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Тайният живот на омарите
„Подобно на първия човек, решил се да опита вкуса на омарите, на читателя му предстои изненада: тази книга е прелестна! Постижението на Тревър Корсън е чудесно: той разкрива досега неподозирани дълбини и интриги в загадъчния полов живот на омарите. Но не е лесно да определим кое е по-забележителното – тайният живот на омарите или животът на омароловците. Отношението ви към омарите ще се промени из основи, но ще получите и успокоението, че омароловците знаят какво правят и не излагат на опасност вида, който ловуват. Така трябва да се пише за естествена история: увлекателно, запленяващо, блестящо.“
— Ричард Елис, автор на „Празният океан“ и „Връщане назад няма“
„Омарите са поднесени по три начина в тази увлекателна книга: от риболовците, от учените и от самите ракообразни… Корсън преплита тези три свята. Световете на хората безспорно са интересни, но не могат да надминат живота на омарите на океанското дъно.“
— Уошингтън Поуст
„Стилът на „Тайният живот на омарите“ е отривист, а сюжетът плавно прелива между епизодите на морското дъно, тези на борда на флотилията научноизследователски съдове и в лабораториите на брега. Книгата не изневерява на ритъма си и за миг; удивителните подробности и наблюдения следват едно след друго.“
— Маунт Дезърт Айландър
— Ричард Елис, автор на „Празният океан“ и „Връщане назад няма“
„Омарите са поднесени по три начина в тази увлекателна книга: от риболовците, от учените и от самите ракообразни… Корсън преплита тези три свята. Световете на хората безспорно са интересни, но не могат да надминат живота на омарите на океанското дъно.“
— Уошингтън Поуст
„Стилът на „Тайният живот на омарите“ е отривист, а сюжетът плавно прелива между епизодите на морското дъно, тези на борда на флотилията научноизследователски съдове и в лабораториите на брега. Книгата не изневерява на ритъма си и за миг; удивителните подробности и наблюдения следват едно след друго.“
— Маунт Дезърт Айландър
356 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 524 reviews
July 3, 2019
Lobsters have the most amazing sex lives. The biggest lobsters fight brutally to gain dominance and have their choice of females - the females admire muscles in their men. However, there's always the sly, sleek, attractive one, jack-the-lad whose never going to be big enough to enter the sex wars. So while the alpha males are going at it, he slips down into the ladies' homes, they live in holes in the sand, and gets it on and is home safe before the big, muscly males have even recovered from their latest fight. Who knew?
The book is written from three perspectives: the fishing business, marine scientists and the lobsters' own extremely complicated and interesting lives. Its as entertaining as it is interesting and if I did eat lobster, I never would again.
One of the reason my ex-husband liked me was because when he caught a lobster, especially a weird local one called the slipper lobster which is supposed to be the best and sweetest variety, he would come by me to cook it and eat the whole thing. If he took it home his mother and sisters would all want a share, he said.
The reason I didn't like lobster, which he knew, was I had a job sailing and the captain had insisted I come out with him to the most expensive restaurant on the island at that time. Long, white tablecloths etc. The captain insisted I have the most expensive item on the menu, lobster, despite my protests. Under the table sat a cat. I discreetly fed the whole lobster bit by bit to the cat who stayed under the table under the chocolate cheesecake dessert came (I wasn't sharing that). He never knew, but I told my ex who ever afterwards cooked his smelly lobsters by me and never had to share them with his sisters again.
Read 2011, totally rewritten June 30th 2019 in view of memories that returned when tonight's date insisted I have lobster at the island's most expensive yada yada, but I had snapper instead.
The book is written from three perspectives: the fishing business, marine scientists and the lobsters' own extremely complicated and interesting lives. Its as entertaining as it is interesting and if I did eat lobster, I never would again.
One of the reason my ex-husband liked me was because when he caught a lobster, especially a weird local one called the slipper lobster which is supposed to be the best and sweetest variety, he would come by me to cook it and eat the whole thing. If he took it home his mother and sisters would all want a share, he said.
