Customer Reviews

Mapping the Deep: The Extraordinary Story of Ocean Science

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Exploration is sexier than understanding. That's probably why we say Newton discovered the laws of motion, rather than understood the relationship between mass, force and velocity. Amongst the many disciplines of science, perhaps none is so dominated by exploration as oceanography.

In this book, Robert Kunzig takes us on a tour of the exploratory deeds of ocean scientists that has lead us to our present knowledge of ocean science. From young scientists camped on coral cays, to biologists in deep-sea submersibles, and geologists climbing South American mountains, this is an exciting and fascinating read.

I would recommend this book for anyone wishing to learn about oceanography in an easy to read format. But really, this book is for people who want to get excited about oceanography. Perhaps you are considering a career in oceanography, or you are a professional oceanography, or just like science? No matter. I think you will come away feeling inspired by the deeds of marine scientists, and the ocean itself.

If I felt one dissappointment, it was that the issue of global climate change, and the role of ocean scientists in this critical science, was not given their due. I think we understand more about the climate than Kunzig gave us credit for. But this is a book about exploration, and climate change, sadly, is for the future.

I bought this book thinking it was a follow up to the authors previous book, 'the restless sea'. However it is the same, now with pictures. If you have a choice between the two I recommend the new one. The pictures and illustrations are a great. Instead of imagining what he is talking about you can see it for yourself. I hope he does eventually have a follow up book.

I ought this book this book in Britain over he summer (before it was released in America) and it kept me reading it the whole way back to America. It has just about everything you could ever want about oceanography. It covers biology, geology and so many things I can't really name. I suggest to anyone, even if you don't know about oceanography or don't care to know, this is the perfect book for anyones collection.

A wonderful and easy to read book about the history of Oceanography. When I first received the book as a Christamas gift from my wife, one of my first thoughts was "I hope it's not to dull." What a delightful surprise, Mr. Kunzig has woven a story of the ocean that is very entertaining and easily held my attention. His book includes chapters on the early explorers, their theories, their findings and their misunderstandings and their conflicts. He discusses the role that microscopic organism of the oceans play in the climate of our earth and our connection to them. I highly recommend this book.

Kunzig is a decent writer who devotes a chapter each to thirteen of the most pivotal discoveries in oceanography. These range from geological (plate tectonics, seafloor spreading) to biological (creatures living off sulfur at high-temp deep sea thermal vents, phytoplankton) to physical (ocean currents) to chemical (carbon and its role in seawater ecology). Anecdotes involving the personalities of the scientists involved lend a human touch to the stories.

There are some moments of confusion, most of which occur when Kunzig doesn't properly introduce the background of certain scientists (like Henry Stommel), or when he seems to stretch certain hypotheses to their breaking point in order to make things a little more interesting. However, taken as a package, the book is a rare gem in a field ripe for public interest. And not totally depressing, either, if you skip the last couple of chapters (climate change and the thermohaline circulation).

Great book! Chapter 12 on the destruction of the New England Cod fishery should be required reading for every coastal and American child. A wonderful summary of the events and deliberately destructive attitudes leading to the collapse of a vital industry including the government and private sector roles. It takes only the briefest hop to see this real historic event as a precursor to the current desperate hunger to reap the greatest short term profit from the energy industry the results be damned. As Hemingway said, "For Whom the Bell Tolls, It Tolls for Thee."

This is a fascinating read for any one interested in ocean science and its history. I'm on my second copy because the first one was the book I carried with me everywhere I went and it wore out and started falling apart. Every time I read this book I get something out of it.