Marine Life Books

A fine book on a marine in the process of occupation duty clearly a true standout to the thousands of marine corps memoirs, and on a personal note E.B. Sledge isn't dead I am watching him on the t.v., on the show 'D-day's in the South Pacific'. This is a fine book and really worth reading, even though i personally felt he should have made sergeant and at least received a bronze star though he felt being there was enough. I personally thank all the men who fought and died for our freedom in any war, for any cause.

E. B. Sledge's "With the Old Breed" is by common consent one of the finest -- if not the finest -- account of the life of a combat infantryman in World War II. At Pelieu and Okinawa, Sledge was one of only 10 men in his Marine company of 240 to escape being wounded or killed. "China Marine" is the follow-up to "With the Old Breed," a lesser work but one that tells of what happened to Sledge after the war.

With Sledge's experience, one would have thought that he would have been among the first among the military to be demobilized after the end of the war with Japan -- but no, he and his colleagues were sent to China to disarm the Japanese soldiers there and to maintain order in several northern Chinese cities. This is Sledge's account of the six months he spent in China. His view is that of a Private First Class -- but an educated and sophisticated PFC, the son of a medical doctor from Mobile, Alabama, and an outstanding writer. He delighted in Peking, fresh food, a clean bunk, light duties, and friendship with the sophisticated Soong family -- but the danger from attack by communist armies was always there.

Sledge goes on to tell of the trauma of his discharge from the Marines and homecoming to Mobile and, briefly, his long years of struggle with what we call today Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It's a small book, only 160 pages, and an interesting, beautifully written, account of the decompression of a combat soldier and his return home.

Sledge died in 2001 but he was often quoted in Ken Burn's recent PBS series on World War II. Sledge is a true American hero.

Smallchief

After WWII and the follow-on duty in China, the author decided to enroll at Auburn University. The female from the Registrar's Office "slammed her pencil on the table and said in a loud, exasperated voice, 'Didn't the Marine Corps teach you anything?' A gasp ran through the crowd, and you could have heard a pin drop."

Veteran Marine Sledge said in a loud, calm voice: "Lady, there was a killing war. The Marine Corps taught me how to kill Japs and try to survive. Now, if that don't fit into any academic course, I'm sorry. But some of us had to do the killing -- and most of my buddies got killed or wounded."

On the last page, the author writes a powerful, thought-provoking message for the great mass of spoiled Americans (94% today are not vets) who never served. He reminds them that the Japanese soldier was "imbued with the Code of Bushido (Code of the Warrier) and yamata damashii (the fighting power of Japan). If we had not defeated an army that thought it was unbeatable, who knows how many American cities might have shared the horrid Rape of Nanking."

China Marine Gene Sledge is an old friend although I've never met him. Any book by him is more than worth the few dollars it would take to own it. Most Americans have no knowledge of the fact that immediately following WW II 60,000 U. S. Marines were sent into North China. Their real purpose was to keep that area from falling into the hands of Mao Tse Tsung's 8th Route Army when the Japanese withdrew. We Marines were to fill the gap, and then turn this critical ground that contained much of the coal available in China. The Russians raised hell in the UN about the US not repatriating the Jap troops to their mainland. The US objective was to maintain them in place as additional insurance in order to keep Mao's ChiComs in Manchuria the caves of Yemen where they had been kept in check by the Japs during WW II. With pressure from the UN, the last of the Japs and Koreans were sent home by about June of 1946, leaving a dwindling number of Marines to literally "hold the fort." Essentially, this is what Sledge writes about. Imagine to have survived the battles for Peleliu and Okinawa only to be sent to North China where too many Marines were to be killed. Sledge, because of his time overseas, was able to leave China early in '46, as I recall. Those of us who had arrived late to the Pacific Theater during WW II would remain guarding the railroads and bridges that moved the coal. And so, you say: "How come I haven't read anything about this? It was not mentioned in my History classes in high school or college."
I have a story on my web site that may interest you: http://www.sullyusmc.com/Hsin%20Ho/Hsin%20Ho.htm This story concerns one incident that occurred in April, 1947, shortly before the Marines were withdrawn from that area by our State Department. In my case I ended up in Tsingtao on the Shantung Peninsula, until 25Sep48 when I was commissioned a 2dLt and ordered stateside. Within a few months of my leaving China Chiang Kai Shek and his Kuomingtao withdrew to Formosa (Taiwan). My old regiment, the 5th Marines, oversaw the withdrawal of US and other civilians from Shanghai in early '49, and China was from that time under the control of Mao and the Chicoms. I and many other Marines saw a great deal of the latter when they intervened in the Korean War in November/December '50. We Marines were in and around the Chosin Reservoir. The US public knows little of the Korean War, but most at least connect the term Chosin Reservoir to that conflict.
http://www.sullyusmc.com

