Sex in the Sea: Our Intimate Connection with Sex-Changing Fish, Romantic Lobsters, Kinky Squid, and Other Salty Erotica of the Deep

Hardt (research codirector, Future of Fish) has written a clever, informative book about marine animal reproduction. Covering the diverse range of creatures under the sea, the process of baby-making from flatworms to barnacles to octopus to whales is eye-opening and entertaining. Priceless are the fictional romance vignettes sprinkled throughout, which are written as if from a human perspective, such as "Fifty Shades of Grunion Run," inspired by fish which engage in orgies on the beach in spite of the asphyxiation that occurs as a result. Hardt's well-organized and thoughtful book incorporates the current status of wildlife management and environmental conservation into each chapter in a way that enriches the narrative. Readers will learn about sexual selection and other foundational concepts in biology through explanations that are playful and fun. Scientific terms are clearly and engagingly defined. The book offers a broad overview compared to Eugene's H. Kaplan's Sensuous Seas: Tales of a Marine Biologist, another humorous text featuring the sexual escapades of sea creatures.