Scan barcode
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.
tyler_j's review
DNF on page 72. I can't with the weird cissexism in this book anymore. Yes, my trans self is getting angry at this book and I can't deal with it anymore. I'd understand some things being uncomfortable when discussing sexual dimorphism but the author tries to make "funny" scenarios where humans act as fish do and apparently isn't able to do so without being very cissexist. Conflating sex and gender...saying things like "like us, they only have two genders" which...this came out in 2016...what's the excuse? Gender and sex aren't the same thing and even sex is a lot more complicated in us than that. There also seems to be a lot of bad stuff in this book about climate change but not really any actionable advice, which seems like an oversight. I love the ocean and marine life, but I can't do this book.
katemcg86's review against another edition
4.0
Great combination of entertaining storytelling and scientific fact. I especially appreciated how the author addressed human impact on the ocean and sustainability concerns.
jennundersea's review against another edition
5.0
Educational, entertaining, and ultimately hopeful. This is the environmental-impact-of-humans story I needed to end this dismal year. Maybe everything doesn't suck.
mommytaco's review
informative
fast-paced
3.75
I, like most people I'm guessing, picked up this book to find out how marine life screws and wound up learning how humans are screwing them even more through climate change and over-fishing. Well played. *Slow clap*
skepticalri's review against another edition
4.0
Dr. Hardt did a great job with this book in terms of NOT providing a collection of salacious tales of sperm-shooting fish and masturbating dolphins, which was sort of what I was expecting. (Note, I read it anyway.) Instead, as per the subtitle, she masterfully and sometimes poignantly ties each example of sex in the sea to, essentially, the ways that humans are fucking up that sex and mating, usually without realizing the long-term consequences of our actions. Despite the depths of trouble we sapiens have made for our watery cousins, Dr. Hardt manages to end on a positive note, that we can turn around some of these trends and are beginning to do so.
cdobbertin's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the humor and wit that Dr Marah Hardt put into this science novel. It was a great conversation starter with people and it made me laugh out loud, very difficult to do in the science realm. Marah also has a glass half full approach to the items plaguing our oceans at this time to re-examine how to best help them. Eating sustainable seafood and diminishing our plastic use is the two big items we need to change to allow for kinky sexy to continue to happen. Love, love, love this book!
happy_hiker's review
3.0
This book is easy-to-read and well-organized. It is packed full of numerous examples of each topic (finding mates, attracting mates, mating, etc) that are described in detail. I teach college biology and there are several examples that will be fun to discuss with my students.
The book is well-researched, but as I was reading, I found myself longing for pictures of the animals that were being discussed and for diagrams of some of the unusual anatomy. I read a un-corrected proof copy (provided by netgalley - thank you), so perhaps the published book contains the visuals.
The book is well-researched, but as I was reading, I found myself longing for pictures of the animals that were being discussed and for diagrams of some of the unusual anatomy. I read a un-corrected proof copy (provided by netgalley - thank you), so perhaps the published book contains the visuals.