When "With the Old Breed" ends you do not know the entire story. This volume fills that gap and does so very well. It is written in the same style that is direct and concise. I think many civilians thought that when WWII was over the troops just came home and all was well. It was not so. Many had further duty and had a rough time of it on return to the States. Almost all became exemplary citizens again despite their hardships. This book puts that all in perspective.
Larry Martin
Gainesville, FL

I've dove Cuba a lot and this is the only authoritative Dive book on Cuba that I have ever seen.

Bill Belleville's Deep Cuba book is part Cousteau adventure tale, part natural history, part cultural history, with a smattering of Hollywood documentary drama. It is enjoyable and engrossing to read- a must for those interested in protecting our fragile environments. Belleville's sensitivities and attention to detail give us greater understanding of the pristine waters and lands of Cuba, a place that seems so far away, yet is in reality right next door. Like many readers, I have grown up during a time when Cuba has been "off-limits." Ironically, this embargo has in many ways protected the environment by keeping masses of American tourists away. How lucky we are to be able to visit this magical place through Belleville's enlightening account.

When the author climbed aboard the research boat hired by a Discovery Channel film crew bound for Cuba, he gained entry to two engrossing stories. One covers the exploration of Cuba's coral reefs, sunken ships, and sharks, whose mysteries are elucidated live-on-location by Discovery's consultant scientists and cultural experts. This story is by turns exotic science, pure travelog, and just plain spooky - expedition members in a submersible find two complete sets of diving gear hundreds of feet below the safe diving range, in an area where divers were known to have disappeared. Belleville's deep dive in the little sub hangs in mid-book like a luminous bubble of science, poetry, and spookiness.

The second story is a weird tale of the making of a documentary film. It's unnerving to see the innards of the "documentary" process exposed. For instance, Belleville watches as the camera bypasses scientists who lack sex appeal or sound-bite savvy. Or, although Fidel Castro's visit to the expedition's ship makes great reading, it evidently makes bad vibes in Filmland, and is cut. And Belleville's account of the debate over whether the word "forbidden" should be used in the film title is hilarious.

These two narrative lines intertwine to weave a fascinating path around, and even into the throbbing and troubled heart of - gasp! - the forbidden island of Cuba.

The title of this book seems straightforward and explanatory enough. Yet, the content is far more complex, and thankfully, the author is more than up to the task of explaining broad concepts of oceanography, of documentary film making, and the oddball politics that have embargoed Cuba over the last 40 or so years. But more than anything, this is just a really well-told story that takes the reader along on an expedition to a place that few Americans have ever seen. Belleville seems to have a lot of experience as a scuba diver before this trip, and his acumen as an 'underwater naturalist' is much appreciated by this reader. So too is his exacting descriptions of daily expeditionary life---which at time is hilarious, enlightening, dangerous, and at times downright ironic.

The chapter describing Castro's visit when the expedition is in Havana is refreshingly candid---and quite a hoot, as well. Belleville knows how to craft a good story, and has the stylistic tools to do it.

