Whales and Dolphins in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book (Smithsonian's In Question Series) [Paperback]

James G. Mead (Author), Joy P. Gold (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 2002 | Series: Smithsonian's In Question Series

How many fingers do whales have? Why do whales strand on beaches? Do dolphins protect humans from sharks? What does DNA reveal about the ancestry of cetaceans? This comprehensive book is a collective response to thousands of letters and phone calls received annually by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Students, teachers, and scientists all have amazingly varied questions about whales and dolphins, and the most revealing inquiries are presented here with detailed answers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James G. Mead is curator of marine mammals at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Joy P. Gold is technical information specialist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Smithsonian Books (February 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560989807
• ISBN-13: 978-1560989806
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.4 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,915,502 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating information about wild whales and dolphins, June 6, 2002

By 

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

This review is from: WHALES & DOLPHINS IN QUESTION (Hardcover)

Collaboratively written by James G. Mead (Curator of Marine Mammals, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History) and Joy P. Gold (Technical Information Specialist, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History), Whales And Dolphins In Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book is a gorgeously illustrated book filled with beautiful color photography by Flip Nicklin and showcases fascinating information about wild whales and dolphins. The first section presents basic facts in question-and-answer format; the second addresses these wondrous creatures species by species, offering amazing trivia and insight into the natural world. A superb giftbook for dolphin and whale enthusiasts, Whales And Dolphins In Questions is strongly recommended for school and community library wildlife and marine life reference collections.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good reference book, July 23, 2003

By 

Robert Feldman (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: WHALES & DOLPHINS IN QUESTION (Hardcover)

This is an interesting and helpful reference book if simple answers are all that are needed. References to other literature for each topic would be helfpul since the answers are sometimes so general and brief. Also, I had hoped that it would contain more information about perhaps the most important question we could ask about these animals ... how can we protect them?

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating reading, December 21, 2004

By 

R. Saward "Whale & Dolphin Magazine" (Kent, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Whales and Dolphins in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book (Smithsonian's In Question Series) (Paperback)

If you have ever found yourself wondering whether whales drink seawater or you are not sure whether to believe the international press when it tells you that dolphins protect swimmers from sharks, then this is the book for you. It is a fascinating compendium of whale and dolphin facts, a collection of answers to frequently asked questions put forward by the generally interested public to Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The scope is wide, ranging from whale evolution, through biology and research, to hunting and fisheries interaction. Pretty much anything you ever wanted to know about cetaceans is covered in this book. With pin-sharp colour photographs by Flip Nicklin, this is a great read cover to cover and a handy reference book for regular dipping in to. Something of a must-have for all cetacean enthusiasts.