Sea life and the seashore: general interest Books

Book SynopsisTake a deep breathSteve Backshall was nine years old the first time he saw a shark, while on holiday with his family in Malaysia. It was the beginning of a life-long fascination with these 'lords of the sea', and the oceanic life around them. His career as one of the world's most popular naturalists and explorers has taken him to countless underwater places, many never before seen by others. And he's also been witness to the startling decline in fortune of our oceans' wild inhabitants over the past fifty years. Deep Blue is a book a lifetime in the making: a remarkable blend of memoir, travel, and marine and environmental science that takes us on an unforgettable tour of the many worlds of aquatic life: from underwater deserts and rainforests to the evolution of ocean heroes like the sea turtle and the Great White, from the genesis of ocean life to the rapidly declining state of white polar seas and coral reefs. It's both a love letter to our precious oceans and rallying cry for what we must to do save them.

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Book SynopsisTake a deep dive into the meaning and magic of the ocean’s diverse and colorful treasures with The Wonder of Seashells.This book is a treasury of stories, science, and history about seashells. Sure to delight and surprise, this visual odyssey of the beauty of seashells reveals how shells enhance and inform the world around us. Exploring coasts and shells from across the globe, each unique shell will suddenly become familiar with The Wonder of Seashell’s beautiful illustrations and fascinating insights. Full of realistic watercolor illustrations, The Wonder of Seashells delivers illuminating facts about seashells that are often overlooked. In this book, you’ll find: Common varieties of shells throughout the world and their spiritual meanings The seashell’s role in the world of sea life and the ocean’s ecosystems The significance of their patterns and colors Seashells in history as forms of currency, art, and musical instruments Seashell symbolism and cultural significance in different communities around the world Seashells as sources of intuition and their connection to the spirit world And much more! Perfect for the coastal home or the passionate beach enthusiast, The Wonder of Seashells serves as a showpiece and a captivating reference to the sea’s treasures. Discover the beauty and significance of seashells on the sandy shores and in the deep blue sea.

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Book SynopsisBringing an eccentric creativity to the romance of the beach, Marlene Hurley Marshall shows you how to use shells to bring a sea-infused decorative flair into your own home. Lavish photography, profiles of contemporary shell artists, and simple instructions for 35 remarkable projects will inspire you to get crafting. From adding a few shells to a picture frame or lampshade to encrusting a small bathtub with an eye-catching assemblage, you’ll be astounded at the variety of ways you can brighten your home with shells.

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Book SynopsisSeashells of the World is an introduction to the world of marine seashells, emphasizing the most attractive and best-known species. This guide will help you to:-Identify-Classify-Understand the beautiful shells you see and collectNo other animals are so widely collected, traded, or bought and sold because of their beauty and rarity.

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Book SynopsisThis compact guide will help you understand--and enjoy--the unique zone where land and ocean meet. It is a guide to:SeashellsSea PlantsShore BirdsJellyfish, Starfish, Sand CrabsWith over 475 marine subjects illustrated in full color, Seashore Life not only aids in identification but also gives an overall picture of life at the shore.Using clear text and detailed illustrations, Golden Guides from St. Martin''s Press present accurate information in a handy format for the beginner to the expert. These guides focus on what your students are really going to see. They are easy to use: detailed, full-color illustrations, text, and maps are all in one place. They are easy to understand: accurate, accessible information is simplified without being misrepresented. They are authoritative, containing up-to-date information written experts and checked by specialists. And they are portable: handy and lightweight, designed to fit in a pocket and be carried anywhere.