Thematically, the author tries very hard to make a solid case for the need for more funding for ocean research---as well as for diplomatic relations that will finally let the leaders of the U.S. and Cuba manage their regional waters under one umbrella. As an educator specializing in marine sciences, I think the ecological connection between our country and Cuba is one of the great under-reported stories of our time. My deepest gratitude to Belleville for having the fortitude to tell it---and to tell it with great style.

Bill Belleville, author of "River of Lakes: A Journey on the St. Johns River," again takes us down to the water to quench our thirst for adventure. In "Deep Cuba," we set sail with him aboard an expedition vessel for a journey that plies the waters of both politics and discovery.

Through his poetic telling, the island's previously unexplored waters come to life, populated by everything from mysterious bioluminescent creatures and toothy sharks to the simple souls whose livelihoods come with the tides. We meet a variety of Cubans, among them a harbor master who boards the ship and skillfully guides it to port, two scientists who join the expedition in a rare show of cooperation between Cuba and the U.S., and a group of boys who frolic among the watery mangroves of a distant island during a break from their studies of becoming boat captains. And late in the book, there is Castro himself, who boards the ship with his inquisitive intellect.

We witness, too, the dynamics of an expedition driven by filmmaking -- in this case, a documentary for the Discovery Channel, which funded the voyage. Belleville lets his keen observations of the personalities of the expedition ebb and flow through the narrative, and it soon becomes apparent that relations between the filmmakers and scientists are at times as chilly as those between the U.S. and Cuba. We learn first-hand how science can take a back seat to the wants of filmmakers, even on such a rare expedition as this.

Throughout the book, there is much high adventure. Belleville descends 2,000 feet under the surface in a mini-sub, and he dives reefs and plunging ledges that teem with fish. In one harrowing chapter, he even loses his way during a night dive in open water.

The book is a page-turner, to be sure. But along the way there is much to be learned as Belleville weaves scientific findings and cultural observations seamlessly into the telling.

At the very least, this scientific expedition has found a happy marriage in word, if not on film.

I am a secondary literacy coach and I am always very concerned about having my daughters read nonfiction as well as fiction. These high quality books from Candlewick Press are an impressive series. The Read and Wonder books encorporate both excellent text and engaging illustrations. They are great read-aloud titles and I have used them in guest readings with my older daughter's preschool class. Next week I am going to take The Emperor's Egg with me. I know that the class will love it as much as my daughter does.

What a fabulous book! I laughed out loud ... and actually learned a thing or two about Emperor penguins. A great choice for Father's Day - shows the importance of dads in bringing up little ones (penguins, in this case), which is refreshing. Makes a great read aloud for one-on-one, or in group settings, with just the right language to keep preschoolers interested while teaching them about penguins.

I collect books specifically about the emperor penguin breeding cycle. When I choose a book, I want the emperor penguin pictures to be fairly accurate (not cartoony or wacky) as well as beautiful, vivid, elegant, etc.. And I want the writing to reflect love for the story of these penguins.

I love this book.

I purchased this book for my three year old after I took him to see "March of the Penguins." He loves it! It's a really great companion for this movie as it follows the story line almost exactly. For a long time he had to carry it around the house with him everywhere - even to bed at night. This book has great illustrations. It is a little "text heavy" for his attention span - but it's easy to just skip over some of the more "science -y" parts.

I have a penguin-mad 4 yr old who can't understand why I can't go buy him the 'March of the Penguins' dvd yet. This book is a close substitute until that happens. It follows the movie pretty close without the munching and dying. He is pleased... for now. Very sweet and fun to read.

Everything was as advertised. I am pleased with my product, and will shop here again.

These two authors have a list of credits to impress anyone. I suppose in some ways they could, therefore, sit back on their laurels and allow their reputations to sell their work. But not so! I could not find one single underwater image in this book which was not of the highest standard. From photographs of Divers and Sharks right down to the finest macro-photography, this is a book to show all budding underwater photographers how it should be done.

