Personal, anecdotal, and highly engaging, "Watching Giants" opens a window on a world that seems quite like our own, yet is so different that understanding it pushes the very limits of our senses. Elin Kelsey's colorful first-person account, drawing from her rich, often humorous, everyday experiences as a mother, a woman, and a scientist, takes us to the incredibly productive waters of the Gulf of California and beyond, to oceans around the world. Kelsey brings us along as she talks to leading cetacean researchers and marine ecologists about their intriguing discoveries. We encounter humpback whales that build nets from bubbles, gain a disturbing maternal perspective on the dolphin-tuna issue, uncover intimate details about whale sex, and contemplate the meaning of the complex social networks that exist in the seas. What emerges alongside these fascinating snapshots of whale culture is a dizzying sense of the tremendous speed with which we are changing the oceans' ecosystems - through overfishing, noise pollution, even real estate development. "Watching Giants" introduces a world of immense interconnectivity and beauty - one that is now facing imminent peril.

About the Author
Elin Kelsey is the author of Saving Sea Otters, Finding Out about Whales, Strange New Species, and other books. She consults for environmental organizations including the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the World Conservation Union (IUCN). She is a faculty member in the School of Environment and Sustainability at Royal Roads University in Canada.

Reviews
"An appealing, agitating foray into the world of whales that ignites both protective instincts and a hungry curiosity to know more." Kirkus Reviews Cogent, compassionate ... Brilliant at pursuing seemingly unrelated trails back down the blowhole, Kelsey illuminates the "humanity" of whales. Publishers Weekly "Engaging portrayal of the lives and culture of whales." The Economist "Charming... Will be of interest to all whale and dolphin watchers." Choice



Book Information
ISBN 9780520261587
Author Elin Kelsey
Format Paperback
Page Count 214
Imprint University of California Press
Publisher University of California Press
Weight(grams) 363g
Dimensions(mm) 203mm * 152mm * 15mm