Beyond the Outer Shores: The Untold Odyssey of Ed Ricketts, the Pioneering Ecologist Who Inspired John Steinbeck and Joseph Campbell

by Eric Enno Tamm

In the 1930s, while the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression sent most of America into the doldrums, a lively intellectual and artistic community formed in the West, revolving around three legendary friends: Ed Ricketts, John Steinbeck, and Joseph Campbell. Steinbeck immortalized Monterey's bohemian spirit in Cannery Row, but the area's true lifeblood was his best friend and mentor, Ed Ricketts. Today Ed Ricketts is usually remembered as "Doc"—the beer-drinking philosopher-scientist who presided over Monterey's population of "whores, pimps, gamblers, and sons of bitches" in Cannery Row—but Ricketts was actually a trailblazing ecologist who did seminal work in the emerging field on the Pacific Coast. His ideas were decades before their time, and his two books, Between Pacific Tides and Sea of Cortez (coauthored with Steinbeck), are still considered classics. Now, some sixty years after his untimely death, Ricketts' ecological approach and ethic seem more relevant than ever.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Science, Travel, Natural History, Nature

384 pages, Paperback

Published July 28, 2005

About the author

Eric Enno Tamm is an author, journalist and analyst with more than 15 years’ experience in the media and non-profit sector. His first book, Beyond The Outer Shores The Untold Story of Ed Ricketts the Pioneering Ecologist Who Inspired John Steinbeck and Joseph Campbell, was a Kiriyama Prize Notable Book in 2005 and his second book, The Horse That Leaps Through Clouds A Tale of Espionage the Silk Road and the Rise of Modern China, is being published in Canada (2010), the United States (2011) and Finland (2011).

Eric has worked as executive director of the B.C. Coastal Community Network, communications director of Ecotrust Canada, and as a correspondent in Europe. His writing has appeared in Wallpaper*, The Globe and Mail, Los Angeles Times Magazine, Canadian Geographic, San Francisco Chronicle, Toronto Star, among others.

Born in Tofino B.C., Eric developed his interest in history and current affairs at a young age. His father, an Estonian refugee, would often recount gripping first-hand accounts of the Soviet invasion of the Baltic States during the Second World War. At the age of 15, Eric became the editorial cartoonist for the local newspaper, and went on to earn a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and a master’s degree in European affairs from Lund University in Sweden. Eric remained in Sweden for three years, working as the Nordic Contributing Editor for Wallpaper* magazine.

While studying in Lund, a Finnish friend told him about Gustaf Mannerheim’s epic trek from St. Petersburg to Peking in 1906. Several years later, and back in Vancouver, Eric read Mannerheim’s travel journal and was mesmerized by its piercing insights and the striking parallels between the country’s modernization in the late Qing Dynasty and Communist China today. He began intensive historical research and logistical planning to retrace Mannerheim’s route on the centennial in 2006.

However, before he departed his home in Vancouver, the Chinese consulate, through its network of spies and informants, caught wind of his plans to venture into China’s restive and rugged borderlands. He was repeatedly denied a visa. Like Mannerheim, he devised a cover and snuck into China’s back of beyond.

The Horse That Leaps Through Clouds chronicles two epic journeys along the Silk Road—past and present—that offer a cautionary tale about the breathtaking rise of modern China.

Eric currently lives and works in Ottawa, Canada.

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a time when I was about midway through this book when I was stuck in literary low gear. It was moving very slowly. This would be around the part where the author was documenting in exacting details Ricketts' route and daily specimen collection activities on Vancouver and the Queen Charlotte Islands (which, btw, are known as the Galapagos of the North.) I wanted more Joseph Campbell and waaay more Steinbeck. I debated whether the surfeit of detail made this book a three star read. As other reviewers have noted, this book has a tendency to dwell on minutiae in some places and breeze over important events in others and the author can occasionally fly off on random and unrelated (but informative) discourses. Why was the author burying the lead when the focus of the book clearly should have been centered around one of the 20th century's greatest writers? (Harold Bloom may disagree but he, as a great intellectual once said, can suck it.)

