Customer Reviews

Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover's Soul: Amazing Sea Stories and Wyland Artwork to Open the Heart and Rekindle the Spirit (Chicken Soup for the Soul)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wow! I received this book as a gift from a co-worker who knew I was a fan of the work of the artist Wyland. I had seen the Chicken Soup series for years, but found most of the stories to be a little too similar. This book was a VAST improvement and really deserves a look from anyone who thought the Chicken Soup series has burned itself out. I was particularly drawn to the story, "The Sea and the Wind that Blows," by E.B. White, the author of "Charlotte's Web." White, a long-time sailing aficionado, realizes for the first time that he is getting older and is becoming a risk to himself by sailing alone ... and must make a painful decision to give up his beloved pasttime. He ultimately decides that the point of life is to do what you love, and in so doing, decides to continue his sailing adventures, regardless of the consequences. It's a message for everyone who has ever considered giving up on something precious. The other stories are great too -- they come from around the entire world -- but are too numerous to explain in this review. This was simply a great gift that I will treasure as long as my paperback copy holds out.

I'm not what you would call an "ocean lover" as the title of this book indicates, but my family and I used to visit the ocean on summer vacations in the gulf of Texas. I guess I had forgotten how wonderful those times were. But after reading Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover's Soul, it was like being there again, building sandcastles on the beach with my father and brother, sharing my dreams for the future with my mother and contemplating the vast sea in front of us. There are some terrific stories here, including some by well-known authors, and the Wyland paintings are beautiful, but it's the stories by people like me, everyday people, with such touching memories of the sea that make this book a dear gift, indeed.

Most people know that anything can happen at sea. And in the newest book in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lovers Soul, just about anything that can happen in, around, above, and below the sea ... does happen. Co-authored by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, journalist Steve Creech and renowned marine life artist Wyland - who you might know from his gigantic sea life murals around the world - Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover's Soul takes readers on an astonishing journey across our blue planet, with over 70 unforgettable, true-life stories, and breathtaking color inserts of Wyland art.
The book culls its stories from as far away as the South Pacific to the Fjords of Norway, and includes pieces by Clive Cussler, Jack Hanna, Robert Ballard, the discoverer of the Titanic, and more. In Geriatric Suicide, for example, sixty-five-year-old filmmaker Warren Miller tests the limits of what it means to be a "senior citizen" as he fights heavy seas and wind in a break-neck windsurfing expedition from Maui to Molokai. Author John Cacciutti accomplishes the unthinkable in his story, Sailsmanship, when he loses his fishing rod to a nine-foot sailfish, then leaps into the waters off Acapulco - at risk of being speared himself - lands the fish ... then releases it.
The stories go on: the MIT student who creates a one-of-a-kind bicycle ... then pedals it across the Atlantic Ocean; a strange discovery aboard the Jacques Cousteau exploration ship Calpyso; and a midnight encounter with giant Humboldt squid that will make any diver think twice about testing these curious animals. But there's a deeper meaning to all of this, too - and that's what this book does best. Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover's Soul captures relationships, family stories, tales of the high sea, and insights into the wonderful aquatic life that shares our planet for a truly fascinating, highly entertaining reading experience.

This is a warm and wonderful book filled with stories, poems and art that will fill your heart with gladness. I can relate to many of these stories as I am a diver and a snorkeler, but anyone with a love for the ocean or even just a love for nature and life will find this book a treasure. I am going to order 3 more copies to give to my daughters and a friend because I don't wish to part with my own copy.

Coming across this book is much like finding a bit of treasure from the sea. Plenty of "pearls", "gold", and "jewels" are to be found here. There are lovely stories, poems, cartoons, drawings and paintings to be cherished. Each one comes from the heart. Anyone who knows the "Chicken Soup" series of books will know what to expect, each contribution is amazing. Those who have not yet been introduced, this volume will be a wonderful place to start. The ocean theme will bring close to home the importance of the ocean and our responsibility towards it. The Sea's power and mystery reaches out to each of us in all parts of the world. What sets this one a bit apart from others is the inclusion of Wyland's art and his personal stories. This is a soulful, spiritual, and beautiful man who deeply loves the sea and is doing what he can to bring that out in all of us in order to protect it for the following generations. His moving stories will bring you closer to that part of us that that love the ocean and all that live in it. Don't miss out. It is unforgettable.