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Book Synopsis“You might not expect unfettered passion on the topic of seaweed, but Shetterly is such a great storyteller that you find yourself following along eagerly.” —Mark Kurlansky “Seaweed is ancient and basic, a testament to the tenacious beginnings of life on earth,” writes Susan Hand Shetterly in this elegant, fascinating book. “Why wouldn’t seaweeds be a protean life source for the lives that have evolved since?” On a planet facing environmental change and diminishing natural resources, seaweed is increasingly important as a source of food and as a fundamental part of our global ecosystem. In Seaweed Chronicles, Shetterly takes readers deep into the world of this essential organism by providing an immersive, often poetic look at life on the rugged shores of her beloved Gulf of Maine, where the growth and harvesting of seaweed is becoming a major industry. While examining the life cycle of seaweed and its place in the environment, she tells the stories of the men and women who farm and harvest it—and who are fighting to protect this critical species against forces both natural and man-made. Ideal for readers of such books as The Hidden Life of Trees and How to Read Water, Seaweed Chronicles is a deeply informative look at a little understood and too often unappreciated part of our habitat.

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Book SynopsisAs the owner of one of the world's most elaborate sea glass collections, Mary Beth Beuke gets to talk about these prized ocean gems on a daily basis. Unfortunately, with each passing day, sea glass becomes more and more difficult to find, making the hunt more of a challenge to the seeker—especially one with limited experience in sea glass hunting.There are several reasons why the hunt is so important to the sea glass seeker. Some find their Zen moments in the solitude and beauty of the hunt. Some collect to add color to their life. The history, mystery, and discovery of sea glass are also strong forces that draw collectors to shorelines around the world, looking for these pieces of physically and chemically weathered frosted glass.Whatever your reason for wanting to learn about and start your own collection of sea glass, the window for doing so is closing as pieces are becoming more elusive due to a growth in sea glass popularity and a decrease in recent glass bottle production.In The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass, Beuke provides information that will help first-time seekers start new collections and veteran hunters learn more about their current sets. Beuke shares her experiences in gathering her own collection via photographs of vibrant and rare pieces, as well.Trade Review"The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass is the only book on the topic that will be needed and comes from a lifetime collector who shares her twenty-some years of beachcombing to show how to understand, collect, identify and use sea glass. From understanding glass colors and possible origins to the history of sea glass from history and modern collectors and how they are used, this blends a coffee-table presentation with full-page color art with a lovely, artistic discussion that will appeal to artists, nature buffs and collectors alike. The result is a highly recommended guide for any sea glass enthusiast." —Midwest Book Review"The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass is the only book on the topic that will be needed and comes from a lifetime collector who shares her twenty-some years of beachcombing to show how to understand, collect, identify and use sea glass. From understanding glass colors and possible origins to the history of sea glass from history and modern collectors and how they are used, this blends a coffee-table presentation with full-page color art with a lovely, artistic discussion that will appeal to artists, nature buffs and collectors alike. The result is a highly recommended guide for any sea glass enthusiast." —Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisIn 1874, Moses Harvey—eccentric Newfoundland reverend and amateur naturalist—was the first person to photograph the near-mythic giant squid, draping it over his shower curtain rod to display its magnitude. In Preparing the Ghost, what begins as Harvey’s story becomes spectacularly “slippery and many-armed” (NewYorker.com) as Matthew Gavin Frank winds his narrative tentacles around history, creative nonfiction, science, memoir, and meditations about the interrelated nature of them all. In his full-hearted, lyrical style, Frank weaves in playful forays about his trip to Harvey’s Newfoundland home, his own childhood and family history, and a catalog of peculiar facts that recall Melville ’s story of obsession with another deep-sea dwelling leviathan. “Totally original and haunting” (Flavorwire), Preparing the Ghost is a delightfully unpredictable inquiry into the big, beautiful human impulse to obsess.Trade Review"Slyly charming. . . . stunning writing and perversely wonderful research. . . . Alluring. It’s hard to imagine a better book about not entirely understanding giant squids." -- Jon Mooallem - New York Times Book Review"In a book as coiled, strange and tentacular as its subject, Matthew Gavin Frank considers the squid. . . . An act of love and erudition." -- Annalissa Quinn, NPR"One of the handsomest, most elusive creatures on earth and its first photographer get their close-up in Matthew Gavin Frank’s marvelous Preparing the Ghost." -- Elissa Schappell - Vanity Fair"Totally original and haunting in the way you’d expect a book about a real life Presbyterian clergyman and amateur naturalist from the late-19th century—and his relationship with a giant squid—to be." -- Jason Diamond - Flavorwire"A great essay takes us into the author’s polymathic mind and out to the wondrous world, teaching us something we didn’t know we wanted to know." -- Patrick Madden, author of Quotidiana"Reads like a cross between Walt Whitman and a fever dream. Who would think squid and ice cream go together? I remained riveted to the very last word." -- Sy Montgomery, author of The Good Good Pig"Matthew Gavin Frank reinvents the art of research in extraordinarily imaginative ways. His meditation on the briefly known and the forever unknowable courts lore (both family and creaturely), invites the fantastical, heeds fact, and turns the human drive to notate and list into a gesture of lyrical beauty." -- Lia Purpura, author of On Looking and Rough Likeness"Inventive, original, and endlessly interesting, Preparing the Ghost is a gorgeous exploration of myth, history, language, and imagination. . . . A journey through passion, obsession, fear, and adventure, and the hunger to behold what lurks within the depths of the sea." -- Catherine Chung, author of Forgotten Country"The most original book I have read in years." -- Lidia Yuknavitch, author of The Chronology of Water and Dora: A Headcase"A mysterious but seductive mix of history, creative non-fiction, memoir, and poetry. . . . keeps the reader riveted with the lure of the unknown and dark, sultry prose." -- Megan Mayhew Bergman, author of Birds of a Lesser Paradise"What a marvelous essay. . . . Take it all in. Revel in its majesty." -- Lee Martin, author of Such a Life"A multi-tentacled and entirely captivating saga of profound mystery and relentless pursuit." -- Dinty W. Moore, author of Between Panic & Desire"A mash-up of a meditation on the nature of myth, the magnetic distance between preservation and perseverance, and the “sympathetic cravings” that undergird pain. In Frank’s heart-thumping taxonomy, monstrous behemoths square nicely with butterflies and ice cream. Don’t ask me how: read this book!" -- Mary Cappello, author of Swallow: Foreign Bodies, Their Ingestion, Inspiration, and the Curious Doctor who Extracted Them"Part history, part lyric poem, part detective novel—Matthew Gavin Frank’s Preparing the Ghost is just as intriguing and hard to classify as its subject. I never thought I’d care so much about the elusive giant squid, but thanks to this book, I can’t help but see its shadow everywhere." -- Brenda Miller, author of Season of the Body and Listening Against the Stone

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Book SynopsisThe seagrass meadows of the Northeast Coast of Brazil have the greatest area, biomass, biometrics and diversity of the Brazilian Coast. In this region, the seagrass diversity and plasticity may vary due to differences in environmental factors. Some natural aspects of the coastal environment or that which affect the coastal zone, mainly climatic (seasons of rains and winds) and geomorphological (bathymetry and substrate type), cause variations in seasonality and plasticity of the species, respectively. Chapter One in this book on aquatic ecosystems summarises the available information concerning how seagrass vary along the Northeast Coast of Brazil, as well as other ecological information. Chapter Two presents a brief historical overview of biological indicators, considering the assessment of water quality through microalgae from an environmental perspective and their role as natural bioindicators of the effects of eutrophication. Chapter Three provides a mixing zone analysis of surface brine discharges in coastal waters. Chapter Four studies the effect of low salinity on intertidal blue mussels from the White Sea.

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Book SynopsisCelebrate the art of nature with this beautiful ceramic coaster set featuring stunning, vintage illustrations of underwater life.SET OF 4: The set includes four full-color coasters each featuring a different design of fish, octopus, squid and coral. 4' DIAMETER SIZE: The coasters are 4' in diamer and sized to fit most glasses and mugs. NON-SLIP BASE: Coasters include a slip-resistant cork base to protect furniture and tabletops from scratches. 

