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aurodon's review against another edition
4.0
I'm going to geek out over marine biology anyway, but Dr. Hardt certainly makes an effort to make the topic accessible and engaging, and to discuss human impacts clearly without losing the flow. Very enjoyable and educational, and surprisingly hopeful.
sarful's review against another edition
3.0
There’s a lot of fascinating information here and each section has a little fictional romance story to set the mood for the section. However, this was just not something I’ve cared about. Ever. To read.
This was a bookclub selection and it was a bit tortuous to finish.
If you like oceanography, this is great. The author also brings in marine life conservation, which was interesting as well. If you like that sort of thing.
Sorry. Just not my kind of read.
This was a bookclub selection and it was a bit tortuous to finish.
If you like oceanography, this is great. The author also brings in marine life conservation, which was interesting as well. If you like that sort of thing.
Sorry. Just not my kind of read.
jessica_flower's review
4.0
4/5 stars
Read all about SEXY TIMES in the ocean!
This is definitely enjoyable, educational and (if you don’t read that much natural science) eye-opening.
Let me start by saying that Hardt’s writing is very fun to read. At times, it overshadows the science aspect of it, but if that’s your cup of tea, you won’t be bothered by it. (Personally, I could’ve done with a bit less extravagant similes and metaphors, but they help set the mood sometimes. Get it?)
Really, though, it explains the reproductive life of so many oceanic species and emphasizes that their sex lives is what helps make the ocean. The ocean that we rely on for food, transportation, medicine and leisure. The ocean that is becoming more and more polluted and changed for the worse with each year that we continue being our garbage people selves.
Hardt explains how we can combat overfishing, illegal fishing, ocean acidification, and pollution on the largest ecosystem on earth. There is also a full index of the scientific sources she used for this book and other public resources that we can use to help clean up and maintain healthy ocean life.
It’s not like we got much time left, after all.
Read all about SEXY TIMES in the ocean!
This is definitely enjoyable, educational and (if you don’t read that much natural science) eye-opening.
Let me start by saying that Hardt’s writing is very fun to read. At times, it overshadows the science aspect of it, but if that’s your cup of tea, you won’t be bothered by it. (Personally, I could’ve done with a bit less extravagant similes and metaphors, but they help set the mood sometimes. Get it?)
Really, though, it explains the reproductive life of so many oceanic species and emphasizes that their sex lives is what helps make the ocean. The ocean that we rely on for food, transportation, medicine and leisure. The ocean that is becoming more and more polluted and changed for the worse with each year that we continue being our garbage people selves.
Hardt explains how we can combat overfishing, illegal fishing, ocean acidification, and pollution on the largest ecosystem on earth. There is also a full index of the scientific sources she used for this book and other public resources that we can use to help clean up and maintain healthy ocean life.
It’s not like we got much time left, after all.
dainesarrasri's review
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
reading this feels like giggling over magazines at a teen sleepover, but with a foundation of dedicated science and a constant undercurrent (lol) of ocean and wildlife conservation. this book is a great work of sci-comm - hardt is great at explaining why it’s in humanity’s best interest that we ensure the creatures of the deep keep getting it on. read it!!!!
readers_block's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not entirely sure why I wasn't more entertained by this book. It had all the elements I like and want, but somehow fell short. It was still a good read, well written with pockets of humor and entertainment.
The author herself was funny and witty, a combination you don't always get in science writing. It was wild to dive into some of the intricacies of the sex lives of marine animals.
I would've liked some drawings or photos to accompany the text. I ended up googling a lot of what she was talking about to get a better idea of what the creatures looked like.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was that it ended on such a positive note, detailing the ways humans are changing course and helping to restore fish populations. I'm used to reading such doom and gloom in science nonfiction. It was a pleasant breath of fresh air to see some positivity and actually made me more compelled to change my own ways of eating fish instead of feeling resigned to a bleak future.
The author herself was funny and witty, a combination you don't always get in science writing. It was wild to dive into some of the intricacies of the sex lives of marine animals.
I would've liked some drawings or photos to accompany the text. I ended up googling a lot of what she was talking about to get a better idea of what the creatures looked like.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was that it ended on such a positive note, detailing the ways humans are changing course and helping to restore fish populations. I'm used to reading such doom and gloom in science nonfiction. It was a pleasant breath of fresh air to see some positivity and actually made me more compelled to change my own ways of eating fish instead of feeling resigned to a bleak future.
pharmdad2007's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the information presented in this book, but the writing style and the author's attempts to personify or make relatable these sea creatures and their sexual habits totally fell flat.
willowsreads's review against another edition
5.0
This fascinating read details the diverse mating rituals and alien anatomy of marine animals, often with hilariously visual descriptions. Hardt also expands upon the potential interference of human impact via pollution and fishing, and how these practices may disrupt the sex lives of these species (harming genetic variation). I'd recommend this to anyone that enjoys biology, zoology, marine ecology, or other similar topics.