Below the Edge of Darkness - A Memoir of Exploring Light and Life in the Deep Sea by Edith Widder Ph.D.

4.5 (2)
$28.00

Product Details

Web ID: 17693479

A pioneering marine biologist takes us down into the deep ocean to understand bioluminescence the language of light that helps life communicate in the darkness and what it tells us about the future of life on Earth in this thrilling blend of hard science and high adventure The New York Times Book Review . Named One Of The Best Books Of The Year By Booklist, Edith Widder's story is one of hardscrabble optimism, two-fisted exploration, and groundbreaking research. She's done things I dream of doing. James Cameron Edith Widder's childhood dream of becoming a marine biologist was almost derailed in college, when complications from a surgery gone wrong caused temporary blindness. A new reality of shifting shadows drew her fascination to the power of light as well as the importance of optimism. As her vision cleared, Widder found the intersection of her two passions in oceanic bioluminescence, a little-explored scientific field within Earth's last great unknown frontier- the deep ocean. With little promise of funding or employment, she leaped at the first opportunity to train as a submersible pilot and dove into the darkness. Widder's first journey into the deep ocean, in a diving suit that resembled a suit of armor, took her to a depth of eight hundred feet.

  • Product Features

    • Suggested age range - Adult
    • Format - Hardcover
    • Dimensions - 6.3" W x 9.1" H x 1.3" D
    • Genre - Nature & Wildlife
    • Publisher - Random House Publishing Group, Publication date - 07-27-2021
    • Page count - 352
    • ISBN - 9780525509240

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Ratings & Reviews

4.5/5

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3 years ago

Enjoyable read!

This book is unique in that it covered a topic that there aren't many books about and the author did a pretty good job on interweaving her journey in a niche field and how she and the field have changed over the course of her career. Her excitement and passion for what she does are evident throughout the book and hearing about her encounters with creatures that light up and others that try to stay invisible were enjoyable to experience. A good read overall!

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

4 years ago
from Mooresville, NC

Phenomenal Read

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley: This was a phenomenal memoir of a scientist who has spent her professional life searching for bioluminescent light in our vastly under-explored oceans. She suffered a serious illness that almost killed her and could have wrecked her plans but she persevered and has led an inspiring life. I love marine biology so it was amazing to learn more about this subject and to have an inside peek into what this research is really like was such a bonus. I received a vicarious thrill when she was wrote about her work on the expedition in 2013 to find and film giant squid because I remember that documentary like it was yesterday. I remember being so excited that it was the woman scientist who was the first to be successful with her equipment compared to the other scientists on board. With an easy, conversational writing style and plenty of wit, this book is a must-read for anyone with even the slightest interest in marine biology.

Recommends this product

Customer review from barnesandnoble.com