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Book SynopsisWith the whimsy and heart of The Soul of an Octopus and the surprising details of the very best science writing, The Curious World of Seahorses brilliantly captures the ocean’s most charismatic and mysterious inhabitant."When God created the seahorse," says one marine biologist, "he may have had one too many."Of all the creatures in the ocean, there are none more charming and magical—or more strange—than the seahorses. Masters of disguise, graceful dancers, and romantic lovers, seahorses are found not only in the seagrass meadows and mangroves of the world, but also throughout the annals of human history and culture—surfacing everywhere from chess and Greek mythology to Disney movies like The Little Mermaid and Pokémon games.Equipped with a pouch like a kangaroo, a long snout like an anteater, and complete with a crown unique as a human fingerprint, the seahorse defies easy categorization. The only fish to swim in an upright position, seahorses are terrible swimmers, but they make up for it with an incredible talent for holding onto seagrass or coral. They have no stomach or teeth—only intestines. Most seahorses are monogamous, and meet with their life partner every few weeks to perform a dance that can last up to nine hours. The most unique aspect of the seahorse is their reproductive cycle, as it is the male of the species who becomes pregnant.In this entertaining and informative book, science writer Till Hein shares the most tantalizing findings from the world of seahorses, and the role they have played in human culture. He reveals their secrets, from their intriguing biological features and hunting strategy to their use in medicine throughout history, their appearances in Greek and Celtic mythology, and even the medieval belief that they descended from dragons.Endlessly fascinating and charmingly approachable, The Curious World of Seahorses will captivate any reader looking to learn more about one of the most incredible creatures on Earth.Trade Review“A quirky little book, the kind that captures the imagination. This is a deep and entertaining dive into the world of the one-of-a-kind sea animal, our fascination with them, their future in a time of climate change and their importance to communities around the world.”—The Toronto Star"[An] illuminating—and sobering—overview of arguably the most magical creature in the sea... Hein exposes humans as horrific threats to these marvelous beings’ lives and habitats. Readers will remain fascinated and, hopefully, concerned long past the final page."—Booklist STARRED ReviewAn enlightening deep-dive... A diverting look at an aquatic wonder.”—Publishers Weekly“Whether speaking taxonomically, mythologically, physiologically, or historically, seahorses truly are a bit of an enigma. The Curious World of Seahorses covers everything most people know about seahorses and a whole bunch more you'd never guess about them. Each chapter helps the read explore and gain some insight into the everyday life of the seahorse, as well as tell the story of human fascination with the tiny horse of the sea. Definitely a great read for anyone intrigued by the marine world and certainly for lovers of the seahorse.”—Renee Becher,The Crowded Bookshelf"Not just a compelling read, but also a love letter to the strangest creatures of the ocean—seahorses.—Frauke Bagusche, author of The Blue Wonder"This delightful book plunges deeply into the strange lives of one of the ocean’s most enigmatic groups of fishes. From mystery to myth, history to technology, exploitation to protection, Till Hein’s book should appeal to a wide readership."—Jonathan Balcombe, author of Super Fly and What a Fish Knows"An easy read, yet chock-full of information. Till Hein makes clear that protecting seahorses is a vital step toward healing the entire ocean."—Daniel Pauly, principal investigator at The Sea Around Us and author of Vanishing Fish"Every chapter in this book makes me more obsessed with seahorses. The slowest swimming yet most effective hunters in the ocean? Check. Eyes that can move separately from each other, fin color that change on demand, and a digestive system with no stomach? Check! A prehensile tail that is strong enough to latch onto an anchor and withstand a predator's grab? Check! Indeed, this book is a treasure trove of everything scientific, mythic, and magic about these remarkable creatures. Saddle up for a mind-bending read!"—Wendy Wasserman, Politics & Prose

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Book SynopsisThe sardine is a paradoxical fish. Seemingly insignificant, its exploitation has made fortunes for some and, when stocks have collapsed, caused hardship for many. Its status has shifted from utilitarian food to a gourmet's delight. Trevor Day - diver, fish-watcher and marine conservationist - travels across four continents to meet the sardine in its natural environment, and he traces the fish's journey from minuscule egg to item on the dinner plate. Sardine interweaves the story of the fish with the rise and fall of fishing industries. The sardine is a barometer for the health of oceans, with lessons for us all about our stewardship of the seas. Day takes a scientifically and culturally wide-ranging look at the cluster of fish species called sardines, their relationship with other marine creatures and, in turn, with us. Elite predators feast on sardines, yet these silvery slivers are fast-breeding and opportunistic enough to survive their hunters. Whether swimming free as a shoaling fish at the mercy of predators, or tightly packed in tins - an image used frequently as a metaphor for overcrowding - sardines represent conformity and vulnerability. The biography that emerges will beguile readers fascinated with marine life, as well as anyone who have eaten this familiar yet under-appreciated fish.

