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Souls in the Sea: Dolphins, Whales, and Human Destiny
Dolphins have long been attributed with intelligence, but do they have souls? Self-awareness? Compassion? Scott Taylor, Director of the Cetacean Studies Institute, investigates the history, mythology, and science surrounding these creatures and emerges with a resounding yes. And not only do whales and dolphins merit our attention and respect in their own right: they are an index to what our future as a species can be.
In this multifaceted cetology compendium, Taylor surveys the portrayal of dolphins and whales in works of literature as disparate as Moby Dick and Sumerian legend, examines biologist John Lilly's research on interspecies communication, and explores the benefits of dolphin-assisted swimming therapy for disabled children and adults. Looking at the world from the perspective of one of these "souls in the sea," Taylor suggests that cetaceans are an ideal bridge between humanity and nature. Poetically written and thoughtfully illustrated with photos and drawings, Souls in the Sea is a comprehensive celebration of the biology, history, and mystique of dolphins and whales.
In this multifaceted cetology compendium, Taylor surveys the portrayal of dolphins and whales in works of literature as disparate as Moby Dick and Sumerian legend, examines biologist John Lilly's research on interspecies communication, and explores the benefits of dolphin-assisted swimming therapy for disabled children and adults. Looking at the world from the perspective of one of these "souls in the sea," Taylor suggests that cetaceans are an ideal bridge between humanity and nature. Poetically written and thoughtfully illustrated with photos and drawings, Souls in the Sea is a comprehensive celebration of the biology, history, and mystique of dolphins and whales.
330 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 2, 2007
HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!! read this and go out of your mind!!
i didnt think my heart could take it after i reached the end. there is so much to say about this book but i have to just say ummmm, it has CHANGED MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!!!!!!!
June 30, 2023
This book was so scattered. It isn't until the last half when we actually start really talking about dolphins.
He would write shit like, Oh this ancient civilization had large stone tubs why? They probably had dolphins in there! No reasons are given as to how he came to that conclusion. And that is a pretty common theme in this book. He basically just went to every significant culture, myth, or religion and tried to shove dolphins into them. (Including Christianity. I'm no expert but as a recovering child of evangelicals, everything he said is easy to prove false.) But he also hasn't said what is it about dolphins that make them special to him enough to write all this??!! I have my reasons for exploring cetaceans through a mythic and spiritual lense but he gives no clear explanation for spiritual significance. Except for one random sentence in the first chapter where he implies that dolphins may be responsible for human development in the building of civilization through telepathy.
And I actually really enjoy reading about theories that I am not sure if I believe it's true by the end of it or I don't agree with everything presented. There is usually something I can take away from a book.
This read is like listening to someone who has had one too many DMT trips and now thinks they've discovered the secrets to the universe and it is all connected by not just delusions but bizarre forced connections that aren't there. (and don't get me wrong I am all for entheogens.)
Apparently he is getting some kind of download from the universe about the "Legend of the Golden Dolphin" and the "Cetacean High Council" but he never really goes into detail about what that is or what it means.
Many of his claims are really strange and it seems he is, of course, the only one to realize something significant about cetaceans, but he also has nothing to back up any claims stated.
On page 116, he equates the founding of America with "a belief in the essential goodness of the human spirit at it's core". Saying it "gave the delphic spirit a new birth" whatever that means. Sure a country founded on genocide and slavery is "consciously designed" and spiritually enlightened and somehow has something to do with dolphins?!?!
There is a brief yet detailed moment where he describes a female dolphin's genitalia in detail. It's erotic on a creepy level. He then says "she seemed to enjoy my close examination of her.." WTF?! It made me seriously creeped out. He just decides things for these animals, he just somehow knows what they want, and guess what, it's conveniently aligned with what he wants! This is also a new theme in the last half of the book. He goes on to say dolphins can actually thrive and have moments of joy in captivity so it's okay to keep them there. How does he know this? Because the orcas aren't dying in small tanks! And in his imagination, he had a convo with his fav dolphin (the one who he described earlier) and she told him that it's all good! WTF. He describes their intelligence, their souls, etc but then takes away their autonomy?! And he basically says, I spent part of my day checking out a female dolphin's body and she seemed free enough to me, she enjoyed it. She told me, telepathically, that it was okay to keep them in captivity. Also, he says these creatures are so intelligent that they want to give up their lives of freedom to benefit humans via entertainment, interspecies relationship, and scientific research. Wow. Okay. This is spiritual bypassing on a whole new level!
