The Extreme Life of the Sea

Stephen R. Palumbi (director, Hopkins Marine Lab, Stanford Univ.; Death and Life of Monterey Bay) and science writer Anthony Palumbi, his son, describe sea creatures that live in extremes: hot, cold, deep (i.e., under high pressure), shallow (i.e., subject to exposure), or have extreme lives: most long-lived, most primitive, smallest, fastest, longest annual migration, or possessing unique reproduction behaviors. They provide an appreciation of the survival skills and variety of ocean life similar to Ellen Prager's Sex, Drugs, and Sea Slime but address a broader selection of species. Stephen keeps the science accurate, and Anthony, presumably, keeps it readable. The use of contemporary references, e.g., to classic Volkswagons, The Return of the Jedi, Miley Cyrus movies, "Shark week" on television, Ray Allen's jump shots, etc., are used as examples for a general readership but will date the material. This is unfortunate as the book effectively tells not only about the animals but why they are important to humankind. The authors provide solid historical context from Darwin's extrapolation that microbes existed when he could not prove them, to issues about current CO2 levels, and end with a hopeful look to the future. A glossary would have been helpful; the index was not seen.