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Book SynopsisA heartfelt hymn to the sea and an unforgettable introduction to one of the most gifted nature writers of the new generation The seas cover over two thirds of our planet and yet most of us live our lives on land, creatures of a different element, at once fascinated and terrified by the beauty and power of these great bodies of water. There are some, though, who go to sea, who get to know its many moods -- the tranquil and mirror-like, the raging and ripple-swept -- and who bring back with them their stories of wonder and warning. Hannah Stowe is one such sea-goer and one such storyteller. Drawing on her expertise as a marine biologist and sailor, and her experiences in the North Sea, the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the North Sea, the Celtic Sea, and the Caribbean, Move Like Water is an exploration of the human relationship with the sea, the powerful impression it has made on our culture, and the terrible damage we have inflicted upon its ecosystems. In shimmering, fluid prose, Stowe introduces us to five keystone marine creatures - the sperm whale, the humpback whale, the orca, the albatross and the firecrow - encouraging us to fall in love with the seas as she has, to appreciate their majesty and their vulnerability.Trade ReviewElegant, enthralling... There are plenty of books about the sea, but few, if any, have the lyrical, almost visceral intensity of this one... Stowe's shimmering prose - and her exquisite line drawings - make us feel the majesty of the sea and its creatures. It also reveals their terrifying vulnerability * Daily Mail *Above all a sensuous book, more felt than described, more described than explained, more painted than penned: part memoir, part journal and - with each chapter named for a creature the author encountered either in real life or in dreams - part natural mystery tour * New York Times Book Review *A haunting evocation of [the sea's] power and beauty, and an exploration of its wildlife... [Stowe's] prose is beautiful, conjuring the storybook setting of her upbringing, the salt spray of the sea and the wonder of travelling alongside whales and sea birds while also imparting scientific knowledge * Western Mail *A briny love story... Stowe wistfully explores the mysteries of water as she navigates the sometimes turbulent, often rousing flow of her life * Booklist *Stirring... Fascinating... Unforgettable... Stowe immerses readers in the sights, sounds, and rhythms of the ocean in her spellbinding debut -- Starred review * Publishers Weekly *Exquisite in its intelligence and boundless in the fetch of its wave -- Jay GriffithsThe shelves are awash with sea books. But Stowe is different. She doesn't just watch and describe the sea; she's part of it. It surges inside her and crashes out onto the page. The book's drenched with salt water. It fizzes, clicks, booms and screams. Tremendous -- Charles Foster, author of Cry of the Wild and A Little Brown SeaInspiring... Hannah Stowe recounts her lifelong love affair with the sea and illuminates the complexities of our relationship with ocean ecosystems... An urgent call to address the damage we're doing to the oceans, and a siren song to the beauty and power of the sea -- Lulah Ellender, author of GroundingLet Hannah's captivating prose transport you on a journey across the waves, feeling the wind and salt on your skin, and always watching out for the tantalising glimpse of a whale. You will be enthralled by her personal story, invigorated by her energy and determination, and persuaded to think deeply about the ocean, its living treasures and the human troubles they face -- Dr Helen Scales, author of The Brilliant Abyss and Scientists in the Wild: GalápagosThis is [Stowe's] personal, poetic and heartfelt story, sharing the lessons the sea has taught her * BBC Wildlife magazine *A gem of a book - a must-read for anyone interested in the sea or marine life, and highly recommended for those who enjoy top-notch memoirs. Stowe's exquisite prose makes this a book to be savored * Bookbrowse *This is Stowe's love letter to the sea -- Best Nonfiction Book of September * Book Riot *Beautifully evocative, Stowe's memoir captures the emotional and physical pull of open waters in a visceral and compelling way. A book that can be read on many levels- memoir, a natural history guide, a call to care-with it's strength in the intersection of all. If you love oceans, women explorers and artists, or just a book to challenge your mind and soul, this one is for you * Southern Bookseller *Not only do readers get to spend time sailing the North Sea, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, Celtic Sea, and the Caribbean in this memoir, but they are led by the rhythmic prose of a deeply invested and poetic marine biologist. Great for people who love marine animals too! -- Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2023 * Independent Book Review *