But by the end I understood what Tamm's mission was in writing this book-to take the endearing character of Doc from Cannery Row and introduce us to his no less charming but far more complex inspiration, Ed Ricketts. The truth is always more complicated. No dig on Cannery Row as it's one of my all-time favorite and beloved books and like anyone else who has read and embraced it, I loved Doc. Ricketts definitely was that person. But he was a also a pioneering marine biologist whose book, Between Pacific Tides: Fifth Edition, was the first to group Pacific fauna by ecosystems. He collected and identified many new marine species and has a number named after him (Steinbeck does as well thanks to his trip with Ricketts to the Sea of Cortez.) He was a devoted stepfather to his second wife's terminally ill daughter, whose cancer put him deeply in debt. He wrote newspaper articles decrying the treatment of Japanese Americans during WWII. He co-authored a scientific travelogue with Steinbeck and was planning a similar collaborative effort with him about Canada's west coast at the time of his death. He was a devoted friend and inspiration to countless people, including Steinbeck and Joseph Campbell. And it's pretty clear following his tragic death from a freak accident in 1948 that Steinbeck (and some would say his writing) never fully recovered.

There is plenty of Steinbeck in this book and if you are a fan of his, you'll eat up both the good and the somewhat unflattering. Ricketts’ son and ex-wife contributed their family photos, including the only one taken of Steinbeck and Ricketts together on page 45. There are also some simply marvelous stories about Ricketts' friendship with Joseph Campbell and a cameo by Henry Miller. And there is a lot of detail about the real Cannery Row and the people who inspired the book-there was a real Mac, Dora Flood and Lee Chong. If you are a Steinbeck fan, I tell you that you should consider making this a must-read as it was a chance to get to know the man in some small way. I learned so much about him and the backstory of many of his novels that I love them even more now, if that is possible. But the book really is about the life of Ed Ricketts and by the end, you'll realize this is right and how it should be.

[Richard Bartholomew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an engaging portrait of Ricketts by an author who shares his subject's passion for and knowledge of the coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest. He also has a sensitive appreciation of Ricketts' influence on John Steinbeck and (to a less clear extent) on Joseph Campbell. Endnotes are marked by page number at the back of the book, which has the effect of making the extent of the author's scholarly efforts less visible.

The author is occasionally digressive: for instance, we read about Joseph Campbell's influence on George Lucas (Campbell's analysis of myth is treated uncritically), and a visit by Ricketts to Meares Island and his friendship with a Catholic priest there named James Philip Mulvihill becomes a hook for a generalised attack on the evils of missionary schools for Canadian Aboriginals. However, his approach also means that we get an intimate account of the islands and coasts where Ricketts travelled, as well, of course, of the famous "Cannery Row" where he worked, and which today is a John Steinbeck theme park.

The book is not, though, the last word on the subject. As other reviewers have noted, Ricketts' love-life is somewhat glossed, and his family life - with the exception of his extraordinary long-term partner Toni Jackson (whom the author interviewed personally) - is less vividly portrayed than various innkeepers and boat captains who are part of the wider story. Campbell's dalliance with Steinbeck's wife Carol Henning gets a fuller treatment than how Ricketts came to have a new wife shortly after his split from Jackson.

The book closes with an evocative epilogue, in which the author uses the Dust Bowl as a warning about the possible fate of the overfished and industrially-farmed Pacific coast.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and well researched. Ed Ricketts may have been the father of the ecology movement and was certainly a forward thinker. It's no surprise Steinbeck found him interesting and enjoyed his company. Steinbeck wrote a moving eulogy to Ed Ricketts as a preface to his book The Log from the Sea of Cortez, hoping the writing would help "lay the ghost" of Ricketts, who had died early when he was struck by a train.