My husband and I both love this book ,some of the stories are truely remarkable.Animals are so amazing and there are some excellent short stories on humans close contact with them...I highly recommend this book ,you won't regret. It's great

As a lifelong Beach Bum, I have read this book numerous times and felt the true peacefullness and calm I always get at the beach. We all need to embrace the Ocean and all who live in it. There are angels like Wyland who have devoted their life to preserving the ocean and this book shares some of the most touching and beautifull stories I have read. I encourage you to read this if you love the ocean,live by or dream of visiting it someday.

Many of us that were raised near an ocean feel a special connection to it. We are lured back by the soothing waves, beauty, and wonderful memories. The authors of this book effectively take you there, reminding you of the good times and the lessons learned. As you read, you feel the same sense of peace and comfort that the ocean gives. I was particularly moved by Michael Geers' writing in Letters. He movingly describes how the lessons and memories his mother introduced during childhood, continue to guide and comfort him as an adult. He illustrates how the ocean can provide us with physically, emotionally, and even, spiritually uplifting experiences. If you love the ocean and yearn to be close to it again, pick up a copy of this book. You will feel like you've returned.

This is my first "Chicken Soup" book. I knew a little about them, but not much. I discovered that they are collections of short stories or articles bound together into a single volume. What a delight! I found the writing for each of these stories to vary greatly, and I found 3 that were my favorites. The item written by Dr. Robert D. Ballard, surprisingly, I found to be the worst. It must have been lifted from another book, or something, and requires the reader to have prior knowledge. There was much in this short item which I found confusing, with no explanation. However, I loved the poem, I Found a Tiny Starfish, by Dayle Ann Dodds. I also loved This Magic Moment by Jennifer Anderson. And, I loved one by Wyland, Life Imitates Art. I think there is something in this book that everyone will find to enjoy. However, I find the most important thing about this book is that Wyland donates a portion of the profits from this book, through the Wyland Foundation, through the Scripps Institution, to teach all children about marine life and its importance. This is further explained in the introduction by Wyland himself. The book also contains a great deal of Wyland's artwork. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

I purchased this book because I'm not only a lover of the ocean and all its inhabitants but also a HUGE fan of Wyland. I have many of his books and for a long time I knew about this book but never bought it until now. I always wondered about it. I just knew he was one of the authors who put it together with a few other people. I didn't know that his artwork is in it and a few of his own stories as well.

Some of the stories are very facinating and inspirational. Some of them I found a little boring and uninteresting. I don't mean to put anyone down who wrote the stories since they are all true and did happen to them, which probably do have great meaning and feeling for them. They are personal experiences. I'm sure at the time when they happened they must have been really exciting for that person. But for me to read it, I just found some stories unexciting. It's just my opinion and I expected much more interesting/exciting stories when I bought this book-especially since it is co-authored by Wyland. His own stories were better and facinating. There were only a few that were. This is my reason for 4 stars. I have heard a lot about this book and Wyland himself mentioned it once on a night show. He really made it sound like a big deal. I don't think it's that big of a deal but alright. However it still is a wonderful book-if you're a Wyland collector like me.

I'm also a marine life artist who's studying Wyland's work so I thought reading some sea stories might give me some inspiration to paint something after a story. There might be only a few that would be worth painting the story. I'm still keeping the book though since I only paid 2 cents for the book plus a 4 dollar shipping charge here on amazon! It was used, but a "like new" condition. I didn't lose anything then!

I found Wyland's own life story in his book called, "Whale Tales" more fun to read and very humorous. Very well written by himself. I loved that book more. It's an older book that he explains his whole life story in a brief way. I recommend that book more and gave it a 5 star rating. You can look up my review on it. Thank you.