Reviews
Below the Edge of Darkness: A Memoir of Exploring Light and Life in the Deep Sea by Edith Widder
joarfish's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
Looking at the negative user reviews for this and other ocean related pop-science books, it seems rather difficult to write one that is appreciated by a wide audience. Most complain about boring and dry scientific explanations, some even claim these books are targeted at STEM graduates. Others feel the science is too shallow and doesn‘t go into enough detail.
I belong to the second camp— but I feel it‘s unfair to fault the book on this. Everyone expects something slightly different from such a book.
That being said, I think it‘s a major shortcoming of this book that it looses cohesion half way through. While in the first part the problems and questions surrounding bioluminescence and the light field are developed in a very fascinating way, the second half cannot keep up this quality. Widder takes us on one expedition after the other, telling anecdotes that are only loosely connected. This has neither heart nor brain, because you won‘t learn much more about bioluminescence or get a deeper sense of her personal and emotional journey— what you‘ll get is a good sense of her career.
So, I‘ve enjoyed wide parts of this book, especially the first half. But I don‘t care for the mildly interesting anecdotes and would rather she‘d kept a cohesive story about the science of bioluminescence.
I belong to the second camp— but I feel it‘s unfair to fault the book on this. Everyone expects something slightly different from such a book.
That being said, I think it‘s a major shortcoming of this book that it looses cohesion half way through. While in the first part the problems and questions surrounding bioluminescence and the light field are developed in a very fascinating way, the second half cannot keep up this quality. Widder takes us on one expedition after the other, telling anecdotes that are only loosely connected. This has neither heart nor brain, because you won‘t learn much more about bioluminescence or get a deeper sense of her personal and emotional journey— what you‘ll get is a good sense of her career.
So, I‘ve enjoyed wide parts of this book, especially the first half. But I don‘t care for the mildly interesting anecdotes and would rather she‘d kept a cohesive story about the science of bioluminescence.
textpublishing's review against another edition
The following reviews have been shared by Text Publishing - publisher of Below the Edge of Darkness
‘Edith Widder’s subject is light itself—the manufacture of light by strange and eerie denizens of the deep sea—and her scintillating style is worthy of it…A book of marvels, marvellously written.’
Richard Dawkins
‘Edie’s story is one of hardscrabble optimism, two-fisted exploration and groundbreaking research. As I’ve said many times, I’d have wrapped my submersible, the Deepsea Challenger, in bacon if it would have lured the elusive giant squid from the depths. In Below the Edge of Darkness, Edie tells you how she did it.’
James Cameron
‘My experience of exploring the deep ocean and its alien life with Edie Widder was fabulous. She enthralls us with many such stories in her book. I recommend it.’
Ray Dalio
‘Personal and page-turning, adventurous and awe-inspiring, Below the Edge of Darkness sparkles with the thrill of exploration and glows with an urgent plea for the future of our precious seas. Comparisons to Jacques Cousteau spring to mind, as Edith Widder shares the profound journey of her life—one as unique and important as the unexplored realms of our very own planet.’
Juli Berwald, author of Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone
‘Luminous—the topic, the heroic journey, and the author herself. Dive in with Edith Widder, trail-blazing scientist and explorer, as she reveals the galaxy of light and life in the universe below the surface of the sea, out-shining sceptical male colleagues with dignity, grace and a robust sense of humour.’
Sylvia Earle, oceanographer, founder of Mission Blue and National Geographic Society Explorer in Residence
'Widder illuminates life in the dark depths of the ocean in her fascinating debut…Informs and electrifies in equal measure.'
Publishers Weekly
'Captivating…Widder's enthusiastic, joyful memoir amply describes the “wonder and exhilaration of discovery”. Inspiring for science-loving readers and environmentalists young and old.'
Kirkus
'A superbly captivating writer, Widder fluently elucidates complex scientific inquiries and findings…She also renders the ludicrous, the terrifying, and the enthralling with equal vim and vigor…Widder dazzles readers with dramatic tales of expeditions…passionately and expertly arguing that it is urgently important for us to understand the oceans, which are severely imperiled and essential to our survival.'
Booklist (starred review)
‘Widder’s passion is so contagious…Her enthusiasm is matched by her sense of humor…Readers of Below the Edge of Darkness will become staunch champions of the spectacular bioluminescent world that thrives in the ocean’s depths.’
