Customer Reviews

The Sea's Enthrall: Memoirs of an Oceanographer

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Easy to read-- the life of a man who has had enormous success but not without his share of pain and regret. Ideas about the way the oceans work will interest those in the field and anyone involved with environmental issues. And everyone can gain from the story of someone who achieved beyond the norm in spite of early difficulties. Parsons dispels the stereotype of the faceless, impassive and fact oriented scientist by a frank description of his personal life and interest in the things for which science alone cannot provide the answers.

Tim parsons is the winner of the Japan Prize for Marine Biology. The Sea's Enthrall: Memoirs Of An Oceanographer is the fascinating story of Parsons life as a marine biologist beginning with his growing up in Ceylon and England, his professional training and international experiences; his audience with the Emperor of Japan; and his retirement contemplations. The Sea's Enthrall is "must read" for anyone contemplating a professional career as a marine biologist -- and is wonderfully informative and entertaining reading for anyone else who appreciations a well-written memoir hallmarked with philosophy, humor, and a cosmopolitan outlook on life.

The author has certainly had an exciting life!World travel,important achievements and international recognition.And all from a background made difficult by family situations and life at what sounds the equivalent of boot camp.For an oceanographer this book has key insights and information from someone who has explored the ocean by 'going down to the sea in ships', not sitting behind a desk. But the average reader who likes things to do with the sea (me) can enter into the human, sometimes tragic experiences told in a frank and engaging manner. He strikes a chord with all who have had difficulties in life but have managed to make the most of their opportunities anyway. And for a scientist, Parsons has a flair for description that departs from the formality of academic reporting.

I enjoyed The Sea's Enthrall very much. The book reads smoothly and is easy to understand. His personal life includes tragedy and hardship. His career is current with today's environmental issues and he presents an insightful and balanced view. He includes humour in his writing and I found myself chuckling out loud a few times while reading the book on the bus.