Ocean

Library Journal

This large (10 14) volume of striking photographs emphasizes the beauty of marine life and the interrelationships of all ocean inhabitants. Divided into sections on the living ocean, energy of life, interactions among species, and marine biodiversity, the straightforward explanatory text is accompanied by full-page and full-spread photographs by commercial photographers, photojournalists, divers, and professors of oceanography. Inspirational essays by ocean conservation activists are aimed at promoting the cause of ocean protection; short biographies of the photographers and an index to photo captions are included. Written for the nonscientist, this book could well inspire a young person to pursue a career in marine biology or in diving. Marine biologist Thorne-Miller is a co-founder of Ocean Advocates, an environmental consulting company, and author of The Living Ocean ( LJ 2/15/91).-- Judith B. Barnett, Pell Marine Science Lib., Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston

Ray Olson

Published at the same size as the successful Day in the Life (of America, Canada, Australia, the Soviet Union, Ireland, etc.) series, and with the contributions of a similar crew of first-class professional photographers, this big browseable features, besides minideclamations (by the likes of Jean-Michel Cousteau, Ted Danson, and less-known names) on such topics as "Ocean Activism" (Danson's hobbyhorse), "Whales," and "Light in the Ocean" (this by photographer David Doubilet), a main text by oceanic scientist Thorne-Miller on the world ocean and its workings and species. But--no surprise--the pictures sell the tome. They don't include anything in the way of imagery that even casual fans of natural history TV programs won't have seen before, but the two-page spreads in particular are nearly big enough and certainly realistic enough to make you gasp for air.