[Don Siegrist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ed Ricketts was a self taught marine biologist and best friend of John Steinbeck, who based numerous characters in his novels on Ricketts. Steinbeck, as well as many others, considered Ricketts to be one of the most fascinating people he ever encountered. Warm, friendly, highly intelligent and a free-thinker. He was also an autodidact and interested in everything. So the book contains some interesting insights on a range of topics, such as ecology, marine biology and metaphysics.
But unfortunately the book is less a biography and more of a travelogue pertaining to the various coastal expeditions Ricketts conducted along the west coast of North America in the 1940's. This is probably because the author was unable to unearth much on Rickett's life. Dull stuff, particularily the visits to Canada, which is coincidentally the author's home.
Most of the biographical parts pertain to Steinbeck, who does not come across well. The book ends with a theory that Ricketts was Steinbeck's muse. In addition to providing a basis for many an interesting character, it's also claimed that Rickett's may have had a major influence on the actual writing of Steinbeck's work. This is based on the fact that after Rickett's death Steinbeck's output declined dramatically and that he posthumously burned all of his correspondence with Ricketts. Last but not least, he removed Rickett's name from the book they co-authored (The Log from the Sea of Cortez) after Rickett's death.
Who knows how accurate any of this is, but it makes for interesting reading for those of us who are fans of Steinbeck's writing. If that does not describe you, you should probably skip this one.

[Curt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly inspired biography of Dr. Ed Ricketts, the inspiration for the character of "Doc" in John Steinbeck's Cannery Row.

This book reveals the real Ed Ricketts. Not the one-dimensional hard-drinking and womanizing "Doc" but the deep thinking biologist/ecologist who struggled to gain acceptance of his studies and fund his ground-breaking work.

Using Ricketts' own theories, this book weaves the lives of three friends, Ricketts, John Steinbeck and Joseph Campbell, and shows how their mutual friendship affected each other's works. It reveals how these friendships influenced three fields, biology/ecology, literature and mythology.

[Martin Hoogeboom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book & a good read, well written and interesting. The book provides good insight into Ed Ricketts' connections with Steinbeck and Joseph Campbell and his stimulation of their ideas and eventual writings. Ricketts, probably one the greatest naturalists of our time, was an academic outcast and a pioneering ecologist whose early warnings about over-fishing fell on deaf ears in the 1930s/40s. I learned much about (deep) ecology as well as the life of Steinbeck by reading this book.

[Laura Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Tamm put in an amazing amount of research into the life, philosophy, and marine biology work of this under sung hero. He was aware of the interconnectedness of all living beings, and their habitats when ecology was barely a word much less a discipline.
Please read this book you will not be disappointed.

[Rikke Hollænder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got the makings of and annual read

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting!

[Ken-ichi · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to read Cannery Row, Between Pacific Tides, and The Log from the Sea of Cortez without wanting to know a little more about Ed Ricketts. He's easily the most intriguing figure in Steinbeck's novel, a saintly, self-made satyr / scientist who seems just as likely to hand you a cold beer as a live octopus, relishing the qualities of both with equal gusto. And his own book depicts him as the finest kind of nerd, a man who welcomes you into his arcane passions instead of assuming that you wouldn't understand or care, generous with both explanation and wonder. So how could I resist picking this up?

I'm not a big reader of biographies, so I'm not entirely sure how they're supposed to play out, but I'd say this one was a competent but unremarkable chronicle Ricketts' life outside the Steinbeck canon. Tam focuses on Ricketts' travels to the outer shores of western British Columbia and southern Alaska, the setting of Ricketts' final and unfinished book on the West coast of North America (having already described the southern regions in The Log and the central in BPT). These descriptions are certainly interesting, and made me want to hop on a boat to Vancouver, but mostly seem like a sequence of events without any unifying thesis.