The reason I didn't like lobster, which he knew, was I had a job sailing and the captain had insisted I come out with him to the most expensive restaurant on the island at that time. Long, white tablecloths etc. The captain insisted I have the most expensive item on the menu, lobster, despite my protests. Under the table sat a cat. I discreetly fed the whole lobster bit by bit to the cat who stayed under the table under the chocolate cheesecake dessert came (I wasn't sharing that). He never knew, but I told my ex who ever afterwards cooked his smelly lobsters by me and never had to share them with his sisters again.
Read 2011, totally rewritten June 30th 2019 in view of memories that returned when tonight's date insisted I have lobster at the island's most expensive yada yada, but I had snapper instead.
August 7, 2022
3.5 stars, rounded up.
This is a really intriguing look at lobsters and the people who surround them in Maine, namely scientists and fisherman. Both parties want to know more about the behavior and habits of the creatures to protect them while keeping the lobstering industry, a keystone of Maine's economy, thriving. I loved the thrilling descriptions of lobster biology and it was great fun getting to know some of the individuals who got profiles in this book.
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
This is a really intriguing look at lobsters and the people who surround them in Maine, namely scientists and fisherman. Both parties want to know more about the behavior and habits of the creatures to protect them while keeping the lobstering industry, a keystone of Maine's economy, thriving. I loved the thrilling descriptions of lobster biology and it was great fun getting to know some of the individuals who got profiles in this book.
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
January 4, 2019
Hmm, not especially recommended, unless you are especially obsessed with lobsters. The casual reader of microhistories might not enjoy.
I did learn some interesting things (like the fascinating role pheromones play in lobster mating—sounds dry but it was actually the most interesting part of the book! Or the fact that lobsters have open circulatory systems, meaning that their blood flows through body cavities rather than inside veins. Or the fact that what we call a lobster “tail” is really their abdomen; their anus is at the bottom of it).
And the author cleverly (and often punnily) weaves the lives of the individual lobstermen on Little Cranberry Island and the lives of the lobsters themselves.
But the book was definitely repetitive and drawn out at times. It’s just not the most captivating microhistory I’ve ever read.
Also, the author is certainly quite prejudiced towards the lobstermen, not the lobster scientists (except for the scientists who agree with the lobstermen) or the animal rights’ advocates—probably because he grew up spending summers on Little Cranberry and interacting with the lobstermen.
Let's see, what else? Well, this description of molting the author gives is the most unnerving thing I’ve read in a while:
The membrane that lines its old shell bursts and the animal falls over on its side, helpless and immobilized. The lobster’s back detaches and the animal pulls its antennae, mouthparts, legs, and claws out of their former coverings . . . Because a lobster is an invertebrate, every anatomic feature that is rigid is part of the exoskeleton, including the teeth inside the stomach that grind food. The lobster must rip out the lining of its throat, stomach, and anus before it is free of the old shell. Some die trying.
Wow, okay. Never going to unsee that.
There’s some weird, intensely unethical experiments going on in this book, too. Diane Cowan seems especially sadistic. For someone who “loves” lobsters and is called the “Jane Goodall” of lobsters, she sure loves doing horrific things to lobsters. Like cutting off their scent glands so that they will be raped and brutally murdered by other lobsters (the author’s words, not mine), or saying things to baby lobsters as she gently puts them down like “aw, you’re so cute, I hope you end up on my dinner plate someday.” Hi, Hannibal Lector, I see you’ve emerged from your nap.
She’s not the only one who could inspire creepypasta literature. Take this: Jack Merill helped his daughter with a science project at school. While her classmates watched, she sprinkled a few drops of a household pesticide over a tank containing a lobster. Within seconds the animal convulsed and was dead.
I’m sorry, that’s the science project you encourage your CHILD to do? That’s so damn twisted, man.
I did learn some interesting things (like the fascinating role pheromones play in lobster mating—sounds dry but it was actually the most interesting part of the book! Or the fact that lobsters have open circulatory systems, meaning that their blood flows through body cavities rather than inside veins. Or the fact that what we call a lobster “tail” is really their abdomen; their anus is at the bottom of it).
And the author cleverly (and often punnily) weaves the lives of the individual lobstermen on Little Cranberry Island and the lives of the lobsters themselves.
