Status
Available
Collection
Publication
Signet (1961), 221 pages
Description
Published in 1951, The Sea Around Us is one of the most remarkably successful books ever written about the natural world. Rachel Carson's rare ability to combine scientific insight with moving, poetic prose catapulted her book to first place on The New York Times best-seller list, where it enjoyed wide attention for thirty-one consecutive weeks. It remained on the list for more than a year and a half and ultimately sold well over a million copies, has been translated into 28 languages, inspired an Academy Award-winning documentary, and won both the 1952 National Book Award and the John Burroughs Medal. This classic work remains as fresh today as when it first appeared. Carson's writing teems with stunning, memorable images-the newly formed Earth cooling beneath an endlessly overcast sky; the centuries of nonstop rain that created the oceans; giant squids battling sperm whales hundreds of fathoms below the surface; and incredibly powerful tides moving 100 billion tons of water daily in the Bay of Fundy. Quite simply, she captures the mystery and allure of the ocean with a compelling blend of imagination and expertise. Reintroducing a classic work to a whole new generation of readers, this Special Edition features a new chapter written by Jeffrey Levinton, a leading expert in marine ecology, that brings the scientific side of The Sea Around Us completely up to date. Levinton incorporates the most recent thinking on continental drift, coral reefs, the spread of the ocean floor, the deterioration of the oceans, mass extinction of sea life, and many other topics. In addition, acclaimed nature writer Ann Zwinger has contributed a brief foreword. Today, with the oceans endangered by the dumping of medical waste and ecological disasters such as the Exxon oil spill in Alaska, this illuminating volume provides a timely reminder of both the fragility and the importance of the ocean and the life that abounds within it. Anyone who loves the sea, or who is concerned about our natural environment, will want to read this classic work.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member panickyfright
One of my favourite books. Famous today as the crusading environmentalist author of 'Silent Spring', Carson's considerable success in her own day was based upon her writings about marine biology; indeed, she has some claim to be the pioneer of modern popular science writing. If, like me, you can't
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pass a beach without poking around in rock pools then you really ought to read this. Show Less
LibraryThing member baswood
1951 was the year when a science book became a best seller. The Sea Around us spent 86 weeks on the New York Times best seller list. Rachel Carson was a marine biologist and therefore a scientist who discovered that she had the talent to write for a popular audience and although her book is packed
'Every part of earth or air or sea has an atmosphere peculiarly its own, a quality or characteristic that sets it apart from all other. When I think of the floor of the deep sea, the single, overwhelming fact that possesses my imagination is the accumulation of sediments'
Sediments! A chapter about sediments? Sediments are usually very important for people with a scientific bent, but Carson with her image of a long snowfall and a chapter that eases her readers through some scientific information manages to make her sediments, mysterious, beautiful and thoroughly absorbing. Right now writing this I have a picture of the flakes of a snow storm falling, falling, one by one, out there on the ocean floor.
The book is more interested in geology, oceanography, meteorology the more physical elements of the oceans rather than individual species of animals that inhabit the sea. It is a book about the environment, but written before Carson made a reputation for being an environmentalist and so doom laden warnings come to us as feint echos in what is a celebration of the wonders of nature. There are chapters on the teeming surface of the oceans and the black sunless depths, There are chapters on the birth of Islands, the hidden lands beneath the sea, The destructive power of the sea and the science of the waves, and finally exploration and exploitation by mankind.
Carson became prominent in the conservation of the environment movement with the publication of Silent Spring in 1962; a book that highlighted the dangers of synthetic pesticides. In the Sea Around Us she talks about climate change, and a warming of the sea, but comes down on the side of cyclic changes in oceanic circulation, therefore a natural phenomenon rather than man made. This is somewhat surprising with the knowledge that we have today of greenhouse gasses and environmental pollution, but one must remember that her book was published in 1951. She wrote a preface to the 1961 edition, but her concern then was the dumping of atomic waste. She died in 1964 a considerable time before concerns were raised on an international level about global warming and mankind's involvement in that process. This is not a book that will supply an up to date scientific story on the latest developments in the world of oceanography a lot has happened since the 1961 edition and some of them have thrown Carsons ideas on the ocean basins as being older than the continents into disrepute: for example the theory of plate tectonics has established that the creation of the sea bed in geological terms is relatively more recent.
I read the Oxford University press 2003 edition which is billed as an Illustrated Commemorative Edition with glossy photographs and a coffee table book feel. There is an introduction and forward which puts Carson's book in context and an afterword by Brian J Skinner a professor of Geology as well as some notes throughout the text that point out scientific developments since the original publication back in 1951. Today we might read Rachel Carsons The Sea Around us for her innovations in producing a science based book that captures some of the poetry of the sea, but it also still provides much basic information. I learn't quite a bit and enjoyed the learning and so a 4.5 star read.
