Book Description
Sea Legsis the story of Kathleen Crane, one of the first women oceanographers out of the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. By turns personal and objective, Crane tells how her quest for freedom led her to the sea and her research of deep-sea underwater volcanoes. As research doors in the United States closed during the 1980s, Crane charted her scientific future with the Europeans and with scientists from the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. In the process she became an unwitting diplomat.

From the Galapagos dives in the Alvin and the early searches for Titanic, to many of the first scientific expeditions of the Arctic, Crane offers an exclusive and compelling first-hand account as a pioneer for women in oceanography. An explorer, environmentalist, and filmmaker, Crane's story encompasses the world's oceans, politics, international relations, scientific espionage, ships, and a passion for the natural world. At its heart, however, this is a story about humanity and the forces that drive people to persevere, despite the odds, and do the things they love. This paperback edition includes a Reader's Guide, featuring questions for discussion and suggestions for further reading. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Fascinating Page Turner
I really didn't know what to expect when I picked up Kathleen Crane's memoirs of her experiences in graduate school at Scripps and her professional life.To many, it might seem that a book on oceanography is a bit too esoteric or "niche" to be of interest to the general public.

But "Sea Legs" is a truly fascinating, deeply (no pun intended) interesting book.For the scientifically inclined, the detailed descriptions of Crane's work will be of great interest.But the general reader benefits the most from this book, as the reader accompanies Crane and her colleagues on numerous voyages of discovery to fascinating destinations."Sea Legs" is well worth your time, and beleive me, it is a real page turner.

A memorable and informative autobiographical journey
Sea Legs: Tales Of A Woman Oceanographer is the personal and inspiring story of Kathleen Crane, one of the first female oceanographers to earn her credentials at the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. From research on undersea volcanoes, to meeting and befriending Soviet Union scientists during the height of the cold war, Sea Legs is a memorable and informative autobiographical journey filled with a love of science, a respect for the sea, and the sheer joy of reaching out to embrace the world. ... Read more

Book Description
Oceanographers and the Cold War is about patronage, politics, and the community of scientists. It is the first book to examine the study of the oceans during the Cold War era and explore the international focus of American oceanographers, taking into account the roles of the U.S. Navy, United States foreign policy, and scientists throughout the world. Jacob Hamblin demonstrates that to understand the history of American oceanography, one must consider its role in both conflict and cooperation with other nations.

Paradoxically, American oceanography after World War II was enmeshed in the military-industrial complex while characterized by close international cooperation. The military dimension of marine science--with its involvement in submarine acoustics, fleet operations, and sea-launched nuclear missiles--coexisted with data exchange programs with the Soviet Union and global operations in seas without borders.

From an uneasy cooperation with the Soviet bloc in the International Geophysical Year of 1957-58, to the NATO Science Committee in the late 1960s, which excluded the Soviet Union, to the U.S. Marine Sciences Council, which served as an important national link between scientists and the government, Oceanographers and the Cold War reveals the military and foreign policy goals served by U.S. government involvement in cooperative activities between scientists, such as joint cruises and expeditions. It demonstrates as well the extent to which oceanographers used international cooperation as a vehicle to pursue patronage from military, government, and commercial sponsors during the Cold War, as they sought support for their work by creating "disciples of marine science" wherever they could. ... Read more

Book Description
What People Are Saying
"Timothy Parsons is a... national treasure... if you love our ocean planet, you'll need to read this book."
Paul Kennedy, Host/Producer of IDEAS (CBC Radio One)

"...wonderfully informative and entertaining... a well-written memoir hallmarked with philosophy, humor, and a cosmopolitan outlook on life."
Midwest Book Review

"... his anecdotal accounts are at times reminiscent of episodes that many of us can recall having experienced at one time or other."
David W. Townsend, Professor of Oceanography, University of Maine, for Oceanography

"Parsons' comments on social, religious, literary as well as scientific aspects of our society with a lightness of touch and humour that makes the text very accessible to a wide audience. It is a pot pourri of experiences, comment and anecdote, that is full of interest and information."
Martin Angel, Underwater Technology

"... full of lively and amusing portraits, not only of scientists, but also of bungling bureaucrats, corrupt officials and devious taxi-drivers, which gave me many good laughs... a delightful, insightful and moving book..."
William Hsieh, CMOS Bulletin

"... a good story told by a gifted raconteur whose sense of humour and strong opinions on many subjects come across in a forceful way, while his quiet passion and curious mind seeks to find answers on many topics quite apart from the ocean sciences."
Valerie Green, Saanich News ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

With philosophy, humor, and a cosmopolitan outlook on life
Tim parsons is the winner of the Japan Prize for Marine Biology. The Sea's Enthrall: Memoirs Of An Oceanographer is the fascinating story of Parsons life as a marine biologist beginning with his growing up in Ceylon and England, his professional training and international experiences; his audience with the Emperor of Japan; and his retirement contemplations. The Sea's Enthrall is "must read" for anyone contemplating a professional career as a marine biologist -- and is wonderfully informative and entertaining reading for anyone else who appreciations a well-written memoir hallmarked with philosophy, humor, and a cosmopolitan outlook on life.

An examined life.
Easy to read-- the life of a man who has had enormous success but not without his share of pain and regret. Ideas about the way the oceans work will interest those in the field and anyone involved with environmental issues. And everyone cangain from the story of someone who achieved beyond the norm in spite of early difficulties. Parsons dispels the stereotype of the faceless, impassive and fact oriented scientist by a frank description of his personal life and interest in the thingsfor which science alone cannot provide the answers.

Enthralling!
The author has certainly had an exciting life!World travel,important achievements and international recognition.And all from a backgroundmade difficult by family situations and life at what sounds the equivalent of boot camp.For an oceanographer this book has key insights and information from someone who has explored the ocean by 'going down to the sea in ships', not sitting behind a desk. But the average reader who likes things to do with the sea (me) can enter into the human, sometimes tragic experiences told in a frank and engaging manner. He strikes a chord with all who have had difficulties in life but have managed to make the most of their opportunities anyway. And for a scientist, Parsons has a flair for description that departs from the formality of academic reporting.

Very interesting and sometimes humorous!
I enjoyed The Sea's Enthrall very much.The book reads smoothly and is easy to understand.His personal life includes tragedy and hardship.His career is current with today's environmental issues and he presents an insightful and balanced view.He includes humour in his writing and I found myself chuckling out loud a few times while reading the book on the bus. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Robert Ballard: Ocenaographer Who Discovered the Titanic
Nice brief chapters sum up important aspects of Ballards life.Starting the book out with the discovery of the Titanic gives it an exciting feel that most biographies dont't have. It contains good black and whiteillustrations andI will recommend it for 4th grade through the 9th grade. ... Read more

Book Description
This digital document is an article from Semana, published by Spanish Publications, Inc. on July 3, 1997. The length of the article is 472 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Regresa al mundo del silencio. (Jacques-Ives Cousteau, oceanógrafo francés)(TT: He returned to the world of silence) (TA: Jascques-Ives Cousteau, French oceanographer)
Publication: Semana (Magazine/Journal)
Date: July 3, 1997
Publisher: Spanish Publications, Inc.
Volume: v4Issue: n228Page: p9(1)

Article Type: Biography

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more