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Book SynopsisMake a splash at your next card game by swapping your standard card deck with the most spectacular animals from the world's oceans set of playing cards.52 CARD DECK - The interesting Ocean cards follow the same style as a standard card deck with 52 cards in 4 suits meaning they can be used in the same way.FUN, COLOURFUL ILLUSTRATIONS: Focusing on illustrations of ocean mammals, fish, molluscs and more, plus two jokers, Holly Exley an illustrator and watercolour enthusiast, based in Derbyshire has capturing the life of the oceans so graciously.BOOKLET INCLUDED: Discover fascinating facts about all 54 ocean mammals, fish, molluscs and more in the accompanying booklet.EASY HANDLING: The cards will not crack or bend when shuffled or flexed due to their 300gsm weight. Held within a box these cards are perfect for taking anywhere on the go.GIFTS: With a tremendous interest in ocean, the playing cards make the perfect gift for any card or ocean enthusiast within all age ranges.The cards showcase familiar favourites like the clownfish and bottlenose dolphin to the formidable fangtooth and wonderfully weird Christmas tree worm, these colourful creatures will make waves in any game.After playing your hand, discover fascinating facts about all 54 animals in the accompanying booklet.Other Laurence King Publishing titles included in the Ocean series include I Saw It First! Ocean and Ocean Bingo

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Book SynopsisDive into the fascinating world of coastal wildlife with this holiday pocket guide. Featuring 40 beautifully illustrated pebbles, shells, crabs, small sea creatures and more, discover more about life between the tides with The Little Guide to Shorelines. Each entry has been delicately illustrated by printmaker Tom Frost to capture its individual characteristics, and is accompanied by associated facts and fables. There is also an interactive spotter's guide at the back, where you can check off what you find. This informative, practical and beautiful guide is part of a new nature series designed to encourage creativity through exploring the outdoors. An activity for adults and children alike, enjoy The Little Guide to Shorelines on your next trip to the sea.

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Book Synopsis'What a fun book! Reading Sea Fever is enticing and intriguing, like watching floating treasure bob past your nose.' Tristan Gooley, author of The Natural Navigator Can you interpret the shipping forecast? Do you know your flotsam from your jetsam? Or who owns the foreshore? Can you tie a half-hitch - or would you rather splice the mainbrace? Full of charming illustrations and surprising facts, Sea Fever provides the answers to all these and more. Mixing advice on everything from seasickness to righting a capsized boat with arcane marine lore, recipes, history, dramatic stories of daring-do and guides to the wildlife we share our shores with, even the most experienced ocean-dweller will find something in these pages to surprise and delight.Trade ReviewWhat a fun book! Reading Sea Fever is enticing and intriguing, like watching floating treasure bob past your nose. * Tristan Gooley, author of The Natural Navigator *Once you've read it, you'll never feel like a landlubber again. * Carlisle Living *