BookPage
‘This book illustrates the careful, curious, years-long quest of a scientist in love with her work. Widder peppers her text with witty asides as footnotes that invite readers into her passion. Highly recommended.’
Library Journal
‘Stylish, eloquent…A unique view of the denizens of the deep.’
Guardian
‘Enthralling...The science throughout the book is fascinating as Widder repeatedly revolutionizes her field, but there is much more than science here. Widder is also an explorer, an inventor and a captivating storyteller whose life has been uncommonly adventurous, both on land and at sea.’
StarTribune
‘A thrilling adventure story as well as a scientific revelation, Below the Edge of Darkness reckons with the complicated and sometimes dangerous realities of exploration. Widder shows us how when we push our boundaries and expand our worlds, discovery and wonder follow.’
Book Riot
‘This autobiography is an adventure story as well as a scientific one, as Widder navigates tense equipment malfunctions while exploring questions about our largest ecosystem, one that is increasingly threatened.’
Gazette
‘Gripping…A thrilling blend of hard science and high adventure…Often the prose glints.’
New York Times
‘Edith Widder’s subject is light itself—the manufacture of light by strange and eerie denizens of the deep sea—and her scintillating style is worthy of it…A book of marvels, marvellously written.’
Richard Dawkins
‘Edie’s story is one of hardscrabble optimism, two-fisted exploration and groundbreaking research. As I’ve said many times, I’d have wrapped my submersible, the Deepsea Challenger, in bacon if it would have lured the elusive giant squid from the depths. In Below the Edge of Darkness, Edie tells you how she did it.’
James Cameron
‘My experience of exploring the deep ocean and its alien life with Edie Widder was fabulous. She enthralls us with many such stories in her book. I recommend it.’
Ray Dalio
‘Personal and page-turning, adventurous and awe-inspiring, Below the Edge of Darkness sparkles with the thrill of exploration and glows with an urgent plea for the future of our precious seas. Comparisons to Jacques Cousteau spring to mind, as Edith Widder shares the profound journey of her life—one as unique and important as the unexplored realms of our very own planet.’
Juli Berwald, author of Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone
‘Luminous—the topic, the heroic journey, and the author herself. Dive in with Edith Widder, trail-blazing scientist and explorer, as she reveals the galaxy of light and life in the universe below the surface of the sea, out-shining sceptical male colleagues with dignity, grace and a robust sense of humour.’
Sylvia Earle, oceanographer, founder of Mission Blue and National Geographic Society Explorer in Residence
'Widder illuminates life in the dark depths of the ocean in her fascinating debut…Informs and electrifies in equal measure.'
Publishers Weekly
'Captivating…Widder's enthusiastic, joyful memoir amply describes the “wonder and exhilaration of discovery”. Inspiring for science-loving readers and environmentalists young and old.'
Kirkus
'A superbly captivating writer, Widder fluently elucidates complex scientific inquiries and findings…She also renders the ludicrous, the terrifying, and the enthralling with equal vim and vigor…Widder dazzles readers with dramatic tales of expeditions…passionately and expertly arguing that it is urgently important for us to understand the oceans, which are severely imperiled and essential to our survival.'
Booklist (starred review)
‘Widder’s passion is so contagious…Her enthusiasm is matched by her sense of humor…Readers of Below the Edge of Darkness will become staunch champions of the spectacular bioluminescent world that thrives in the ocean’s depths.’
BookPage
‘This book illustrates the careful, curious, years-long quest of a scientist in love with her work. Widder peppers her text with witty asides as footnotes that invite readers into her passion. Highly recommended.’
Library Journal
‘Stylish, eloquent…A unique view of the denizens of the deep.’
Guardian
‘Enthralling...The science throughout the book is fascinating as Widder repeatedly revolutionizes her field, but there is much more than science here. Widder is also an explorer, an inventor and a captivating storyteller whose life has been uncommonly adventurous, both on land and at sea.’
StarTribune
‘A thrilling adventure story as well as a scientific revelation, Below the Edge of Darkness reckons with the complicated and sometimes dangerous realities of exploration. Widder shows us how when we push our boundaries and expand our worlds, discovery and wonder follow.’