That said, this is not a book about photographs - it is a guide to the Marine Life of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Florida. "What do you mean the Caribbean, Bahamas AND Florida - surely it's all the Caribbean" I hear some people say. But they're the sort of people who think whales are just big fish.

For those who are confused, the Bahamas are in the Atlantic Ocean and Florida is in the Gulf of Mexico. So, having sorted that out, we now understand (and appreciate!) the accuracy of the title.

Resembling something like a colourful version of a telephone directory, this book is packed with factual and accurate information laid out in a way that will not disappoint anyone who buys it. If you like "technical" it's here but if you like "technical made easy to understand" - it's also here.

Whilst I could have done without that photo of the diver hugging the Shark (picky, picky I know), this still remains an altogether excellent book and almost the only one you will need on your next trip south.

NM

This is my latest addition to my "diving book collection". I am a recent diving convert (the very best sport ever), and find myself reading this book constantly (more looking at the pics I suppose, which are gorgeous!). If you are looking for a fantastic book to invest in...LOOK NO FURTHER...BUY IT, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

I'm a scuba instructor, and have spent years looking for the perfect book to use in fish identification and underwater naturalist courses. When I found this book, I stopped looking! It is the perfect combination,and makes everything understandable to the beginner, yet still informative to us old pros! The photo tips also come in very handy in teaching photography and videography... no Caribbean diver can afford not to have this book... I mean it!

A well written, informative, easy to understand book. Not only do you receive a reference guide, you get biology lessons, photo tips, and great overviews of reef systems. This book is perfect for scuba divers!

I purchased this book because a former student at our high school has an entire chapter written about him. Well done. It's about time someone's written about our helicopter pilots and the risks they take and the fighting they do for our country.

Former fighter pilot Stout does an excellent job with this book. Based upon his knowledge of Marine attack capabilities and his personal relationships with most of the Marine aviators mentioned in this book, Stout puts you right in the cockpit and "down-in-the-weeds" with the grunts being supported by Marine air assets. Whether the action involves Cobra attack helicopters, F/A-18 Hornets, AV-8B Harriers, or EA-6B Prowlers, Stout has you right in the thick of things. His interaction throughout the book between air assets and forward air controllers is excellent and provides a seldom seen insight into how these teams interact during the intense ferocity of battle. He also does an excellent job of describing the emotion that is felt by Marines when their fellow grunts are lost either in the air or on the ground. This book is a must for any individual with interest in Marine air activity during the Gulf War. Highly recommended and insightful.

I hate to use a cliché, but for a person who has "been there" this book is as accurate and real as it gets. If you are an aviation enthusiast or just very interested in military history this book is a must in your library. This is a piece of history that is still being written right now over there in Iraq. Highly recommended.

Reading this book was like sitting in the ready room getting the debrief from my buddies who just flew the missions. The stories of the FARP's, C-130's landing in between potholes on the runway, ordnance going down range, the individuals who made the real difference, FAC perspective, etc... and the descriptive nature of which the story is told makes this book a must read. It is a very accurate description of what life was like in Iraq in the spring of 2003, highly recommended. Major Marx

Mr. Stout's book HAMMER FROM ABOVE gave life the air war in Iraq. It showed what went on behind the scenes to win the offensive. It brought home what it was like for the Marines flying and those that supported them from the ground. This book was exciting from beginning to end, I read it in one day!!

If a Dolphin Were a Fish is an enchanting book about a dolphin who imagines what it would be like to be other creatures. The artwork is beautiful, and the imaginative way that other animals' features are incorporated into Delphina's body is creative and delightful.

Art teachers, elementary classroom teachers, and others who work with children will find this an excellent resource. Comparing and contrasting the various animals' features and habitats, predicting which choice Delphina will make next, deciding whether she'll eventually be happy with her own status...are just a few of the thinking/discussion topics that this book presents. I love this book, and recommend it highly for children of all ages!