What I really wanted to know about Ricketts were a) his personal relationships, b) his science, and c) separating him from Steinbeck, whose many "Doc" characters seem to muddy our perceptions of Ricketts himself. Tam does some of each, but I didn't come away feeling like any of these goals had been achieved. Ricketts had three wives, several children, and who knows how many mistresses, but Tam doesn't really dwell on any of them. All I really learned was that Toni, his wife during much of the northern excursions, must have been an absolute saint to put up with all the zany adventures and personal trauma.

Tam talks a good deal about Ricketts' pioneering and prescient ideas about community ecology, particularly from a conservationist standpoint, but again, I came away with the impression not of a great but overlooked ecologist, but of an inspired, thoughtful man who was handicapped by an inability to express himself clearly in scientific terms. Why essays and not papers? Did he submit papers to scholarly journals that were rejected because of his lack of education? If so, what was in those papers? What specific aspects of his research have since been vindicated? Tam dwells on this a little toward the end regarding Ricketts' investigation into over-exploitation of the sardine fishery, but I wanted more.

Steinbeck, of course, looms large, which is inevitable, I guess. It would have been wonderful to read some of their correspondence, as I think it would have helped parse the two and reveal more about their relationship than their obvious fondness and respect for each other. However, Steinbeck burned many of their letters, so I guess we'll never know. I would have appreciated less on Ricketts' influence on Steinbeck, though. It's interesting that Steinbeck (and Campbell) were so influenced by Ricketts' ideas, but I wanted more description of those ideas themselves, and less on how more famous authors used them. I'm still not entirely clear what non-teleological thinking or "breaking through" are all about. What do philosophers think of these ideas?

Anyway, mostly satisfying. Definitely recommended for Ricketts and Steinbeck fans, probably not terribly important for others.

[A.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the only book on Ed Ricketts. Richard Astro wrote two, and you can pick up a hardcover copy of the out-of-print John Steinbeck and Edward F. Ricketts: The Shaping of a Novelist from your local used bookseller, if you happen to have three or four hundred bucks burning a hole in your pocket. For the rest of us, there's Beyond the Outer Shores.

It's perhaps surprising that there has not been more interest in Ricketts. He was arguably the most important influence on Steinbeck, who wrote two novels (Cannery Row, Sweet Thursday) in which he is the central character. The Log from the Sea of Cortez concerns a collecting trip made by Steinbeck and Ricketts, and a curious, philosophizing Doc Ricketts figure appears in In Dubious Battle (Doc Burton), The Moon is Down (Doctor Winter), The Grapes of Wrath (Jim Casy) and Burning Bright (Friend Ed).

And Steinbeck wasn't the only intellectual of his day to hang out with Ricketts. Joseph Cambell was part of that circle, as was John Cage.

Ricketts himself did important work as a marine biologist. Because Ricketts lacked academic qualifications, he published no journal articles. But he did publish an important book, Between Pacific Tides, a catalogue of intertidal animals of the California coast that was unique in its day for its ecological approach. Between Pacific Tides is still a standard text.

Beyond the Outer Shores gives us a detailed biography of Ricketts, but late in the book, unfortunately, Eric Tamm attempts to build up Ricketts by attacking Steinbeck. In Tamm's version, this was not a productive friendship, but a case of a creatively bankrupt writer stealing the ideas of a friend and putting them into print. Tamm points to the common perception that Steinbeck published little of worth after The Grapes of Wrath, and suggests he was nothing without Ricketts. But this is no more credible than supposing that Carol Steinbeck, who typed the manuscript of Grapes and made editorial suggestions, was the novel's true author. (After the divorce, Steinbeck never matched the achievement of Grapes: post hoc, ergo propter hoc.)

