2010" BY CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
AN INDIE NEXT "GREAT READ" BY INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLERS NATIONWIDE
WATCH Brenda's BOOK LUST "You Tube" excerpt on this page below or see the full interview with Nancy Pearl at this link: http://www.seattlechannel.org/schedule/programDetails.asp?title=3031103
Brenda's new website: www.IWantToBeLeftBehind.com and Brenda's Blog is at: http://www.iwanttobeleftbehind.blogspot.com/
LISTEN to an audio excerpt from the new book on National Public Radio read by the author at: http://kuow.org/program.php?id=19037
"Unusually affecting and radiant...Peterson seeks a meeting of church and earth in this witty, enrapturing account of a spiritual journey of great relevance to us all." BOOKLIST, starred review
"A tender, lyrical account, Peterson expresses genuine love for her family and gratitude for their gifts. Peterson always seeks common ground." LIBRARY JOURNAL
"Blends her unique autobiography with compassionate and level-headed observations about family, food, religion, life and our relationship with living things. Peterson has a gift for describing her life's many adventures with disarming understatement and narrative poise." KIRKUS REVIEWS
"Brenda Peterson's picaresque memoir is a mesmerizing treat, at turns inspiring and hilarious. Her keen-eyed descriptions of the natural world, and a delicious sense of fun, combine beautifully with tales of protecting seals, whales, hope, and other wild things." Diane Ackerman, author THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE
"A loving, luminous portrait of an irresistibly intriguing family, told by the most fascinating member of all -- the one who doesn't fit in. It's alive with stars over the Grand Canyon, scents of the sea, menus at family gatherings, and singing a descant. The story is told with such truth and tenderness that you can't help loving the whole family." Sy Montgomery, author of THE GOOD, GOOD PIG
"I've been a fan of Brenda Peterson's novels since the witty DUCK AND COVER. But I can't think of another book at all like this memoir -- it's so odd and wonderful. Peterson writes here of family and conflicting faiths with moving and poignant humor." Diane Johnson, author of LE DIVORCE
"Brenda Peterson, one of the most eloquent nature writers of our time, takes on human nature. Read this book and share it widely. It is that important." Marc Bekoff, author of of THE EMOTIONAL LIFE OF ANIMALS
Brenda Peterson is the author of 15 books, including a New York Times "Notable Book of the Year," DUCK AND COVER. Her memoir, BUILD ME AN ARK: A Life with Animals was chosen as a "Best Spiritual Book of 2001" and translated into Chinese. Her non-fiction books include the classic LIVING BY WATER and the National Geographic Book SIGHTINGS. Peterson's most recent novel is ANIMAL HEART (Sierra Club Books).
For the past three decades Peterson has written about inter-species relationships and edited several bestselling anthologies, including INTIMATE NATURE and FACE TO FACE. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, Body/Soul magazine, Reader's Digest, Sierra, San Francisco Chronicle, Utne Reader, and Oprah magazine. Since 1993 she has contributed commentary for Seattle's NPR stations.
Peterson's new book, I WANT TO BE LEFT BEHIND: Finding Rapture Here on Earth is a spiritual memoir, widely acclaimed and award-winning. Hew new children's book, PUPS ON THE BEACH is due out from Henry Holt for Young Readers in 2010.Peterson is the founder of the grassroots citizen naturalists Seal Sitters [www.sealsitters.org] and she is also a devoted singer in a Seattle chorale. Peterson writes and teaches in Seattle, Washington by the Salish Sea.Contact her through her website: www.literati.net/Peterson
This review is from: Between Species: Celebrating the Dolphin-Human Bond (Hardcover)
Finally, a book that looks at dolphins and people from a scientific perspective and not just the standard New Age hype. It was exciting to read essays by the leading experts in this field - some of the world's leading nature writers and dolphin biologist together. The writers aren't afraid to take an honest look at how we influence dolphins, which may be surprising for those who frequent Sea World waiting for a free ride from a dolphin. Instead, look forward to a seminal collection about how far (or little) we've come since John Lilly first spoke about human dolphin communication 25 years ago.
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This review is from: Between Species: Celebrating the Dolphin-Human Bond (Hardcover)
Just read the blurb about the contributors of this very fine and thoughtful anthology. I have a sinking feeling I must be the "newage" person quoted as playing reggae music to belugas using tibetan gongs. That negative description is so far off-base of what I actually described in the book, that it demands a rejoinder. Yes I have used music, for over 30 years, to interact systematically with wild whales, as an active and direct experiment in interspecies communication. This work has been sponsored by the likes of the Smithsonian, the European Union, National Geographic, The Russian academy of Sciences, The World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace, The US Navy, and a long list of private foundations. Over the course of the long term experiment, I have worked with musicians of many persuasions, genres, and nationalities including a few reggae musicians, and Tibetan Lamas (they didn't play gongs). The basic premise of this work is that, since everybody seems to agree that whales are both highly intelligent and acoustically perceptive, might music be an appropriate and positive means of building a relationship that shares the best of human culture?
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This review is from: Between Species: Celebrating the Dolphin-Human Bond (Hardcover)
This book was amazing. It was an elegant yet honest exploration of swimming with dolphins and dolphins in general. It was like taking an outdoor class with some of the world's best and most varied dolphin experts around the world. Nowhere else can I learn about dolphins in original pieces by Jean Michel Cousteau, Marc Bekoff, Sy Montgomery, Kathleen Dudzinski, Diane Ackerman, John Lilly, Paul Spong, and other stellar dolphin pioneers. I'm a marine biologist and yet I learned things about dolphins and interspecies communication that I never have learned anywhere else. It opened my eyes to new things about dolphins and people ... how dolphins save human lives, how people save dolphins, and how people can even unintentionally hurt dolphins because they want to be so close to them. I drank this book up, and when I see dolphins now, I relate to them so much more. The only downfall was that the book had some sad notes, but that is how the real life of a dolphin is. Overall I thought it was incredibly inspiring and I felt like I'd been swimming with dolphins for years after reading it!
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