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with scientific information, it also waxes lyrical about the sights, sounds and feel of the sea both above and below the surface. A book written by a lover of sea and seascapes for an audience who want to know more about the 70 percent of the world in which they might paddle, swim, or travel over, but have never thought much about it. This is the opening to her chapter "The Long Snowfall"'Every part of earth or air or sea has an atmosphere peculiarly its own, a quality or characteristic that sets it apart from all other. When I think of the floor of the deep sea, the single, overwhelming fact that possesses my imagination is the accumulation of sediments'
Sediments! A chapter about sediments? Sediments are usually very important for people with a scientific bent, but Carson with her image of a long snowfall and a chapter that eases her readers through some scientific information manages to make her sediments, mysterious, beautiful and thoroughly absorbing. Right now writing this I have a picture of the flakes of a snow storm falling, falling, one by one, out there on the ocean floor.
The book is more interested in geology, oceanography, meteorology the more physical elements of the oceans rather than individual species of animals that inhabit the sea. It is a book about the environment, but written before Carson made a reputation for being an environmentalist and so doom laden warnings come to us as feint echos in what is a celebration of the wonders of nature. There are chapters on the teeming surface of the oceans and the black sunless depths, There are chapters on the birth of Islands, the hidden lands beneath the sea, The destructive power of the sea and the science of the waves, and finally exploration and exploitation by mankind.
Carson became prominent in the conservation of the environment movement with the publication of Silent Spring in 1962; a book that highlighted the dangers of synthetic pesticides. In the Sea Around Us she talks about climate change, and a warming of the sea, but comes down on the side of cyclic changes in oceanic circulation, therefore a natural phenomenon rather than man made. This is somewhat surprising with the knowledge that we have today of greenhouse gasses and environmental pollution, but one must remember that her book was published in 1951. She wrote a preface to the 1961 edition, but her concern then was the dumping of atomic waste. She died in 1964 a considerable time before concerns were raised on an international level about global warming and mankind's involvement in that process. This is not a book that will supply an up to date scientific story on the latest developments in the world of oceanography a lot has happened since the 1961 edition and some of them have thrown Carsons ideas on the ocean basins as being older than the continents into disrepute: for example the theory of plate tectonics has established that the creation of the sea bed in geological terms is relatively more recent.
I read the Oxford University press 2003 edition which is billed as an Illustrated Commemorative Edition with glossy photographs and a coffee table book feel. There is an introduction and forward which puts Carson's book in context and an afterword by Brian J Skinner a professor of Geology as well as some notes throughout the text that point out scientific developments since the original publication back in 1951. Today we might read Rachel Carsons The Sea Around us for her innovations in producing a science based book that captures some of the poetry of the sea, but it also still provides much basic information. I learn't quite a bit and enjoyed the learning and so a 4.5 star read.
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LibraryThing member abruser
Rachel Carson's "The Sea Around Us" gives a beautifully elaborate history of the oceans. The writing is poetic and easy to follow. She describes ocean processes in metaphorical terms that can be applied to other domains of life, like human existence. Therefor, "The Sea Around Us" transcends across
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many genres. Show Less
LibraryThing member SeriousGrace
Carson is so lyrical in her writing. Beauty on the page. When reading The Sea Around Us I could practically smell the salt air, feel the sea rise and fall under my feet. Her words lulled me like the ocean always does. In addition, Carson writes in such a straight forward manner you are never caught
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up in textbook language. You are never bored. Entertained as you learn. She is not above calling something she doesn't understand just plain "weird." The one drawback? Some of the material is out of date. When Carson describes the diving helmets of the 1950s I wondered what she would think of today's technology. Another mystery of her time was how whales and fur seals could endure the pressure changes in the depths of the ocean. Science has since uncovered that mystery and thensome. Show Less
LibraryThing member Marse
I was born on an island and have lived my whole life by the sea. I love the waves, and the many moods of the ocean. I love the mystery of it, even while the deep sea frightens me. It is so deep, dark and unknown. I find sea creatures both alluring and terrifying--an alien life-form. I'm ashamed at
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how little I really know about the sea. I didn't want to read a textbook, but I also didn't want just a superficial meditation on how interesting the ocean was. Rachel Carson's book, "The Sea Around Us," is fascinating and the perfect fit for me. I'm sure there are many more contemporary books on this subject (this book was published in the '50s), but her name drew me to this book. After all, her "Silent Spring" (a book I have not yet read), has linked her name with environmentalism forever. Her writing style is both precise and enchanting. She tells a story that fascinates with wonder and astounds us with her knowledge. I recommend this book for its topic, for the amazing amount of information it contains in only 200 or so pages, and for Carson's gift of bringing science and passion together in her writing. Show Less
LibraryThing member Elizabeth_Foster
“Eventually man, too, found his way back to the sea. Standing on its shore, he must have looked out upon it with wonder and curiosity, compounded with an unconscious recognition of his lineage. He could not physically re-enter the ocean as the seals and whales had done. But over the centuries,
While some of the information is dated, the timeless nature of the prose drew me in from the first page. Rachel Carson was a gifted writer, whose subject of interest was the oceans and seas and our symbiotic relationship with it. She fully explores it in this jewel of a book.
