Civilization And The Limpet (Helix Books)
by Martin Wells
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Book Summary Information
Author: Martin WellsEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1998-10-06
ISBN: 0738200174
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Basic Books
Book Reviews of Civilization And The Limpet (Helix Books)
Book Review: A wonderful, accessable read!
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is very enjoyable read. It is not purely science, and certainly not purely about the limpit. A fine combination of one man's philosophy about life, and how he feels we should fit into the natural world, that also teaches you about the natural history of (mostly) cephalopods. A pleasant departure for the scientist, and an enlightening introduction to marine biology for the layman.
Summary of Civilization And The Limpet (Helix Books)
Written during a long sea voyage from England through the Mediterranean, Civilization and the Limpet unveils many fascinating phenomena of undersea life. Wells captures with exquisite detail how limpets, like bees, navigate by the stars; how the brainless sea urchin makes a myriad of critical survival decisions every day; how ?deserted islands? teem with an incredible abundance of animal life; and why deep-diving whales never get the bends. Elegant and finely crafted, Civilization and the Limpet will enlighten, amuse, and awe anyone interested in the natural world.
Celebrated zoologist Martin Wells recorded his thoughts while on a Mediterranean sea voyage, and Civilization and the Limpet is the result. Written in charming, pithy prose, this collection of essays is eminently quotable, charmingly detailed, and wholly enlightening--worthy of shelf space next to Rachel Carson and Lewis Thomas. Wells chooses as his subjects many of the underdogs of the natural world--the species that humans find forgettable, incomprehensible, or even ugly. In essays about everything from sea urchins ("a sort of marine hedgehog") to limpets ("likely to suffer severe identity crises, brought about by its sex lives") to great white sharks ("probably bloody hungry"), Wells observes and reports on his favorite creatures with sympathy, admiration, and joy. His favorites are the cephalopods, which he calls "the jet set." Besides the essays on underappreciated animals, Wells tackles some big questions like the usefulness of science, entropy, and evolution. This is a wonderful collection that will make you want to slip on a pair of rubber boots and head out to the nearest tide pool. --Therese Littleton
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