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Planet Ocean: Voyage to the Heart of the Marine Realm
Spanning the vast range of Earth's marine environments, from Greenland to the Polynesian Islands, Planet Ocean reveals hidden landscapes of unsurpassed beauty and awe. These fascinating undersea worlds occupy more than three quarters of the globe, and their natural richness is the source of all life—yet they are still poorly understood.
With engaging text and more than 400 photographs presented in a stunning oversize format, authors Laurent Ballesta and Pierre Descamp lead readers on a compelling voyage of discovery. Each page reveals a new marvel, from the exuberance of underwater forests to the delicate intimacy of octopuses and the extreme survival methods of creatures in the Antarctic. More than 25 essays from leading scientists highlight topics such as aquaculture and global warming—for in addition to celebrating earth's marine life, Planet Ocean helps readers understand the threats that weigh on the oceans and why we must protect the incredible diversity of plants and animals there. The World Conservation Union has partnered on the project to ensure an accurate, timely, and interesting presentation of this very important subject.
Visually rewarding and excellently priced, Planet Ocean will inspire and inform as it entices us to explore the colorful world beneath the sea.
With engaging text and more than 400 photographs presented in a stunning oversize format, authors Laurent Ballesta and Pierre Descamp lead readers on a compelling voyage of discovery. Each page reveals a new marvel, from the exuberance of underwater forests to the delicate intimacy of octopuses and the extreme survival methods of creatures in the Antarctic. More than 25 essays from leading scientists highlight topics such as aquaculture and global warming—for in addition to celebrating earth's marine life, Planet Ocean helps readers understand the threats that weigh on the oceans and why we must protect the incredible diversity of plants and animals there. The World Conservation Union has partnered on the project to ensure an accurate, timely, and interesting presentation of this very important subject.
Visually rewarding and excellently priced, Planet Ocean will inspire and inform as it entices us to explore the colorful world beneath the sea.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 15, 2026
TLDR
Beautiful photographs and quickly shows the need for further understanding of the marine world and for interim protections that work for all interested parties. One thing I found bizarre early on was the willingness to call some things ugly that are decidedly not ugly - unsure if that was just humour that I failed to pick up. It also didn't continue through the book so it didn't drag too heavily on the theme of the underwater world is gorgeous and we should do more to protect it (and thus us).
Overview
Speed of Reading
[♦] Zoom!
[ ] Comfortable
[ ] Slog
Thought Provocations (AKA Need-To-Stop-Moments)
[ ] Constant contemplations
[♦] Pondering Pauses
[ ] No thoughts, book empty
Relevance to Proposed Topic
[♦] To the point
[ ] Wanders here and there
[ ] We lost the plot, Bob
Validity of Knowledge (to the best of my ability)
[♦] On point
[~] It looks questionable to me.
[ ] Misinformation cheesecake
Writing Style
[♦] Brevity Champion
[ ] Comfortable companion
[ ] Prose
[ ] Technical mumbling
Unchallenged/sneaky -isms?
[♦] Refreshingly few
[ ] Yeahhhhh…
[ ] How did this get published
Final Thoughts
The book is now older than the science by a decent margin and so there are parts where it's not as accurate as it could be - but that doesn't mean it was wrong for its time so I gave it full points with a squiggly as a caveat.
Beautiful photographs and quickly shows the need for further understanding of the marine world and for interim protections that work for all interested parties. One thing I found bizarre early on was the willingness to call some things ugly that are decidedly not ugly - unsure if that was just humour that I failed to pick up. It also didn't continue through the book so it didn't drag too heavily on the theme of the underwater world is gorgeous and we should do more to protect it (and thus us).
Overview
Speed of Reading
[♦] Zoom!
[ ] Comfortable
[ ] Slog
Thought Provocations (AKA Need-To-Stop-Moments)
[ ] Constant contemplations
[♦] Pondering Pauses
[ ] No thoughts, book empty
Relevance to Proposed Topic
[♦] To the point
[ ] Wanders here and there
[ ] We lost the plot, Bob
Validity of Knowledge (to the best of my ability)
[♦] On point
[~] It looks questionable to me.
[ ] Misinformation cheesecake
Writing Style
[♦] Brevity Champion
[ ] Comfortable companion
[ ] Prose
[ ] Technical mumbling
Unchallenged/sneaky -isms?
[♦] Refreshingly few
[ ] Yeahhhhh…
[ ] How did this get published
Final Thoughts
The book is now older than the science by a decent margin and so there are parts where it's not as accurate as it could be - but that doesn't mean it was wrong for its time so I gave it full points with a squiggly as a caveat.
July 15, 2020
Neat photos of the sea.
June 29, 2009
I love love love the sea. From above, on top, underneath, every which way. So it comes as no surprise that I wanted this book as soona s I first heard of it.
Unfortunately, it's one of these really really expensive books. That's why they are called coffeetable books, because you show of that you can afford expensive books when you place them for everyone to see.
Lucky for me, there's a second choice book store in my street (it's a wonder i didn't have to file for insolvency yet), and I could buy this beautiful book for just 20 Euro.
Now that I own it, I can say that it would have been worth the original price of 50 Euro easily. Beautifully made, absolutely amazing photography - a MUST for everyone who like the sea.
Unfortunately, it's one of these really really expensive books. That's why they are called coffeetable books, because you show of that you can afford expensive books when you place them for everyone to see.
Lucky for me, there's a second choice book store in my street (it's a wonder i didn't have to file for insolvency yet), and I could buy this beautiful book for just 20 Euro.
Now that I own it, I can say that it would have been worth the original price of 50 Euro easily. Beautifully made, absolutely amazing photography - a MUST for everyone who like the sea.
August 26, 2015
It felt like diving into the deep ocean, discovering different creatures down there, adventures and beautiful photographs. I recommend it to all ocean, science, biology lovers. Its a huge book in diameter and heavy in weight but I'm happy to own one, its just.. wonderful.
September 6, 2019
Une belle rencontre avec la biodiversité marine et des informations scientifiques quant à l’état des océans et la nécessité de protéger les mers.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews