Customer Reviews

Jacques Cousteau: The Ocean World (Abradale S)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was one of the first books my parents ever bought me which I read all by myself. It is still one of my favorite books and one of the few from my childhood that I have not donated to the local library.

This book was written by Jacques Cousteau, the famous French oceanographer, inventor of numerous diving devices and technologies and maybe one of the most famous scientists of the 20th century. This book is actually a condensation of a series of 20+ books, each of which are devoted to different aspects of the oceans. The original series of books were based on various documentary TV shows produced by, starred in, or otherwise assisted by the author. The original books were very popular in libraries around the world, so the author came out with a condensed version which I am now reviewing.

This book is probably the best source to learn about the oceans, whether you are an adult or child. The text is simple enough for children to understand, but complete and mature in its style, and written like an introductory textbook. The figures and illustrations are gorgeous and in color, and still match those of more recent publications.

Each chapter in this book is short enough to complete in one day, and they cover topics like coral reefs, the N and S Poles, ocean geography, marine mammals, history of life in the ocean, etc... Each chapter begins with a beautiful color illustration on a black page, and is labeled with beautiful names. For example, the chapter on coral reefs is labeled "Pharaohs of the Sea" in reference to their incredible age. My favorite chapter is "The Art of Motion" which begins with a figure of a dolphin jumping out of the water. This chapter's emphasis is on how different life forms in the ocean move about.

Overall, this is one of my favorite books, and a must buy for any science collection.

Beautiful book that is both informative visually and verbally. The lush full color pictures are matched only by the Cousteau's elloquent descriptions.

WHATEVER I SAY CAN IN NO WAY PREPARE YOU FOR THE WEALTH OF MAGNIFICENT, BEAUTIFUL,AND INFORMATIVE INFORMATION (TEXT, PHOTOGRAPHS, ILLUSTRATIONS) CONTAINED IN THIS INCREDIBLE SERIES OF BOOKS. GET THEM ALL. YOU WON'T BE SORRY. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU ARE NEW TO THE SUBJECT OR AN EXPERIENED PRO.

I highly recommend this set of DVD's not only for the people who are intersted u/w but also who like the nature that newly discovered!

Beautiful book that is both informative visually and verbally. The lush full color pictures are matched only by Cousteau's elloquent descriptions.

If you are a scuba diver and you own o coffee table this book is a must. I have had it for two years and it always gets picked up by guests.

This is a beautifully written book that conveys the beauty plus knowledge of all forms of ocean life, not just the prettiest or largest organisms. Easy for even the layman to read and understand.

First, a disclaimer of sorts: I love the ocean. I love the smell of it, the sound of it, the romance of it, and the amazing inhabitants that reside in it. I am an aquarium nut and love skin diving.

Now, to the book: Ocean World is an appropriate name for this book. This planet should have been called Sea instead of Earth, since the majority of the planet is ocean. Jacques Cousteau describes this world in an engrossing, almost poetic fashion. The color photographs are wonderful. You will learn much about the endlessly fascinating realm of the sea.

Many years ago, Jacques Cousteau produced a series of 20 volume under the overall heading "The Ocean World of Jacques Cousteau." That series were so popular they were published and re-published in various editions by different publishers around the world. Whilst my own set may be complete, it is, nevertheless, made up from two separate editions published in Canada and the USA in 1975. That series of books is so important to me that I always carry a note in my wallet about which volumes I require to make up a complete set from either edition.

This book, however, brings together all those 20 volumes into a single book with all the information and photographs completely updated. I well remember where I first saw the book and immediately snapped it up. It was in the airport concourse at Reykjavik when I was in between flights from London to Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was the last copy they had and, at the price I paid, I thought I was going to be arrested by the Icelandic Police for theft!

Over a period of time - and in between other books, I have actually read this huge tome. And it is huge. Measuring 34 x 26cm (13¼ x 10 in), it contains 435 pages of information about every aspect of the Ocean World. If you want to know what made Jacques Cousteau an international name, if you want to know what it is your parents keep going on about whenever they say "I remember when Jacques Cousteau first came on the television and we saw.....", If you want to know what made the late, great Jacques Yves Cousteau Tick - then this is the only book you will even need to buy.

Amazing photographs, incredible information and, as I say, 435 pages on just about every aspect of the Ocean World. For most people, a book of this calibre would be their life's work, but of course, Cousteau moved on to other projects.

5 Stars are not enough for this outstanding work.

NM

If you love the ocean, this book is for you. And, as usual, AMAZON was at its best. Prompt delivery and although the book is "used", it's in very good shape.