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with all the skill and ingenuity and reasoning powers of his mind, he has sought to explore and investigate even its most remote parts, so that he might re-enter it mentally and imaginatively.” While some of the information is dated, the timeless nature of the prose drew me in from the first page. Rachel Carson was a gifted writer, whose subject of interest was the oceans and seas and our symbiotic relationship with it. She fully explores it in this jewel of a book.
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LibraryThing member LGCullens
Having first read Silent Spring (Rachel Carson's fourth published book) back in the sixties, I've delved into her other books over the years. The Sea Around Us was Carson's second published book (the first being her 1941 book Under the Sea Wind) and the one that launched her into the public eye and
Opening paragraph:
"BEGINNINGS are apt to be shadowy, and so it is with the beginnings of that great mother of life, the sea. Many people have debated how and when the earth got its ocean, and it is not surprising that their explanations do not always agree. For the plain and inescapable truth is that no one was there to see, and in the absence of eye-witness accounts there is bound to be a certain amount of disagreement. So if I tell here the story of how the young planet Earth acquired - an ocean, it must be a story pieced together from many sources and containing whole chapters the details of which we can only imagine. The story is founded on the testimony of the earth’s most ancient rocks, which were young when the earth was young; on other evidence written on the face of the earth’s satellite, the moon; and on hints contained in the history of the sun and the whole universe, of star-filled space. For although no man was there to witness this cosmic birth, the stars and the moon and the rocks were there, and, indeed, had much to do with the fact that there is an ocean."
I've found all Rachel Carson's books informative, interesting, and easily readable, even poetic. In understanding our sustaining biosphere better, we might do a better job of leaving a habitable Earth for our children.
As a side thought, I was privileged in my youth to listen to Shoshone elders convey ancient legends, among them how our little blue canoe began as fire, then water, then Turtle Island was formed. These were legends that had been passed down through many thousands of years, and though they were stylistic of the culture I've always wondered how they came by the premise.
"Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?" ~ T. S. Eliot, The Rock, 1934
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a second career as a writer and conservationist. This book deals with the science of the the sea known at that time, ranging from its primeval beginnings to the time of the book's publication.Opening paragraph:
"BEGINNINGS are apt to be shadowy, and so it is with the beginnings of that great mother of life, the sea. Many people have debated how and when the earth got its ocean, and it is not surprising that their explanations do not always agree. For the plain and inescapable truth is that no one was there to see, and in the absence of eye-witness accounts there is bound to be a certain amount of disagreement. So if I tell here the story of how the young planet Earth acquired - an ocean, it must be a story pieced together from many sources and containing whole chapters the details of which we can only imagine. The story is founded on the testimony of the earth’s most ancient rocks, which were young when the earth was young; on other evidence written on the face of the earth’s satellite, the moon; and on hints contained in the history of the sun and the whole universe, of star-filled space. For although no man was there to witness this cosmic birth, the stars and the moon and the rocks were there, and, indeed, had much to do with the fact that there is an ocean."
I've found all Rachel Carson's books informative, interesting, and easily readable, even poetic. In understanding our sustaining biosphere better, we might do a better job of leaving a habitable Earth for our children.
As a side thought, I was privileged in my youth to listen to Shoshone elders convey ancient legends, among them how our little blue canoe began as fire, then water, then Turtle Island was formed. These were legends that had been passed down through many thousands of years, and though they were stylistic of the culture I've always wondered how they came by the premise.
"Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?" ~ T. S. Eliot, The Rock, 1934
Show Less
LibraryThing member howermj
"The Sea Around Us" by Rachel Carson is a seminal work that captivates the reader with its poetic yet scientific exploration of the ocean. The revised edition, published in 1961, maintains the original's essence while incorporating updated scientific knowledge available at the time.