Delfina is a bottlenose dolphin. She swims through the pages of this beautifully illustrated book, imagining what it would be like to be something other than a dolphin. If she were a fish for instance, she could spend all of her time underwater. Unlike fish that have gills, Delfina has a full set of lungs and breaths through a blowhole on top of her head.

Considering the life of a sea turtle does not appeal to her at all. Slowly lumbering along the beach to lay hundreds of eggs does not sound like a lot of fun. She much prefers to give birth to her calf underwater. She discards the idea of being a shark and being a manatee does not thrill her. The thought of being a bird covered in feathers is too funny to even consider.

Being a boneless octopus is not to her liking either. A dolphin has a skeleton in its body made up of hard bones. Delfina has a backbone, skull and rib bones much like humans. She has five fingers inside of her front flippers that are similar to the bones in our hands. After considering all these alternatives, Delfina decides she likes who she is and has no desire to be anything else. Ask your child if he/she has ever thought of being someone else. This would be an excellent time to point out all of your child's unique attributes and celebrate who they are.

Here is a book about a very special dolphin, Delfina, who often wonders what it would be like to be a different animal. This clever story takes the reader through many different possibilities, including fish, sea turtle, shark, manatee, bird, and octopus. With each animal Delfina could be, the author explains why Delfina is not that animal and along the way, aided by the incredible "morphing" illustrations of artist Laurie Allen Klein, the reader learns exactly what makes Delfina a dolphin.

An especially helpful section in the back of the book, "For Creative Minds" gives the reader even more information about dolphins and includes fun facts and, on the final page, a "Dolphin Adaption Craft" that will be a hit with any young dolphin fan.

This book is sure to be a favorite of all young dolphin lovers. It would also be useful as part of an instructional unit on dolphins and/or sea animals.

My kids loved this book. Can't go wrong. I bought a second copy for the school library so that more kids can enjoy this book.
Educational story and beautiful pictures at the same time.
We also enjoyed the sections in the back of the book that tell you more details about dolphins and a section on how to trace the dolphin and his different disguises.
Great book - perfect for beginning readers as well.

A dolphin named Delfina wonders how life would be if she were another different animal. This story teaches about dolphins by explaining why Delfina can't be a turtle, a bird, or many other animals, while giving simple information about each animal.

Certain fun for children and a solid tool for teachers with extra information and teaching aids in the back.

I love the colored pencil illustrations in this book, my favorite being Delfina as a turtle. Envision a small dolphin with a turtle shell and spots.

Writer and illustrator both work for Sea World Orlando in the Education Department. The book has dual lessons: One deals with the science of dolphins and the comparison animals. Hopefully children will also learn that by design, we are best at being ourselves.

Armchair Interview says this book is, "In a word: delightful."

I grew up in Nebraska and return to the Sandhills whenever I can. Unlike nearly every other part of the US, this area is not crossed by an interstate highway, and the resulting isolation allows you to feel a little of the vast distances that used to be the West. To experience these rolling hills of grass, with not a tree in sight, especially in stormy weather, is to feel yourself totally absorbed in a great sweep of landscape - a living carpet of flora and mostly unseen fauna. Jones' book does much to recreate that experience in words. And he deepens the experience with his knowledge of geology and history, explaining how the Sandhills came into existence and in more recent times became peopled by the Plains Indians, cattle ranchers, and homesteaders.

Jones is especially knowledgeable about the birds that inhabit the Sandhills - noting those that are long-time residents and those that have been introduced over time with the changing ecology. It is amazing, as I have heard it myself, to hear a chorus of birds from every direction, all hidden by the grass and not a tree in sight. He also provides an accounting of the white-tail deer and pronghorn that range across this land, undeterred by barb wire fences. His stories of the Indians, the Pawnee, Lakota, Cheyenne, and Ponca are respectful and poignant. He also takes time to visit the grave of writer Mari Sandoz and to describe her life as the daughter of a Panhandle homesteader. This is a fine collection of essays for anyone who enjoys good nature writing. Readers may also enjoy Ian Frazier's "Great Plains."