In doing this, Tamm does a disservice to both Steinbeck and Ricketts. Ricketts can stand on his own two feet. But otherwise, Beyond the Outer Shores is an excellent read.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not only interesting as it maps out Ed Ricketts' marine zoology passion and his personal life but also, should you be a John Steinbeck fan (as I am), then it becomes a very important read. Discovering that the essence of 'Doc' in Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday had a foundation in real life and being able to track some of the character's idiosyncrasies to traits and behaviors exhibited by his good friend Ed Ricketts provided me with a greater understanding about John Steinbeck and how he was able to incorporate facets of real life while creating some of his stellar works of fiction literature.

Also, if you are a North American west coast person (as I am) the accounts of his many visits to various outposts and villages served to enrich the fabric of places I have been to. I may never look at them the same way again. The third aspect of this book is that Ed Ricketts did write definitive works about the areas marine life, their classifications and distributions. He was an accomplished academic.

So, in summary, this book should appeal to: (1) fans of John Steinbeck who can appreciate gems of insight; (2) Those who have some familiarity (both in general and specific ways) with the vast coastline of western North America (Mexico to Alaska); and (3) Marine scientists who can, by reading this book, gain an understanding of the man who dedicated himself to identifying, mapping and listing a huge number of marine species that populate the area.

I gave this four instead of five stars because, at times, the book provides more 'story' detail than I would want or need.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing book about a wonderful man. Ed Ricketts may be known primarily as the model for "Doc" in John Steinbeck's Cannery Row, but this account of Ricketts' life makes it clear what a truly unique person he was.

Ricketts is listed in the Ecology Hall of Fame: http://ecotopia.org/ecology-hall-of-f... The biography there states: "Ricketts was more than someone else’s inspiration. His ecological textbook of intertidal marine life, “Between the Tides” was published in 1939, and today the fifth edition of this text is still being used as a standard text at many colleges and universities."

Sadly, on May 8, 1948, while driving his old Packard across some railroad tracks, his car was struck by a train and he died 3 days later, just short of his 51st birthday. A statue in his honor is placed at that site.



The book is filled with details of his close friendship with both Steinbeck and Joseph Campbell. Since "Doc" is the only character I truly liked in Cannery Row, I'm really glad to have learned about the man who was a real life hero to many of those down on their luck--as well as being an excellent scientist.

[Steven Teasdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite read for 2007 was Beyond The Outer Shores, Eric Enno Tamm’s insightful and illuminating biography of ecological pioneer and polymath Ed Ricketts. The book’s tagline mentioned Ricketts as an inspiration for John Steinbeck and Joseph Campbell, and this is what initially caught my attention (being a fan of Campbell). Tamm demonstrates how Rickett’s personal philosophy and humanist outlook inspired them both. In particular, the “Doc” character of Cannery Row was directly modeled on Ricketts.

A biologist with the outlook of a philosopher and the heart of a poet, Ricketts lived a fascinating yet shortened life, never receiving his due recognition as a scientist and thinker until well after his death. His environmental philosophy permeated the works of Steinbeck in the late 1930s. In this way, The Grapes of Wrath can be read as a warning against anthropogenic environmental degradation, and Cannery Row read as a human reflection of the diversity of tidepools. Likewise, his revolutionary work on the western American and Canadian shores remains influential to this day. Tamm’s book is a fantastic read that brings to light the life and spirit of a true Renaissance Man.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time I've read this book. I returned to it because I had recommended it for a book group I have just joined, and I needed to refresh my memory to lead the discussion. This book discusses the role of ground breaking Marine Biologist Ed Ricketts who with his friend John Steinbeck introduced and promoted the science and philosophy of ecology. Joseph Campbell also drew from Ricketts work in his work explaining the relationships at work in cultural history. I found this book inspiring and full of important insights regarding humans place in the natural world. One of my favorite lines from Sea of Cortez by Ricketts and Steinbeck is "Why do we so dread to think of our species as a species? Can it be that we are afraid of what we may find? That human self-love would suffer too much and that the image of God might prove to be a mask?"

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great exploration of the relationships among Ricketts, Steinbeck, and Campbell. In addition to making me want to read more of Ricketts' writings, it also makes me want to reread a number of Steinbeck's classics that I read when I was much younger. It also casts Campbell's work in a new light. But mostly, it makes me feel like E.O. Wilson's work, which I have long admired, is quite a bit more derivative of Ricketts than I had ever imagined.

If you are interested in any of the threads of biology/ecology, fiction writing, or mythology, this is highly recommended. I almost gave it 5 stars, but I will in any case buy a copy for my personal library.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I made it about 2/3 of the way through but stopped due to the fact that the story had slowed to a crawl, but the first half was pretty good. This is a very thorough biography of Ed Ricketts, also covering John Steinbeck and other famous people who lived in Monterey when Ricketts did. I learned alot about how influential Ricketts was in getting the study of marine ecology going in the U.S. Also learned about his work in Canada which didn't know about previously. He was a fearless and ever curious collector, but also had a difficult personal life at times. However, a good overview of an interesting character in the history of California and science.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars are for the books that change the way I look at everyday life. I read from the library but will buy this book for my shelf. Ed Ricketts was the most interesting person in J Steinbeck's books and I always wanted to know more about him. I loved the way the story moved in time back and forth between Mexico, Montery and Canada and less of a linier timeline. The relationship between 3 great thinkers, the triology of ER's books, indian lore, mythology, science all works to keep the story a page turner. I am sad it is over and feel like I'm in mourning with everyone else. BONUS! Maps! Pictures! Notes! Bibliography! oh boy! my favorite! I may have to write a fan letter to the author.

[Len · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy John Steinbeck's books Cannery Row and Log from the Sea of Cortez, you will probably enjoy this book. It is about Ed Ricketts, Steinbeck's lifelong friend, who was the inspiration behind these books. John and Ed shared a common interest in Marine biology and this book goes into further details about Ed's life up to his untimely death. Further interest for me was I live on Vancouver Island, where Ed did a lot of his research along the west coast of BC. I look forward to getting my hands on Ed Rickett's book Between Pacific Tides which covered his marine tidal research.

[Rika · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun to read about Ed Ricketts, the man upon whom the character "Doc" is based in Steinbeck's Cannery Row. It would have been awesome to be a fly on the wall during his conversations with Steinbeck and Joseph Campbell, and as a marine scientist it was interesting to read about an important character in the history of our science. Some of the author's interpretations of both Ricketts' and Steinbeck's work was a bit questionable, in my mind, but overall an enjoyable read.

[Kassia Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new perspective on an interesting person & his influence on his friends (John Steinbeck, Joseph Campbell) who would incorporate his formative views on ecology and connected, interacting systems, in their work. The sad & unnecessary decline of resources through over-exploitation and the the tragedy of the commons. A glimpse of an earlier time around coastal British Columbia & the interactions between european settlers and local first nations.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really my first exposure to Ricketts, besides some brief mentions among friends and sites while in the Monterey area.
The biography is written with great affection for Ricketts as a free spirit and groundbreaking scientist, but does not skip over his troubles.
Recommended for fans of Steinbeck, as the influence of Ricketts on his greatest works is quite profound.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who want to look behind the myth created by John Steinbeck in the character "Doc", this biography is a fine attempt to show the life of this multi-faceted man. One of our early ecologists, he broke new ground in thinking about natural habitats as whole systems.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat hagiographic of Ricketts, but an interesting and enjoyable read.

[Sylvia Seymour · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me a)love Ed Ricketts even more than I already did, and b) want to get to Clayoquot Sound wid a quickness.

[John Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will be of interest to any fan of John Steinbeck or of intertidal marine biology both of which I am. Even so it was still slow going.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look into what inspired, held, and grasped Steinbeck and those whom he looked to and loved in his life.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. For anyone who is interested in science it is a fascinating read

[ROSS Library]

Highly recommended.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED THIS BOOK