Book Riot
‘This autobiography is an adventure story as well as a scientific one, as Widder navigates tense equipment malfunctions while exploring questions about our largest ecosystem, one that is increasingly threatened.’
Gazette
‘Gripping…A thrilling blend of hard science and high adventure…Often the prose glints.’
New York Times
adamsw216's review against another edition
4.0
Marine biologist Edith Widder provides us with a science book framed through the lens of her life. This autobiography is filled with asides where she explains basic science concepts and ideas (both from within and without her field of expertise). Widder has had an interesting life, complete with hardship and adventure. The anecdotes she shares with us are funny, insightful, and engaging. She writes with a sort of nerdy scientific wit and isn't averse to making a pop culture reference here and there.
Her primary goal with this book is to engage people in the wonder of exploration (more specifically, of science) by providing her particular field of research as a focal point: bioluminescence. Most of the time is spent taking us through various scientific research expeditions she has gone on. It is an interesting look behind the scenes when popular documentary teams tag along. Anyone familiar with the world of scientific research will not be so taken aback by the trials and difficulties Widder runs into (everything from funding to people trying to editorialize her work), but that doesn't make the stories any less entertaining. Her enthusiasm for what she does is palpable.
Widder's overall thesis is something that I strongly agree with. Conservation is a paramount issue, especially in this age of global warming awareness. Exploration of the oceans may be an integral part of this, but funding is scarce. More needs to be done on this front, and there is a lot we have yet to learn about our own planet. That being said, I disagree with her denigration of space exploration as unnecessarily taking funding away from oceanic research. I think it is just as, if not more, important for humanity than deep sea exploration. Surely we can find ways to fund both.
Her primary goal with this book is to engage people in the wonder of exploration (more specifically, of science) by providing her particular field of research as a focal point: bioluminescence. Most of the time is spent taking us through various scientific research expeditions she has gone on. It is an interesting look behind the scenes when popular documentary teams tag along. Anyone familiar with the world of scientific research will not be so taken aback by the trials and difficulties Widder runs into (everything from funding to people trying to editorialize her work), but that doesn't make the stories any less entertaining. Her enthusiasm for what she does is palpable.
Widder's overall thesis is something that I strongly agree with. Conservation is a paramount issue, especially in this age of global warming awareness. Exploration of the oceans may be an integral part of this, but funding is scarce. More needs to be done on this front, and there is a lot we have yet to learn about our own planet. That being said, I disagree with her denigration of space exploration as unnecessarily taking funding away from oceanic research. I think it is just as, if not more, important for humanity than deep sea exploration. Surely we can find ways to fund both.
laurenkimoto's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Wow how many memoirs/marine biology books can I read in a year?
Also I finished this a week before the Titan went missing so thank you for the knowledge about submarines and what’s below the edge of darkness.
Also I finished this a week before the Titan went missing so thank you for the knowledge about submarines and what’s below the edge of darkness.
soiwenthome's review
4.0
I had heard of Dr. Widder before and recently heard her interview on the Unexplained podcast and saw an article of hers in The Saturday Evening Post, so when I came across this audiobook on Libby, I knew I had to listen! I mostly listened to this while running or doing yard work and it was pretty heady information, but Dr. Widder presents it with humor and light-heartedness so that even non-scientific folks (like me) can understand (most) of it. I also checked out the book from my library because there were full color photos throughout.
One point she really drove home in the introduction and epilogue was that we as a society are so engrossed with exploration and discovery that we've ventured out to explore the cosmos, spending billions of dollars doing so, when there is so much to discover right here on earth. The only thing missing? Funding. We must understand the vast life that lives in oceans covering over 70% of the earth. We don't know what we don't know!
Recommend for all science nerds!
One point she really drove home in the introduction and epilogue was that we as a society are so engrossed with exploration and discovery that we've ventured out to explore the cosmos, spending billions of dollars doing so, when there is so much to discover right here on earth. The only thing missing? Funding. We must understand the vast life that lives in oceans covering over 70% of the earth. We don't know what we don't know!
Recommend for all science nerds!
quigonchuy's review
informative
medium-paced
5.0
What a cool book! It's all about bioluminescence, mostly in the deep oceans. Learned a lot, well written, and engaging. Highly recommend!