Top 15 Books About The Ocean Updated 04 /2024

Under the waters is a world of wonder, teeming with species both beautiful and weird. Despite the fact that the ocean covers about 70% of the Earth's surface, we know little little about it. Between ten and thirty million kinds of submarine life are yet to be identified, according to scientists. The fascinating depths of the ocean, as well as the courageous, interested, and passionate scientists who dare to investigate the Earth's greatest uncharted frontier, will be illuminated in these eleven novels.

The Secret Life of Lobsters by Trevor Corson

How well-versed in lobster do you consider yourself to be? The reader is escorted onto the slippery decks of fishing boats, through dangerous scuba dives, and deep into the churning currents of the Gulf of Maine to learn about the secret undersea lives of lobsters in this intimate portrait of an island lobstering community and an eccentric band of renegade biologists.

Kraken by Wendy Williams

The squid is one of the most captivating, mysterious, and curious residents of the water, and this book introduces one of the most charismatic, enigmatic, and curious inhabitants of the sea: the kraken. This book takes the reader on a crazy narrative ride through the world of squid science and is both accessible and enjoyable. It is required reading for anyone interested in popular science.

Soundings by Hali Felt

The ocean floor was a mystery before Marie Tharp's revolutionary study in the 1950s. She completely transformed our view of the planet's evolution by translating dry data into wonderfully detailed charts, upending scientific orthodoxy and ushering in a new age in geology and oceanography.

The Deep by Claire Nouvian

This stunning book celebrates the tremendous diversity of life on Earth by combining the newest scientific discoveries with breathtaking photographs. It will captivate anybody interested in the deep sea's unseen—and unimaginable—creatures.

The Silent World by Jacques Cousteau

Jacques Cousteau was the originator of scuba diving before becoming the guy who introduced us to the marvels of the sea through his popular television series. When it was first published in 1953, this memoir of his early days of undersea adventure became an instant international success, and it remains a fascinating look into the life and career of a true legend.

The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

Discover the octopus' emotional and physical world, which is remarkably complex, intelligent, and spirited. Sy Montgomery journeyed from New England aquariums to the reefs of French Polynesia and the Gulf of Mexico to explore these outrageously entertaining and deep shapeshifters after making a friendship with a sensitive, sweet-natured octopus.

War of the Whales by Joshua Horwitz

The compelling story of a crusading lawyer who discovers one of the US Navy's best-kept secrets: a submarine detection system that fills entire ocean basins with high-intensity sound, driving whales into beaches. This true-crime thriller blends judicial drama, natural history, and military intrigue.

Deep by James Nestor

James Nestor embeds with a gang of oceangoing extreme sportsmen and renegade researchers in this narrative of a voyage from the ocean's surface to its darkest trenches. He discovers whales that communicate with other whales hundreds of kilometres away, sharks that swim in perfect straight lines, and pioneers who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in nature and in ourselves.

The Reefby Iain McCalman

 

The Great Barrier Reef, which stretches 1,400 miles down the Australian coast and can be seen from space, is home to three thousand distinct reefs and thousands of marine species. Iain McCalman, a historian and adventurer, takes us on a journey beneath the reef to see how our changing perspectives of the natural world have shaped this incredible landscape.

The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson

This classic work, first published in 1951, is now one of the most popular books about the natural world. Simply put, Rachel Carson uses a fascinating blend of creativity and experience to depict the mystery and appeal of the ocean.

This New York Times bestseller and National Book Award winner delves into one of the planet's most enigmatic resources. Rachel Carson's work, which was initially published in 1951 and is based on scientific facts at the time, gives us a glimpse of the various species and moving landscapes that are generally hidden from sight, such as underwater mountain ranges and islands that rise from the Earth's crust. Carson's inspiring work is still worth reading decades later for insight into his ardent devotion to a healthy earth.

Sensuous Seas by Eugene H. Kaplan

Eugene Kaplan, a marine biologist, takes readers on an irresistibly irreverent journey through the world of water creatures, including habitats, beauty, and, yes, even sex lives. The reader will be able to experience the astounding intricacy of aquatic life through this one-of-a-kind memoir.

The Brilliant Abyss By Helen Scales

We're in the midst of a spike in deep sea exploration and research, a region that many of us are unfamiliar with. These researches are shedding light on a complex ecosystem and the surprising ways in which it affects our daily lives, such as climate and weather systems. Many deep marine organisms, including diverse unique bacteria, were previously unknown to mankind, providing prospects for scientific and medicinal advancements.

Life in the Dark By Danté Fenolio

Danté Fenolio, an extreme wildlife photographer, has photographed some of the most odd animals found at the bottom of oceans and lakes. The majority of these life forms have never been observed by humans and dwell in very dark environments. Over 200 images of these wonderfully evolved critters are included in Fenolio's book, showcasing species that would otherwise go unnoticed by the common person.

The Edge of the Sea By Rachel Carson

Carson investigates the beaches, reefs, and shorelines that line our oceans. She captures the complexity and awe of the plants and animals that make up marine life, even in the tiniest of tide pools, in this way. "It is a truly extraordinary world which Miss Carson vividly unfolds to us," says the author of The Edge of the Sea, which takes the reader offshore and into the shallows to help us understand and appreciate the complexity of marine ecosystems: "It is a truly extraordinary world which Miss Carson vividly unfolds to us" (The Atlantic Monthly).

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