When I read this for the first time, I said "I've read this before....". Then I realized it's very much in the style of William Least Heat Moon. Good for laying on a hill, watching the clouds, listening to the birds and animals.... and that's just what the book is!

Stephen Jones notes in the book that the Sand Hills of Nebraska make up one of the few "dark spots" on those wall posters featuring a satellite view of the United States at night. It is, truly, a wide open space, and he does the landscape great justice with his evident love for the land, its wildlife, its people and history.

For those who think Nebraska is simply home to a football team and endless acres of corn, "The Last Prairie" should open some eyes.

Jones is a prose poet. He makes the Sand Hills live and breathe right there on the page. An excellent, deeply-felt homage to one of America's little-known (thankfully?)great natural treasures.

Mr. Jone's admiration, appreciation and concern for this very special ecosystem shines through this lovely book. In it, he intertwines Native American myth, Plains history and well researched scientific data into a cohesive and readable overview of the Sandhills of Nebraska.

Through his eyes, we visit and experience a landscape of beauty, solitute, history and rich wildlife. It is, in turns, thought provoking, humourous, enlightening, yet never preachy. Steve is most respectful of the current private owners of these lands, and integrates their ongoing stewardship into well reasoned suggestions to insure the long-term integrity of this fecund habitat for posterity.

The Last Prairie: A Sandhills Journal is an astonishing blend of nature, myth, and love of the land--richly textured with wry wit and something very close to wisdom. It's so deeply rooted in love and its own particular landscape that it transcends locality and becomes universal. In other words, it's a classic, akin to Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. Writing, details, and a sensibility to treasure.

This book was first published in the English language in 1971 as the second in a series of several books - each with it's own specific topic. Some of the photographs may look a little jaded - by today's standards, but because this book would have attracted a 5 star rating in 1971 I believe it should still attract that same rating today.

"Life & Death in a Coral Sea" may be something of an over-dramatic title for some. After all, this is not a book about Sharks or tragedy - but about conservation, pollution and, above all, the protection of our world's underwater environment.

Packed with page after page covering all aspects of the book's main theme, I found the book all the more interesting because of the long passage of time since I read it last. My over-riding conclusion is that the content is as relevant today as it ever was. So much so, I would suggest no scuba diver's bookshelf is complete without a copy - but be quick, they will not remain available forever.

As with all the books in this series, it is also a good read.

NM

This book was first published in the English language in 1971 as the second in a series of several books - each with it's own specific topic. Some of the photographs may look a little jaded - by today's standards, but because this book would have attracted a 5 star rating in 1971 I believe it should still attract that same rating today.

"Life & Death in a Coral Sea" may be something of an over-dramatic title for some. After all, this is not a book about Sharks or tragedy - but about conservation, pollution and, above all, the protection of our world's underwater environment.

Packed with page after page covering all aspects of the book's main theme, I found the book all the more interesting because of the long passage of time since I read it last. My over-riding conclusion is that the content is as relevant today as it ever was. So much so, I would suggest no scuba diver's bookshelf is complete without a copy - but be quick, they will not remain available forever.

As with all the books in this series, it is also a good read.

NM

This book was first published in the English language in 1971 as the second in a series of several books - each with it's own specific topic. Some of the photographs may look a little jaded - by today's standards, but because this book would have attracted a 5 star rating in 1971 I believe it should still attract that same rating today.

"Life & Death in a Coral Sea" may be something of an over-dramatic title for some. After all, this is not a book about Sharks or tragedy - but about conservation, pollution and, above all, the protection of our world's underwater environment.

Packed with page after page covering all aspects of the book's main theme, I found the book all the more interesting because of the long passage of time since I read it last. My over-riding conclusion is that the content is as relevant today as it ever was. So much so, I would suggest no scuba diver's bookshelf is complete without a copy - but be quick, they will not remain available forever.

