Sea Legs: Tales Of A Woman Oceanographer [Hardcover]

Kathleen Crane (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0813340047 | ISBN-13: 978-0813340043 | Publication Date: January 21, 2003

Sea Legsis the story of Kathleen Crane, one of the first women oceanographers out of the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. By turns personal and objective, Crane tells how her quest for freedom led her to the sea and her research of deep-sea underwater volcanoes. As research doors in the United States closed during the 1980s, Crane charted her scientific future with the Europeans and with scientists from the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. In the process she became an unwitting diplomat.From the Galapagos dives in the Alvin and the early searches for Titanic, to many of the first scientific expeditions of the Arctic, Crane offers an exclusive and compelling first-hand account as a pioneer for women in oceanography. An explorer, environmentalist, and filmmaker, Crane’s story encompasses the world’s oceans, politics, international relations, scientific espionage, ships, and a passion for the natural world. At its heart, however, this is a story about humanity and the forces that drive people to persevere, despite the odds, and do the things they love.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Crane chronicles the relentless adversity she faced in becoming a world-class oceanographer with a modest matter-of-factness that almost camouflages the high caliber of her achievements. During the 1970s, when Crane was struggling to accomplish her demanding and pioneering fieldwork on underwater volcanic activity--she was the first to postulate the existence of the now famous deep-sea hot springs--female scientists either weren't allowed on expeditions at all or only in pairs, and they were not only forbidden below deck but also lectured patronizingly on their apparel and behavior. Drawn to the "unexplored and the unexplained," poetic, and committed to doing meaningful and unprecedented scientific work, Crane, who has worked at such major oceanographic centers as Scripps, Woods Hole, and the Naval Research Lab, found more conducive and respectful working conditions on international projects, collaborations that brought her to the challenging and environmentally crucial region she has made her own, the frigid waters of the Arctic. Crane's experiences are diverse, dramatic, and important; her understanding of international affairs and environmental realities laudable and moving; and her triumphs over personal sorrows and illness impressive and inspiring. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"...a diary of a remarkable woman." -- Science Books & Films

"Immensely readable." -- Choice

"[Crane's] insights into the roles that espionage and cold-war politics have played in international scientific research are sobering." -- Discover --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (January 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813340047
• ISBN-13: 978-0813340043
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,539,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A memorable and informative autobiographical journey, April 8, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sea Legs: Tales Of A Woman Oceanographer (Hardcover)

Sea Legs: Tales Of A Woman Oceanographer is the personal and inspiring story of Kathleen Crane, one of the first female oceanographers to earn her credentials at the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. From research on undersea volcanoes, to meeting and befriending Soviet Union scientists during the height of the cold war, Sea Legs is a memorable and informative autobiographical journey filled with a love of science, a respect for the sea, and the sheer joy of reaching out to embrace the world.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Page Turner, July 2, 2004

By 

Robert J. Burdick (Los Altos, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sea Legs: Tales Of A Woman Oceanographer (Hardcover)

I really didn't know what to expect when I picked up Kathleen Crane's memoirs of her experiences in graduate school at Scripps and her professional life. To many, it might seem that a book on oceanography is a bit too esoteric or "niche" to be of interest to the general public.

But "Sea Legs" is a truly fascinating, deeply (no pun intended) interesting book. For the scientifically inclined, the detailed descriptions of Crane's work will be of great interest. But the general reader benefits the most from this book, as the reader accompanies Crane and her colleagues on numerous voyages of discovery to fascinating destinations. "Sea Legs" is well worth your time, and beleive me, it is a real page turner.

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for entering oceanography students., October 6, 2009

By 

Paul Henkart "Paul" (near San Diego) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sea Legs: Tales of a Woman Oceanographer (Paperback)

There's a prof at Scripps who tells his entering students to read this book. I concur. I know many of the characters in the book and I believe Dr. Crane has accurately portrayed them. The nastiness of some of the characters is not gender based - the individuals will screw both genders equally. It's hard for me to tell when it's gender based or not; the people are just nasty, high strung, insecure people.