But the book was definitely repetitive and drawn out at times. It’s just not the most captivating microhistory I’ve ever read.
Also, the author is certainly quite prejudiced towards the lobstermen, not the lobster scientists (except for the scientists who agree with the lobstermen) or the animal rights’ advocates—probably because he grew up spending summers on Little Cranberry and interacting with the lobstermen.
Let's see, what else? Well, this description of molting the author gives is the most unnerving thing I’ve read in a while:
The membrane that lines its old shell bursts and the animal falls over on its side, helpless and immobilized. The lobster’s back detaches and the animal pulls its antennae, mouthparts, legs, and claws out of their former coverings . . . Because a lobster is an invertebrate, every anatomic feature that is rigid is part of the exoskeleton, including the teeth inside the stomach that grind food. The lobster must rip out the lining of its throat, stomach, and anus before it is free of the old shell. Some die trying.
Wow, okay. Never going to unsee that.
There’s some weird, intensely unethical experiments going on in this book, too. Diane Cowan seems especially sadistic. For someone who “loves” lobsters and is called the “Jane Goodall” of lobsters, she sure loves doing horrific things to lobsters. Like cutting off their scent glands so that they will be raped and brutally murdered by other lobsters (the author’s words, not mine), or saying things to baby lobsters as she gently puts them down like “aw, you’re so cute, I hope you end up on my dinner plate someday.” Hi, Hannibal Lector, I see you’ve emerged from your nap.
She’s not the only one who could inspire creepypasta literature. Take this: Jack Merill helped his daughter with a science project at school. While her classmates watched, she sprinkled a few drops of a household pesticide over a tank containing a lobster. Within seconds the animal convulsed and was dead.
I’m sorry, that’s the science project you encourage your CHILD to do? That’s so damn twisted, man.
September 1, 2007
i feel compelled to disclose that lobsters are, in fact, my favorite sea-dwelling creature and definitely in my top five creatures of all time (in no particular order, lobsters, otter, triceratops, my cat oscar, and unicorns). however, that does not mean that my review of this book should be disregarded.
the writing is engaging, and the subject matter contains many a good cocktail party tidbit (the bit about "superlobsters" being particularly interesting). and lobstermen are just pretty badass dudes.
the writing is engaging, and the subject matter contains many a good cocktail party tidbit (the bit about "superlobsters" being particularly interesting). and lobstermen are just pretty badass dudes.
February 8, 2011
I read this in my continuing attempt to find my inner lobster (my Umwelt), which is necessary for someone who "should have been a pair of ragged claws, scuttling across the floors of silent seas." Plenty of warm, buttery tidbits here about lobster behavior, serving as a metaphor perhaps for the human drama of lobstermen versus the government. The term 'pissing contest' has taken on new meaning.
By coincidence, as I was reading this, I visited one of those new Uber-supermarkets; you know, a place where you can listen to live music, get your car's oil changed and find organic persimmons out of season. They had, of course, a lobster tank with a few dozen of what our author calls 'our favorite crustaceans' crawling over each other. I wanted to shout out loud, "No. Stop this. They don't like that. That's not how they live."
This book helped me to see lobsters.
I'm happy to eat them though.
By coincidence, as I was reading this, I visited one of those new Uber-supermarkets; you know, a place where you can listen to live music, get your car's oil changed and find organic persimmons out of season. They had, of course, a lobster tank with a few dozen of what our author calls 'our favorite crustaceans' crawling over each other. I wanted to shout out loud, "No. Stop this. They don't like that. That's not how they live."
This book helped me to see lobsters.
I'm happy to eat them though.
March 9, 2017
What a great book about the Maine lobster fishing industry told through one of their own. The author tells a story of the relationship between the fishermen and the scientists, many of whom develop great relationships with a common goal of ensuring the long-term sustainability of lobster! I learned so much about the biology of lobsters as well! Overall, it was a fun and also educational read. This might be my favorite book :)
January 16, 2011
I love lobster. I thought they were getting rare (as in too many being caught). The government thought so too, so they limited the haul. Then the lobstermen (who had a darn good reason to know more about lobster behavior than any government policy wonk) figured out that was not so. In the end, this is mainly a story about how the industry effectively won the right to regulate its catch itself, with a side does of "it's not really necessary." Those lobsters are having a LOT of sex.