As with all the books in this series, it is also a good read.

NM

This book was first published in the English language in 1971 as the second in a series of several books - each with it's own specific topic. Some of the photographs may look a little jaded - by today's standards, but because this book would have attracted a 5 star rating in 1971 I believe it should still attract that same rating today.

"Life & Death in a Coral Sea" may be something of an over-dramatic title for some. After all, this is not a book about Sharks or tragedy - but about conservation, pollution and, above all, the protection of our world's underwater environment.

Packed with page after page covering all aspects of the book's main theme, I found the book all the more interesting because of the long passage of time since I read it last. My over-riding conclusion is that the content is as relevant today as it ever was. So much so, I would suggest no scuba diver's bookshelf is complete without a copy - but be quick, they will not remain available forever.

As with all the books in this series, it is also a good read.

NM

This book was first published in the English language in 1971 as the second in a series of several books - each with it's own specific topic. Some of the photographs may look a little jaded - by today's standards, but because this book would have attracted a 5 star rating in 1971 I believe it should still attract that same rating today.

"Life & Death in a Coral Sea" may be something of an over-dramatic title for some. After all, this is not a book about Sharks or tragedy - but about conservation, pollution and, above all, the protection of our world's underwater environment.

Packed with page after page covering all aspects of the book's main theme, I found the book all the more interesting because of the long passage of time since I read it last. My over-riding conclusion is that the content is as relevant today as it ever was. So much so, I would suggest no scuba diver's bookshelf is complete without a copy - but be quick, they will not remain available forever.

As with all the books in this series, it is also a good read.

NM

This book is so much more than your typical field guide. It not only helps identify different organisms, it explains how they live, interact, and function in the beach community. The photographs are superb, the text easy to read and entertaining, and the book has all the neat seaside critter "stories" that are so engaging: How starfish eat (oops, I mean sea stars - they extrude their stomach into their prey); How shells get those small round holes in them that make them perfect for stringing on necklaces (created by a Moon snail). Lots of ecology, life history and conservation. A must have for anyone who spends time at the shore!

The chapters are set up in an easy-to-read manner and the photos and their captions are great! The guide is a wonderful resource for novice and scientist alike. If you appreciate the Atlantic seashore you will enjoy this book.

A great book to bring along on your next trip to the Atlantic seacoast. Plenty of information on both flora and fauna. The scientifically inclined and the layperson alike will enjoy this book. What impressed me most were actually the photographs, they're worth the book's price alone. Dr. Shumway has an eye for composition and color that shines through on almost every page.

When I get a chance to spend time outdoors in a beautiful place, I'm always drawn to a bookstore or library afterward to find out more. And I'm almost always disappointed. It's hard to find books about nature or place that are not too cute, too literary, or set up like a catalog. (No disrespect to people who like these formats.)

A book that shows the relationships between things, at a reasonable level of detail, with a good but not overwhelming reference list -- that's heaven sent. The photos are nice-looking and informative without being so large that they drive up the price.

It totally hits the "wow, I'd like to know more about that" spot. I wish I could find a way to say the following without criticizing other approaches, so again, no disrespect intended: It's not about the author's feelings -- or about politics -- or about some rigid system imposed by a remote university -- it's about the beach.

Fun. Informative. Awesome.

It's unusual to find a book with this depth of scientific detail that is nonetheless completely accessible to the non-scientist. Our family vacations near the Maine coast every summer, and we make day trips to the Massachusetts and Connecticut shores regularly -- this book gives us the information we need to really understand and enjoy what we're seeing as we explore tide pools and estuaries. Parents whose children are curious about what they find as they explore the beach will find this guide indispensable, as will home schooling families who are looking for an educational guide to the shore. You won't be disappointed!

A story about two novice sailors building a boat and sailing across the Atlantic Ocean is interesting. When you consider that these sailors undertook this journey with the physical limitations they had, the story becomes amazing. Even though I know nothing about sailing, the author wrote with such humor and intelligence that I was kept enthralled through the entire book.