"The Sea Around
**Key Takeaways**
The book is organized into three main sections—The Mother Sea, The Restless Sea, and Man and the Sea About Him—each presenting a unique facet of the ocean's complex relationship with life on Earth.
**Part 1 - The Mother Sea**: This section delves into the origins of the Earth's oceans and how life began in the primordial seas. Carson provides an overview of geological processes like plate tectonics, oceanic currents, and the role these played in the formation and sustenance of life. It paints a picture of the ocean as the 'womb' of all life.
- **Key Takeaways**:
- The ocean is the origin of life on Earth.
- Geological processes are integral to the ocean's character.
- The concept of the ocean as a "Mother" introduces the reader to ecological interconnectedness.
**Part 2 - The Restless Sea**: This part focuses on the dynamic aspects of the ocean, like tides, currents, and waves. Carson talks about the balance and imbalance found in these movements and what they mean for marine life and climatic conditions. She emphasizes the ocean's ever-changing, restless nature.
- **Key Takeaways**:
- The ocean is a dynamic, ever-changing environment.
- Natural phenomena like tides and currents have far-reaching impacts, from climate to marine ecosystems.
- Understanding these movements is essential for understanding the ocean as a whole.
**Part 3 - Man and the Sea About Him**: This section delves into the relationship between humans and the ocean. It discusses the exploration of the ocean, its role in human history, and the impact of human activities like fishing and pollution. Carson subtly criticizes the human tendency to exploit the ocean without understanding or respecting its complexities.
- **Key Takeaways**:
- Humans have a long history of interaction with the sea, often exploiting it.
- The impact of human activity on the ocean is considerable and often negative.
- A call for greater respect for and understanding of the marine environment as essential for our own survival.
**Message and Importance**
As for its relevance today, the book's core message has indeed stood the test of time. While some of the scientific data may have evolved, the essence of its environmental message remains critically important. Our understanding of ecology and environmental science has grown, but the foundational principles Carson articulated continue to guide the field. Her focus on the interconnectedness of all life and the need for responsible stewardship of the Earth's resources is more pertinent than ever, given ongoing environmental crises like climate change and ocean acidification.
Carson's message from this work could be encapsulated as the idea that the ocean is not just a vast, mysterious expanse but an integral part of Earth's life system. Understanding its complexities is not merely an academic exercise but a critical factor in the survival and well-being of all species, including humans. This message is important because it elevates the conversation about environmental sustainability and calls for a more responsible, ethical interaction with the natural world.
**About the Author**
Rachel Carson (1907-1964) was an American marine biologist, conservationist, and author. She was a trailblazing figure, especially for a woman in the male-dominated fields of science and environmental activism during the mid-20th century. She initially gained fame as an editor and writer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and she held a master's degree in zoology from Johns Hopkins University.
At the time of writing "The Sea Around Us," the post-war era was a period of rapid industrialization and scientific discovery, but there was also a growing disconnect between these advancements and their environmental repercussions. Carson served as a bridge between the scientific community and the public, making complex scientific concepts accessible to everyday people. Her writing career flourished in the 1950s, with "The Sea Around Us" becoming one of her seminal works.
Beyond this book, Carson is perhaps best known for "Silent Spring," published in 1962. This book is credited with sparking the modern environmental movement and leading to a nationwide ban on DDT, a harmful pesticide. "Silent Spring" had a profound impact on environmental policies, eventually leading to the formation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In essence, Carson was a pioneer who used her skills as a writer and her background in science to communicate urgent environmental issues, challenging the status quo and leaving a lasting impact on both environmental science and public policy.
**Overall**
"The Sea Around Us" is not merely a book about the ocean; it's a profound study of our relationship with the natural world. Its message, artfully crafted by a pioneering scientist and writer, has stood the test of time and continues to resonate in today's environmental discourse.
**Interpretation by Alex, a Voyager 2.0 persona on GPT-4, September 2, 2023.**
"The Sea Around
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Us" received widespread acclaim when it was first published in 1951. It won several awards, including the National Book Award and the John Burroughs Medal, and was a bestseller for a considerable period. Its influence stretched beyond academia to reach the general public, raising awareness about marine ecology and the environment. Critics and readers alike praised Carson's ability to blend scientific detail with poetic narrative, making complex topics accessible.**Key Takeaways**
The book is organized into three main sections—The Mother Sea, The Restless Sea, and Man and the Sea About Him—each presenting a unique facet of the ocean's complex relationship with life on Earth.
**Part 1 - The Mother Sea**: This section delves into the origins of the Earth's oceans and how life began in the primordial seas. Carson provides an overview of geological processes like plate tectonics, oceanic currents, and the role these played in the formation and sustenance of life. It paints a picture of the ocean as the 'womb' of all life.
- **Key Takeaways**:
- The ocean is the origin of life on Earth.
- Geological processes are integral to the ocean's character.
- The concept of the ocean as a "Mother" introduces the reader to ecological interconnectedness.
**Part 2 - The Restless Sea**: This part focuses on the dynamic aspects of the ocean, like tides, currents, and waves. Carson talks about the balance and imbalance found in these movements and what they mean for marine life and climatic conditions. She emphasizes the ocean's ever-changing, restless nature.
- **Key Takeaways**:
- The ocean is a dynamic, ever-changing environment.
- Natural phenomena like tides and currents have far-reaching impacts, from climate to marine ecosystems.
- Understanding these movements is essential for understanding the ocean as a whole.
**Part 3 - Man and the Sea About Him**: This section delves into the relationship between humans and the ocean. It discusses the exploration of the ocean, its role in human history, and the impact of human activities like fishing and pollution. Carson subtly criticizes the human tendency to exploit the ocean without understanding or respecting its complexities.
- **Key Takeaways**:
- Humans have a long history of interaction with the sea, often exploiting it.
- The impact of human activity on the ocean is considerable and often negative.
- A call for greater respect for and understanding of the marine environment as essential for our own survival.
**Message and Importance**
As for its relevance today, the book's core message has indeed stood the test of time. While some of the scientific data may have evolved, the essence of its environmental message remains critically important. Our understanding of ecology and environmental science has grown, but the foundational principles Carson articulated continue to guide the field. Her focus on the interconnectedness of all life and the need for responsible stewardship of the Earth's resources is more pertinent than ever, given ongoing environmental crises like climate change and ocean acidification.
Carson's message from this work could be encapsulated as the idea that the ocean is not just a vast, mysterious expanse but an integral part of Earth's life system. Understanding its complexities is not merely an academic exercise but a critical factor in the survival and well-being of all species, including humans. This message is important because it elevates the conversation about environmental sustainability and calls for a more responsible, ethical interaction with the natural world.
**About the Author**
Rachel Carson (1907-1964) was an American marine biologist, conservationist, and author. She was a trailblazing figure, especially for a woman in the male-dominated fields of science and environmental activism during the mid-20th century. She initially gained fame as an editor and writer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and she held a master's degree in zoology from Johns Hopkins University.
At the time of writing "The Sea Around Us," the post-war era was a period of rapid industrialization and scientific discovery, but there was also a growing disconnect between these advancements and their environmental repercussions. Carson served as a bridge between the scientific community and the public, making complex scientific concepts accessible to everyday people. Her writing career flourished in the 1950s, with "The Sea Around Us" becoming one of her seminal works.
Beyond this book, Carson is perhaps best known for "Silent Spring," published in 1962. This book is credited with sparking the modern environmental movement and leading to a nationwide ban on DDT, a harmful pesticide. "Silent Spring" had a profound impact on environmental policies, eventually leading to the formation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In essence, Carson was a pioneer who used her skills as a writer and her background in science to communicate urgent environmental issues, challenging the status quo and leaving a lasting impact on both environmental science and public policy.
**Overall**
"The Sea Around Us" is not merely a book about the ocean; it's a profound study of our relationship with the natural world. Its message, artfully crafted by a pioneering scientist and writer, has stood the test of time and continues to resonate in today's environmental discourse.
**Interpretation by Alex, a Voyager 2.0 persona on GPT-4, September 2, 2023.**
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LibraryThing member DominiqueMarie
Categories:
Classic by a Woman Author (BacktotheClassics2020)
Three Books by the Same Author (#mmdreading)
In this 2nd book of her "sea trilogy", Carson, with her lyrical prose, reveals the power, beauty, and complexity of the ocean and it's history. She does get a bit too technical at times. I
Classic by a Woman Author (BacktotheClassics2020)
Three Books by the Same Author (#mmdreading)
In this 2nd book of her "sea trilogy", Carson, with her lyrical prose, reveals the power, beauty, and complexity of the ocean and it's history. She does get a bit too technical at times. I
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started skimming at the parts where she droned on about pressure per cubic foot, etc. But really most of the book is very accessible to the the average reader, and even though it contains some outdated/inaccurate information, this book is still worth reading. Carson has an amazing ability to see the big ecological picture, how everything connects in the ocean, and how dependent we are on it. I particularly enjoyed the chapters on the tides and the creation of islands. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
National Book Award (Finalist — Nonfiction — 1952)
John Burroughs Medal (Winner — 1952)
Notable Books List (1951)
Language
Original publication date
1951