But how lobsters have sex, how they choose their mates, and what happens to the little baby lobsterettes after they hatch is the best part of the story ... essentially a detective story.
Absolutely fascinating! Eat more lobster! It helps the lobstermen!
But how lobsters have sex, how they choose their mates, and what happens to the little baby lobsterettes after they hatch is the best part of the story ... essentially a detective story.
Absolutely fascinating! Eat more lobster! It helps the lobstermen!
May 27, 2020
Having had the European lobster as the focal point of my masters research and thesis, I was intrigued as to how this book would play out. It combines science with local fishery knowledge to tell the tale of the American lobster fishery in Maine. The science is not over bearing and the story behind the politics of the science is combined well with the backstory of the local fishers. Nice to have a book out there that shows things from the fishermen's perspective too. This is up there with some of my favourite books 10/10
April 4, 2021
Lobsters turn out to be fascinating creatures! I enjoyed how Corson told both the story of the lobsters and of the lobstering community. My only minor quibble was that at times it felt like he was tracking so many different people between the several groups of scientists and the multiple generations of multiple lobstering families that it took some effort to remember who was who.
February 17, 2019
A fascinating and informative book about lobsters and about the evolution of man's understanding of these creatures over a hundred years as well as the various fights over how best to conserve them for the future.
September 20, 2024
Започнах да чета „Тайният живот на омарите“ на плаж в Гърция и това беше най-доброто ми решение. Шумът на вълните идеално допълваше любопитните факти, които авторът Тревър Корсън споделя за тези чудни морски създания.
Оказа се, че животът на омарите е доста динамичен и интересен. Тези животни имат много интересни навици, начин на живот, още по-интересни взаимоотношения помежду си, а за сексуалният им живот дори няма да коментирам. Мъжките омари имат много напрегнати отношения с женските, които варират от непоносимост един от към друг и огромна враждебност, до напълно сексуално побъркване, изпълнено със страст.
Но това не е фокусът на книгата. Тук имаме любопитни факти за линеенето на омарите, как разпределят териториите си, как се пазят от хищници и биологията им, която е необикновена. От черупката на омара до очите му, това морско създание е уникално за вида си и дори променя цвета си в зависимост от това какво е яло.
Както всички други книги от поредицата, така и тук имаме и интересни истории с хора, които са се докосвали до животнот�� или го изучават. Връщаме се векове назад, когато човечеството е наричало омара храна за бедните и висшето общество не е искало да го вкуси и стигаме до наши дни, когато това е деликатес, който много често струва скъпо. В книгата се разглежда и поведенческите навици на омара – как се държи, когато е заплашен, когато ловува, когато се страхува. Как се избира алфа мъжкарят и каква са различните омари по света. Новото за мен беше, че има много и различни видове, за които дори не подозирах.
Най-хубавото на тази книга обаче е, че е написана от три различи гледни точки. Имаме глави от името на омароловците, от учените, които ги изучават и глави от името на самите омари - техният поглед над живота и разбирането им. Много е интересно преплитането на действията на омароловците и учените. Двете групи имат общи каузи, по които си приличат и си помагат взаимно, но и има моменти, в които искат различни неща, което води до неразбирателства и повишаване на напрежението.
В книгата се обръща сериозно внимание и на проблема с прекомерния улов на женски омари. И омароловците, и учените, пазят женските, маркират ги и гледат да не ловят за продан и експерименти женски, които не са достигнали половя зрялост или носят яйца с момента. За жалост обаче не всички са толкова коректни и на проблема е обърнато голямо внимание в книгата, което на мен много ми хареса, защото ме кара да се замислям какво би станало с нас, ако не се поспрем и не помислим за природата.
Като цяло съм много доволен от „Тайният живот на омарите“ и ви я препоръчвам с две ръце!
Оказа се, че животът на омарите е доста динамичен и интересен. Тези животни имат много интересни навици, начин на живот, още по-интересни взаимоотношения помежду си, а за сексуалният им живот дори няма да коментирам. Мъжките омари имат много напрегнати отношения с женските, които варират от непоносимост един от към друг и огромна враждебност, до напълно сексуално побъркване, изпълнено със страст.
Но това не е фокусът на книгата. Тук имаме любопитни факти за линеенето на омарите, как разпределят териториите си, как се пазят от хищници и биологията им, която е необикновена. От черупката на омара до очите му, това морско създание е уникално за вида си и дори променя цвета си в зависимост от това какво е яло.
Както всички други книги от поредицата, така и тук имаме и интересни истории с хора, които са се докосвали до животнот�� или го изучават. Връщаме се векове назад, когато човечеството е наричало омара храна за бедните и висшето общество не е искало да го вкуси и стигаме до наши дни, когато това е деликатес, който много често струва скъпо. В книгата се разглежда и поведенческите навици на омара – как се държи, когато е заплашен, когато ловува, когато се страхува. Как се избира алфа мъжкарят и каква са различните омари по света. Новото за мен беше, че има много и различни видове, за които дори не подозирах.
Най-хубавото на тази книга обаче е, че е написана от три различи гледни точки. Имаме глави от името на омароловците, от учените, които ги изучават и глави от името на самите омари - техният поглед над живота и разбирането им. Много е интересно преплитането на действията на омароловците и учените. Двете групи имат общи каузи, по които си приличат и си помагат взаимно, но и има моменти, в които искат различни неща, което води до неразбирателства и повишаване на напрежението.
В книгата се обръща сериозно внимание и на проблема с прекомерния улов на женски омари. И омароловците, и учените, пазят женските, маркират ги и гледат да не ловят за продан и експерименти женски, които не са достигнали половя зрялост или носят яйца с момента. За жалост обаче не всички са толкова коректни и на проблема е обърнато голямо внимание в книгата, което на мен много ми хареса, защото ме кара да се замислям какво би станало с нас, ако не се поспрем и не помислим за природата.
Като цяло съм много доволен от „Тайният живот на омарите“ и ви я препоръчвам с две ръце!
April 2, 2011
The life of lobsters. Was there any chance this wouldn't be a good book? Well, yes I suppose there was, but fortunately it was. There were lots of little interesting tidbits about lobsters, but the book was mostly about a small lobstering community and scientists working together to learn about these awesome animals and to maintain their sustainability. Their new found knowledge can even be used to guesstimate how favorable a lobster season may or may not be.
I was a little concerned with the portrayal of government scientists as ignorant, useless, dismissive and arrogant. Not that there aren't many a committee of scientists with these qualities (why I left research science as a career), but the only scientist who really cared or knew anything was a friend of the lobstering community (no conflict there). The government scientists just wouldn't listen and claimed that the lobster was overfished when it wasn't. My concern is that people will take this to mean that whenever a scientist says something is overfished it's not true, or they simply don't know what they are talking about or they are being alarmist, or *gasp* environmentalist. In this case they were basing their suggestions on available data, while data by the friend-of-lobster-community scientist was still being collected. They made assumptions based on the data they had that were reasonable. But scientists are always collecting more data and reorganizing their suggestions and conclusions accordingly. Friend-of lobster-community scientist managed to conduct major research and even got serious funding (he was paying for submersibles!) for his research testing a hypothesis that was against the main stream idea. I point this out because far too often, people will point to a situation like this and say that science doesn't work. (In Michael Crichton's book "State of Fear," that bastard was saying that scientists have biased opinions because they only get funding if they support the main stream ideas. This is simply NOT TRUE. And in fact if a scientist can disprove a main stream idea, he or she will make quite a name for themselves and it would significantly boost their career.) But science does not (or should not) pretend to be the ultimate truth, just a useful tool that we can use to enhance our everyday lives. And as such, it is constantly questioned and new data is constantly being gathered and analyzed. The scientists in this case simply made a decision based on available data. What else could they do?
Okay, end of rant. I apologize.
Back to the book...Because the author did mention other seriously overfished industries, such as cod, he didn't completely diminish the very real threat of overfishing. In fact, he mentioned that overfishing of larger predatory fish may be why there was such a boom of lobsters. So I'm glad he didn't extrapolate from this one situation and dismiss all overfishing claims.
The book is full of breathtaking descriptions of ocean habitats and is really well written.
In one particularly amusing act of revenge, a dominant lobster that had been bullying the other lobsters in the tank molted. Of course, without his hard shell for protection, he was very vulnerable and the other lobsters took advantage of the situation. When the researchers came back, all they could find were remnants of body parts scattered throughout the tank, the remaining lobsters back in their shelters as if nothing had happened.
I was a little concerned with the portrayal of government scientists as ignorant, useless, dismissive and arrogant. Not that there aren't many a committee of scientists with these qualities (why I left research science as a career), but the only scientist who really cared or knew anything was a friend of the lobstering community (no conflict there). The government scientists just wouldn't listen and claimed that the lobster was overfished when it wasn't. My concern is that people will take this to mean that whenever a scientist says something is overfished it's not true, or they simply don't know what they are talking about or they are being alarmist, or *gasp* environmentalist. In this case they were basing their suggestions on available data, while data by the friend-of-lobster-community scientist was still being collected. They made assumptions based on the data they had that were reasonable. But scientists are always collecting more data and reorganizing their suggestions and conclusions accordingly. Friend-of lobster-community scientist managed to conduct major research and even got serious funding (he was paying for submersibles!) for his research testing a hypothesis that was against the main stream idea. I point this out because far too often, people will point to a situation like this and say that science doesn't work. (In Michael Crichton's book "State of Fear," that bastard was saying that scientists have biased opinions because they only get funding if they support the main stream ideas. This is simply NOT TRUE. And in fact if a scientist can disprove a main stream idea, he or she will make quite a name for themselves and it would significantly boost their career.) But science does not (or should not) pretend to be the ultimate truth, just a useful tool that we can use to enhance our everyday lives. And as such, it is constantly questioned and new data is constantly being gathered and analyzed. The scientists in this case simply made a decision based on available data. What else could they do?
Okay, end of rant. I apologize.
Back to the book...Because the author did mention other seriously overfished industries, such as cod, he didn't completely diminish the very real threat of overfishing. In fact, he mentioned that overfishing of larger predatory fish may be why there was such a boom of lobsters. So I'm glad he didn't extrapolate from this one situation and dismiss all overfishing claims.
The book is full of breathtaking descriptions of ocean habitats and is really well written.
In one particularly amusing act of revenge, a dominant lobster that had been bullying the other lobsters in the tank molted. Of course, without his hard shell for protection, he was very vulnerable and the other lobsters took advantage of the situation. When the researchers came back, all they could find were remnants of body parts scattered throughout the tank, the remaining lobsters back in their shelters as if nothing had happened.
May 14, 2012
I picked up this book on a whim, as it was sitting on the shelf at the public library next to the one I had actually come for (The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating - must be the literary invertebrate section). I'm so glad I did. This book served to further prove my favorite genre these days is narrative science writing. Corson writes about the American Lobster from every possible angle: its biology, its evolution, its habitat, its mating habits, the lives of those who study it and who fish for it, lobstering policy, sustainability, and more - and deftly weaves these diverse themes into a perfectly unified, deeply compelling whole. The book has a wry sense of humor to it along with a thorough respect for lobstermen and a keen interest in every aspect of this crustacean. I found myself excitedly rattling off facts about lobsters to my boyfriend as we rode the subway into Manhattan, after he innocently asked what I was reading. And I can't even eat lobsters! (Shellfish allergy.) Sure, my enthusiasm for the topic may have partly stemmed from having recently discussed sustainable fishery management in class, but that is only one small part of this story. With its thoughtful discussion of the people for whom lobsters are a livelihood, this is as much a human narrative and one of lobsters, and one which will pull you insatiably in. Highly recommended.
June 21, 2023
What interests you? Fishermen culture? The natural history and reproductive behavior of lobsters? Conservation policy? Interesting solutions to scientific and engineering challenges? Geological impacts on aquatic populations? This warm and funny book has something for everyone. It is a love letter to the lobster industry as well as the scientists trying to understand these marvelous underwater arthropods, and it's also convinced me I need to take a trip to Maine, so add travel journalism to the list of things it offers as well. In short, I feel I have a sufficient enough understanding of many of the factors at play in the population dynamics of lobsters to bore more than a few people with my animated conversation, and thinking of them as one part of a vast aquatic ecosystem, am absolutely terrified about the effects climate change will have on these remarkable feats of evolutionary forces.
March 1, 2020
I've been tossing books aside partially read all year so I'm amazed. This book kept my interest the entire time. No skipping over pages, no frustration at getting lost, but I will say there were sections around the science and the geography where my eyes glazed over for a bit.
The story moves back and forth between the scientists and their lobsters, and the lives of the lobstermen and women. I really enjoyed how each chapter title related to the stories for each.
The book ends in 2000; I'd be curious if there's an update on the science and/or the folks on Little Cranberry Island since.
If you enjoyed this you'll probably enjoy The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell. Another subject I thought I'd never completely read but found fascinating and full of info I didn't know.
The story moves back and forth between the scientists and their lobsters, and the lives of the lobstermen and women. I really enjoyed how each chapter title related to the stories for each.
The book ends in 2000; I'd be curious if there's an update on the science and/or the folks on Little Cranberry Island since.
If you enjoyed this you'll probably enjoy The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell. Another subject I thought I'd never completely read but found fascinating and full of info I didn't know.
August 28, 2024
The parts that were actually about lobster biology were awesome but I feel like way too much time was spent talking about the lobster industry. I feel a more accurate title would’ve been The Secret Life of Lobstermen. I know that’s part of the title/description, and I get how fishing affects ecology and therefore the animal the book is about, but those parts really dragged on and felt pretty biased/complainy.
May 6, 2017
Charming and fascinating in-depth juxtaposition of the biology and behavior of lobsters with the true-grit lives of the Maine lobstermen.
Reading this gives me a greater appreciation for the Lobster which is a surprisingly evolved organism, but it also gives me greater respect for the hardworking fishermen and appreciation of their efforts to carefully conserve what they farm.
Also makes me want to go back to Bar Harbor soon and eat some more of those delicious claws.
Reading this gives me a greater appreciation for the Lobster which is a surprisingly evolved organism, but it also gives me greater respect for the hardworking fishermen and appreciation of their efforts to carefully conserve what they farm.
Also makes me want to go back to Bar Harbor soon and eat some more of those delicious claws.
January 17, 2023
I never knew the sex life of a lobster could be so interesting. 🦞
November 27, 2022
I REALLY enjoyed this book. Clever and well written. I learned so much about lobsters and can say I am a lobster fan now!
February 10, 2023
Lowkey loved this 🤓
June 3, 2024
Enjoyed this fascinating scientific information filled book about American Lobsters. A comprehensive microhistory book about one of the expensive crustaceans.
October 7, 2024
Turns out that the secret lives of lobsters and lobstermen are pretty dull and boring.
July 26, 2023
Absolutely fascinating and beautifully written
February 17, 2021
A slow start, but then you get into the nitty-gritty details of how lobsters reproduce and what affects their population levels. Takeaway: Jehovah's creation is complex.
April 6, 2019
This is a great book that weaves in personal lives of lobstermen and their families, scientists with a passion for learning about these creatures, and the lobsters themselves. These are pretty fascinating creatures, with oddball mating habits, an acute sense of smell, and while the book doesn't prove this - they're pretty damn tasty with a dish of butter.
Ultimately the book is about what causes the ebb and flow of lobster takes season to season, and the lobstermen vs. desk scientist debate over how to best sustain the annual harvests. Toward the end it is finally hinted at (not overfishing) and that in fact techniques lobstermen had invented themselves such as V-notching were probably most effective. But I still feel after reading the book that I can't quite explain to someone else what causes it - it was alot of theories but no solid conclusion that tied a nice bow around it. i.e. is it the currents? Water temp? Increase in min size? Answer - all of the above, but I guess after reading the book on and off - I would've liked to have a crisper summary if one existed. Maybe it's because I read it in 20 minute chunks over the course of a month I missed the big conclusion.
Anyway, if you think lobsters are boring - you're wrong. And if after reading this book you think you might have reservations about the cruelty of sticking a lobster in a boiling pot of water next time you're at a Maine lobsterfeed - they address that too in the epilogue. (Hint: even the scientists who study them passionately still enjoy a good red lobster at the end of the day).
Ultimately the book is about what causes the ebb and flow of lobster takes season to season, and the lobstermen vs. desk scientist debate over how to best sustain the annual harvests. Toward the end it is finally hinted at (not overfishing) and that in fact techniques lobstermen had invented themselves such as V-notching were probably most effective. But I still feel after reading the book that I can't quite explain to someone else what causes it - it was alot of theories but no solid conclusion that tied a nice bow around it. i.e. is it the currents? Water temp? Increase in min size? Answer - all of the above, but I guess after reading the book on and off - I would've liked to have a crisper summary if one existed. Maybe it's because I read it in 20 minute chunks over the course of a month I missed the big conclusion.
Anyway, if you think lobsters are boring - you're wrong. And if after reading this book you think you might have reservations about the cruelty of sticking a lobster in a boiling pot of water next time you're at a Maine lobsterfeed - they address that too in the epilogue. (Hint: even the scientists who study them passionately still enjoy a good red lobster at the end of the day).
July 18, 2013
If you've ever wondered where baby lobsters come from, this book explains it -- in great detail.
The overall theme of the book is understanding the ecology of lobsters, and the debate between lobster scientists and lobstermen about how many lobsters to catch. The book describes the extraordinarily successful steps lobstermen have been taking to preserve and expand the lobster population.
This book reminded me a lot of another great Maine biology text, The Mind of the Raven. They both take a look at how science works. Corson does a great job explaining experiments -- and how even when our experiments prove our theories wrong, we still learn more.
You'll also learn why lobsters pee out of the front of their face.
The overall theme of the book is understanding the ecology of lobsters, and the debate between lobster scientists and lobstermen about how many lobsters to catch. The book describes the extraordinarily successful steps lobstermen have been taking to preserve and expand the lobster population.
This book reminded me a lot of another great Maine biology text, The Mind of the Raven. They both take a look at how science works. Corson does a great job explaining experiments -- and how even when our experiments prove our theories wrong, we still learn more.
You'll also learn why lobsters pee out of the front of their face.
Read
June 17, 2008Intriguing study of the lobster-fishing industry in Maine and of the lobster itself, including lurid details of the lobsters' sex life! Seriously, the male lobster is quite thoughtful and tender, gently stroking the female with his antennae as he goes about wooing. Lively, well written; follows the lives of several lobster fishermen and the efforts (sometimes misguided) of scientists to resolve the problems of the supposedly dwindling supply (of lobsters, and therefore sooner or later of fishermen). I liked this book very much. A page-turner.
April 23, 2009
What I learned.... I learned that lobsters piss in each others faces to show dominance and share scents. I learned that Maine lobstermen take lobster conservation very seriously. I learned that the lobster view of the world is nothing like mine. I learned that scientists call post-larval lobsters superlobsters. And much else.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable book weaving together the scientific pursuit of the lobster worldview with the communities of Maine lobstermen and fight to keep lobsters from being overfished.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable book weaving together the scientific pursuit of the lobster worldview with the communities of Maine lobstermen and fight to keep lobsters from being overfished.
August 14, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. But, I also really enjoy lobsters, which I think is a needed prerequisite to fully appreciate this book.
Corson does a good job of scientific journalistic writting. There is a good combination of lobster science/research and human stories of the lobstermen.
I would not say this novel is for everyone, but it is a good read for those interested in lobsters and the science behind the rather reclusive crustaceans.
Corson does a good job of scientific journalistic writting. There is a good combination of lobster science/research and human stories of the lobstermen.
I would not say this novel is for everyone, but it is a good read for those interested in lobsters and the science behind the rather reclusive crustaceans.
Want to read
January 10, 2013Accidentally forgot to bring a book with me to read once I finished Bossypants. Believe it or not but I have actually been meaning to read this one and yes, it really is about lobsters.
It's pretty good so far!
Lordy. Am I ever going to finish this book?
It's pretty good so far!
Lordy. Am I ever going to finish this book?
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