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Book SynopsisJellyfish are, like the mythical Medusa, both beautiful and potentially dangerous. Found from pole to tropic, these mesmeric creatures form an important part of the sea’s plankton and vary in size from the gigantic to the minute. Perceived as alien creatures and seen as best avoided, jellyfish nevertheless have the power to fascinate: with the sheer beauty of their translucent bells and long, trailing tentacles; with a mouth that doubles as an anus; and without a head or brain. Drawing upon myth and historical sources as well as modern scientific advances, this book examines our ambiguous relationship with these ancient and yet ill-understood animals, describing their surprisingly complex anatomy, weaponry and habits, and their vital contribution to the ocean’s ecosystem.Trade Review“Engaging and handsomely illustrated. . . . Enduring they may be; endearing they are not. Toy jellyfish, after all, are few and far between. ‘Octopuses, yes,’ Williams ruefully acknowledges, but ‘very, very few jellyfish.’ They are too toxic and they look too weird. But, he argues persuasively, if they are ineligible for affection, they at least deserve humanity’s respect.” * Economist *"Combing through history, art, and science, Williams tells stories proving that these graceful watery creatures deserve our appreciation even while they elude our understanding." -- Mary P. Winsor, IHPST, University of TorontoTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 A Lineage of Uncertainty 2 Toxic but Fascinating 3 Floats, Eyes and Combs 4 The Illustrator's Nightmare 5 Jellyfish Culture 6 Light, Death and Immortality 7 World Domination Timeline Appendix 1: A Brief Description of Individual Species of Jellyfish Mentioned in the Text Appendix 2: Where to see Jellyfish in Captivity References Select Bibliography Associations, Websites and Apps Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisWhat is a crab? What significance do crabs play in the world? In Crab, Cynthia Chris discovers that these charming creatures are social by nature, creative problem-solvers, and invaluable members of the environments in which they live. Their formidable physical forms, their hard-to-harvest and quick-to-spoil flesh, and their sassy demeanour have inspired artists and writers from Vincent van Gogh to Jean-Paul Sartre. Cynthia Chris sketches vivid portraits of these animals, tracing the history of the crab through its ancient fossil record to its essential role in protecting its own habitats from the threat of climate change.Trade Review'This book explores everything that is interesting about crabs; from their weird and wonderful behaviours, their evolution, whether they experience pain, how they are depicted in literature, and even how fights have broken out over the last crab legs at the buffet. This is no dry scientific text. It is the ‘story’ of crabs; gripping, fascinating, beautiful. Cynthia Chris is part detective, part scientist and always an exceptionally good writer. She has dug through the literature, spoken to the scientists and watched crabs in action. Her magnificent book will enthrall scientists and beginners alike. I cannot recommend this superb book too highly.'-Patricia Backwell, Professor of Biology, Australian National University

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Book SynopsisLooking to the vast human history of water worship, a crucial study of our broken relationship with all things aquatic - and how we might mend it. Early human relationships with water were expressed through beliefs in serpentine aquatic deities: rainbow-coloured, feathered or horned serpents, giant anacondas and dragons. Representing the powers of water, these beings were bringers of life and sustenance, world creators, ancestors, guardian spirits and law makers. Worshipped and appeased, they embodied people's respect for water and its vital role in sustaining all living things. Yet today, though we still recognise that 'water is life', fresh- and saltwater ecosystems have been critically compromised by human activities. This major study of water beings, and what has happened to them in different cultural and historical contexts, demonstrates how and why some - but not all - societies have moved from worshipping water to wreaking havoc upon it, and asks what we can do to turn the tide. 'A far-ranging and gorgeously illustrated study, Water Beings explores humanity's enduring but always transforming connections to the wellsprings of life. A profound and entertaining book for a time when reimagining humanity's future has never been more vital.' - Caspar Henderson, author of The Book of Barely Imagined Beings 'With passion, rigor and creative depth, Strang eloquently takes readers across the world to further our understanding of water's natural, cultural, and symbolic qualities. Water beings are brought to life alongside relational beliefs and practices. This is a magnificent work that reflects a rich human/water/culture relationship, and explores possibilities to avoid a climate crisis future.' - Sandy Toussaint, University of Western Australia 'A spellbinding anthropological itinerary through the winding ways of serpentine water beings as they have manifested through history and across cultures. Luminously illustrated, ingeniously researched, and beautifully narrated, Strang's book is a treasure, a store of revelatory stories about how materiality, meaning, and myth have intertwined to create the aqueous spirits and deities that have accompanied human being and becoming.' - Stefan Helmreich, Elting E. Morison Professor of Anthropology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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