Civilization And The Limpet [Paperback]

Martin Wells (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 1999

Written during a long sea voyage from England through the Mediterranean, Civilization and the Limpet unveils many fascinating phenomena of undersea life. Wells captures with exquisite detail how limpets, like bees, navigate by the stars; how the brainless sea urchin makes a myriad of critical survival decisions every day; how “deserted islands” teem with an incredible abundance of animal life; and why deep-diving whales never get the bends. Elegant and finely crafted, Civilization and the Limpet will enlighten, amuse, and awe anyone interested in the natural world.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Celebrated zoologist Martin Wells recorded his thoughts while on a Mediterranean sea voyage, and Civilization and the Limpet is the result. Written in charming, pithy prose, this collection of essays is eminently quotable, charmingly detailed, and wholly enlightening--worthy of shelf space next to Rachel Carson and Lewis Thomas. Wells chooses as his subjects many of the underdogs of the natural world--the species that humans find forgettable, incomprehensible, or even ugly. In essays about everything from sea urchins ("a sort of marine hedgehog") to limpets ("likely to suffer severe identity crises, brought about by its sex lives") to great white sharks ("probably bloody hungry"), Wells observes and reports on his favorite creatures with sympathy, admiration, and joy. His favorites are the cephalopods, which he calls "the jet set." Besides the essays on underappreciated animals, Wells tackles some big questions like the usefulness of science, entropy, and evolution. This is a wonderful collection that will make you want to slip on a pair of rubber boots and head out to the nearest tide pool. --Therese Littleton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Readers seeking enlightenment on sea creatures need look no farther. In 25 breezy, sometimes whimsical essays, Wells (You and Me and the Animal World) provides an entertaining introduction to marine biology, from sea urchins, limpets and tubeworms to mackerel, dolphins and basking sharks. He explains buoyancy, navigation, luminescence, hermaphroditism and warm-bloodedness in certain fish. A yachtsman, Wells describes the buildup of marine organisms on boat hulls (fouling) as "an imitation of a moderately sheltered coastline." His specialty is the cephalopods (octopus, squid, cuttlefish, nautilus), and he offers advice on catching an octopus and recounts his adventures collecting nautilus in New Guinea. Finally, he defends a career in biology as one that is never boring?a claim borne out by his winsome book.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (September 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073820174X
• ISBN-13: 978-0738201740
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,187,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, informative read., December 30, 1999

By 

A. J. Watson "Bones" (Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Civilization And The Limpet (Paperback)

I consider myself fairly widely-read, but after reading Mr Wells' account of why fish are built like they are and how close to the brink of life/death they live, it really gave me pause to think about how (most of) we humans live our lives in absolute, cushioned-from-nature safety. Never having to worry about where the next meal is coming from, nor in a constant state of alert, waiting for sudden death to come scooping us up - whether in the shape of a barracuda or a trawl, it makes little difference to Fred Mackerel. I had never sat down and thought about the energy balance at such a low level before - the energy trade-off between a long chase for a few calories, or sit around on tick-over, waiting for dinner to pass by. We always seem to think of ENERGY on a larger scale (coal, oil, electricity) which somehow divorces us from the fishes' problem - this book made me take a step back and consider Nature and Her ways in a different light - marvellous! (both Nature and the book).

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a Gem, December 4, 1999

By 

Marceau Ratard (Metairie, LA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Civilization And The Limpet (Paperback)

This book is truely wonderful. It reads very easily and has lots of laughs in it. It is one of those books that you are sad to finish. The essays are short and insightful. Many of the marine organisms presented are totally overlooked by virtually everybody, but Martin Wells does a great job of discussing their lives. It is not all strict science, at one point he wonders if limpets ever feel lusty. It is a real joy. If anybody has any interest in marine biology, SCUBA diving, or pretty much any interest in the sea, read this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, accessable read!, May 15, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Civilization And The Limpet (Helix Books) (Hardcover)

This book is very enjoyable read. It is not purely science, and certainly not purely about the limpit. A fine combination of one man's philosophy about life, and how he feels we should fit into the natural world, that also teaches you about the natural history of (mostly) cephalopods. A pleasant departure for the scientist, and an enlightening introduction to marine biology for the layman.