Brief moments in the book were interesting and coherent. Like the aboriginal relationship to dolphins, ritual, and place. The brief history of whaling, before he said "we live in homes, drive cars, eat food, and send our children to schools financed by the killing of whales" which is simply not true, and then he went into more weirdness. He kept mentioning Jesus for some reason? And chapter 12 (about John C Lily's research) had more Information about dolphins than the whole book up until that point! The section on dolphin assisted therapy was also intriguing. The back of the book has a section of just straight up facts about different cetaceans and this is the most valuable section because it isn't as heavily tainted by delusion.
I would have enjoyed this book much more if it had spent more time exploring cetaceans and what makes them special. More exploration into ancient dolphin myths, symbolism, human accounts of their interactions with dolphins, dolphins and consciousness, and real scientific facts and studies about cetaceans would have been great.
would love to read a look at dolphins that is loving, respectful, and through an animist lense. Looking at myths, and scientific facts about them. They are fascinating creatures and I don't mind at all looking to them for spiritual inspiration and guidance but this book is not that.
In conclusion, this man is unhinged.
He would write shit like, Oh this ancient civilization had large stone tubs why? They probably had dolphins in there! No reasons are given as to how he came to that conclusion. And that is a pretty common theme in this book. He basically just went to every significant culture, myth, or religion and tried to shove dolphins into them. (Including Christianity. I'm no expert but as a recovering child of evangelicals, everything he said is easy to prove false.) But he also hasn't said what is it about dolphins that make them special to him enough to write all this??!! I have my reasons for exploring cetaceans through a mythic and spiritual lense but he gives no clear explanation for spiritual significance. Except for one random sentence in the first chapter where he implies that dolphins may be responsible for human development in the building of civilization through telepathy.
And I actually really enjoy reading about theories that I am not sure if I believe it's true by the end of it or I don't agree with everything presented. There is usually something I can take away from a book.
This read is like listening to someone who has had one too many DMT trips and now thinks they've discovered the secrets to the universe and it is all connected by not just delusions but bizarre forced connections that aren't there. (and don't get me wrong I am all for entheogens.)
Apparently he is getting some kind of download from the universe about the "Legend of the Golden Dolphin" and the "Cetacean High Council" but he never really goes into detail about what that is or what it means.
Many of his claims are really strange and it seems he is, of course, the only one to realize something significant about cetaceans, but he also has nothing to back up any claims stated.
On page 116, he equates the founding of America with "a belief in the essential goodness of the human spirit at it's core". Saying it "gave the delphic spirit a new birth" whatever that means. Sure a country founded on genocide and slavery is "consciously designed" and spiritually enlightened and somehow has something to do with dolphins?!?!
There is a brief yet detailed moment where he describes a female dolphin's genitalia in detail. It's erotic on a creepy level. He then says "she seemed to enjoy my close examination of her.." WTF?! It made me seriously creeped out. He just decides things for these animals, he just somehow knows what they want, and guess what, it's conveniently aligned with what he wants! This is also a new theme in the last half of the book. He goes on to say dolphins can actually thrive and have moments of joy in captivity so it's okay to keep them there. How does he know this? Because the orcas aren't dying in small tanks! And in his imagination, he had a convo with his fav dolphin (the one who he described earlier) and she told him that it's all good! WTF. He describes their intelligence, their souls, etc but then takes away their autonomy?! And he basically says, I spent part of my day checking out a female dolphin's body and she seemed free enough to me, she enjoyed it. She told me, telepathically, that it was okay to keep them in captivity. Also, he says these creatures are so intelligent that they want to give up their lives of freedom to benefit humans via entertainment, interspecies relationship, and scientific research. Wow. Okay. This is spiritual bypassing on a whole new level!
Brief moments in the book were interesting and coherent. Like the aboriginal relationship to dolphins, ritual, and place. The brief history of whaling, before he said "we live in homes, drive cars, eat food, and send our children to schools financed by the killing of whales" which is simply not true, and then he went into more weirdness. He kept mentioning Jesus for some reason? And chapter 12 (about John C Lily's research) had more Information about dolphins than the whole book up until that point! The section on dolphin assisted therapy was also intriguing. The back of the book has a section of just straight up facts about different cetaceans and this is the most valuable section because it isn't as heavily tainted by delusion.
I would have enjoyed this book much more if it had spent more time exploring cetaceans and what makes them special. More exploration into ancient dolphin myths, symbolism, human accounts of their interactions with dolphins, dolphins and consciousness, and real scientific facts and studies about cetaceans would have been great.
would love to read a look at dolphins that is loving, respectful, and through an animist lense. Looking at myths, and scientific facts about them. They are fascinating creatures and I don't mind at all looking to them for spiritual inspiration and guidance but this book is not that.
In conclusion, this man is unhinged.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews