Ocean

Word of Warning. As is often the case, the Amazon site for this book mixes together reviews of different editions and formats of the same book. I got the hardcover, 512 page, 10.4 x 1.4 x 12.2, revised and updated 2014 edition, which is probably the only version that does true justice to the book's photos, maps, and illustrations. For the interested reader this book is practically a complete Ocean Intro 101 course all by itself. This is not a picture book of fishies and weird ocean denizens. (Well, it is a little, toward the end.) This book addresses the ocean as a major planetary feature, and undertakes to survey it from every possible angle. So, we start with something obvious, but often overlooked - sea water chemistry, including properties, temperature, salinity, sound transmission and the like. From there we move on to the basics of ocean geology, including tectonics. We follow up with circulation and climate, and then waves and tides. Once we have the basics established, (that's about the first 70 pages), the book works through ocean environments. We start with coasts and seashore and then proceed to shallow seas, open ocean and polar oceans. With that we are at the halfway point. We then switch gears and look at ocean life. This section is divided by kingdoms, and then families and genera. One of my favorite parts comes in at the end. There are 60 pages of ocean maps, showing as much data and as many different views and drawing styles as you could possibly want. There are close up featured large maps of all of the major, and minor, seas and ocean regions, so if you really want to know what Fiji looks like with the water removed, this is where to start. The pages are loaded with text, side bars, factoids, and chatty historical bits. In the usual DK nonfiction style you can read the book by following the thread of the text from page to page, or you can leave through admiring photos and drawings and graphs, or you could page through stopping at interesting sidebars and mini-items. However you choose to proceed this is a book that offers almost endless opportunities for wonder and insight, and is a fabulous find for anyone curious to learn a bit more about the ocean.

With a wide array of photos, maps, and summaries, DK has delivered an impressive book about the oceans. Topics ranges from the physical features (ocean currents, temperature, salinity, weather effects) to the species and to human use. Particularly interesting is the "Underwater Circulation" section (pages 60-61) and the map of the Thermohaline Circulation (very important for the US and Europe, and part of the reason for upwelling off New England and Japan). Oceans are under pressure today from unregulated fishing and coastal pollution. Raising awareness, appreciating the majesty of the oceans, and sustainable fishing are all interrelated and part of the way we can, as voters and citizens, work towards a better future. Hopefully there will be a Chinese translation of this book or a short version for sale in the PRC.

We come back to this book time and time again with our 4-year-old. Whether she's watching Octanauts or Nemo we can find a rich world of real-life creatures that are way more impressive than their animated screen versions. It is concisely designed and well indexed so it lends itself to browsing and discovering - or looking up something we've seen. The scope of sea-life included is amazing.

Love everything about this edition. The pictures are so nice! I read it with my 5 years old, of course I need to make many concepts easy enough for her to comprehend, but she really enjoys the information and the photos. I grew up without being able to buy books like this and I really appreciate the opportunity to own something so precious! A must have.

This is a gift for my grandson who loves to read but is handling a heavy course load at school. These books allow him to read, put it down and go back to read more due to the formatting of small snippets of information format. Beautiful pictures.

This book is amazing. The pictures, details and pure passion for the ocean practically jump through the pages. I bought this book for research for a book I'm writing, but I'm so caught up in it that I have barely written anything down because it's just so mesmerizing! Plus, my kids barely let me have a moment alone with it. They are in love with it just as much as I am and we're learning so much together! Amazing resource and book for the coffee table!

good info and pics

DK books are some of my favorites, and this book is fantastic! Very thorough and thick. I purchased this book for Homeschooling and know it will come in handy. Kids will love it!

Very excellent book. Highly educational yet visually attractive. I would recommend this book to any ocean knowledge seeker

This is a really beautiful and informative book. I bought it having visited the amazing aquarium in Monterey in California, where the extraordinary displays and the genuinely cute pacific otters and beautiful jelly fish in particular made me want to know about the ocean. This book was on display there but for much more than this copy cost. Buy this, but go to Monterey: I spent two days at the aquarium and happily could have spent more.

Beautiful pictures and info.

Absolutely beautiful photos and a wealth of information.

I’m so impressed!! This book is huge and heavy I was worried it’d be smaller then I imagined. I hope my nephew likes it he wants to be a marine biologist. The top is a little crumpled which sucks but not a huge deal