Once I started reading, I didn't put it down until I had finished it. This is a truly wonderful book that left me feeling inspired and ready to do whatever it takes to reach my goals.

Thank you Liz and Pete for sharing your wonderful story!

From www.creativewordco.com

We all can get bogged down in our shortcomings and faults and then begin to mentally--and physically shut down. When this happens, I like to read about people like Pete and Liz Fordred--then I begin to remember that "impossible" and "possible" are states of mind. I met them last weekend (10/18/03) at the "Abilities Expo" while researching options for an exciting project for paraplegics called Eaglewings. ed.

Don't say, "You can't" to Liz Fordred, or her husband Pete. Paralyzed in her teens, Liz met Pete Fordred through her work at the same Rhodesian hospital where she had been nursed back to life. Pete was in a rollover at age 19, and some thought his career as an electrician would be over. Not Pete, and not Liz. Shortly after they were married, they hit upon an idea: Why not build a sailboat? Why not learn to sail? And why not sail the boat across the Atlantic?"

Many people thought they were daft and told them so. (There were no wheelchair ramps, let alone awareness of paraplegics' true capabilities in the late 70s in landlocked Rhodesia, which later became Zimbabwe.) With their families' amazing support, they built a boat from a concrete form in a huge hole in Mum's flower bed. The amazing couple worked day jobs and built every square inch of their boat at night and on weekends, using borrowed tools and improvized parts.

The part that amazed me in the detailed and often humorous narrative is the sheer willpower it takes to haul, grind, position, and weld heavy parts with only a wheelchair or arms for mobility. Moreover, the fiercest obstacles they overcame were not debt, bureaucracy, illness, lack of experience, or tropical storms. It was doubt and derision. Yet they overcame all these--especially the last, with wit and a will to show that disability is only the state of mind of those who think the disabled cannot do what others can. Read Liz's book--it will strengthen your resolve to cross the Ocean only you know you must cross.

(For more inspiration, learn about one paraplegic man's amazing invention, "Eaglewings," which allows paralyzed people the ability to traverse long distances with a handcycle that attaches to one's wheelchair. With no need to transfer to a separate vehicle, bruises leading to pressure sores are eliminated.

I am a bit biased as I have known Pete and Liz since 1988. I lived next to them in a sailboat at the same dock from 1988 through 1991. I watched them work hard and raise their daughter, Jane. They were always humble and hard working and fun to be around!!!
Reading the book (Liz FINALLY wrote it!!!) showed me parts of their personalities I never got to see as their neighbors!!! I visited them after reading the book and also re-visited the boat, "Usikusiku" who would love to have a new owner(s) take her out once again!!!
Truly a finely written autobiography from a great couple and Jane who is 16 years old by now!!! (I think!!!)
They are still as hard working and humble as they were in 1988, you would never know their story unless you read the book!!! As you would see from the book, they had (and still have!!!) a great sense of humor, some of which is known only to them!!!
ENJOY!!!! then...... pass it on!!!!!

Dear Reader, I first met Liz and Pete Fordred just after they had completed their epic journey across the North and South Atlantic Oceans to America as told in her book: An Ocean to Cross. You couldn't meet two finer, capable people with a great story to tell! Liz personally taught me celestial navigation as well as (Pete) rebuilding the engine on my sailboat ( a center cockpit ketch) in Fort Lauderdale! I've personally been on their boat, the Usikusiku [Say:'U-see-ku;see-ku'(dawn's light) They are adventures, marine architects, builders, sailors, and now Liz adds 'writer' to her many talents. If you are looking for adventure and inspiration wrapped up in a real life story, then get comfortable in you armchair and listen as a master mariner tell how (extra)ordinary people become quiet heroes....two if by sea... ...with grace and a touch of class... Sincerely, Phil Foley, Altus, America