Synopses & Reviews
Dolphins have fascinated humans for millennia, giving rise to an abundance of stories and myths about them, yet the actual details of their lives in the sea have remained elusive. In this enthralling book, Kathleen M. Dudzinski and Toni Frohoff take usand#160;into the dolphinsand#8217; aquatic world to witness firsthand how they live their lives, communicate, and interact with one another and with other species, including people.
Kathleen M. Dudzinski and Toni Frohoff are scientists who have collectively dedicatedand#160;more than 40 years to studying dolphins beneath the oceanand#8217;s surface, frequently through a close-up underwater lens. Drawing on their own experiences and on up-to-the-minute research, the authors show that dolphins are decidedly not just members of a group but distinct individuals, able to communicate with one another and with humans. Dudzinski and Frohoff introduce a new way of looking at, and listening to, the vocabularyand#160;of dolphins in the sea, and they even provide an introductory and#8220;dolphin dictionary,and#8221; listing complex social signals that dolphins use to share informationand#160;among themselves and with people. Unveiling an intimate and scientifically accurate portrait of dolphins, this book will appeal to everyone who has wanted a closer glimpse into the hearts and minds of these amazing creatures.
Review
and#8220;A fascinating journey into the complex social, emotional, and cognitive world of dolphins.andnbsp; Everyone who is interested in animal behavior should read this wonderful book.and#8221;and#8212;Temple Grandin, Ph.D., author of
Animals in TranslationReview
and#8220;An interesting, readable, and up-to-date account of dolphin behavior from two well-known experts whose own experiences bring something fresh to the discussion.and#8221;and#8212;Mark Simmonds, Ph.D., Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, UK
Review
and#8220;A multi-faceted and comprehensive study of dolphin intelligence and communication that masterfully balances hard science with deeply moving accounts of two prominent scientistsand#8217; personal experiences with dolphins. An essential book for anyone interested in dolphins.and#8221;and#8212;Thomas I. White, Ph.D., author of
In Defense of Dolphins: The New Moral FrontierReview
and#8220;With exquisite prose and scientific acumen,
Dolphin Mysteries unveils the magic world of dolphin communication, bridging land and water and bringing us fin to shoulder with our aquatic kin.and#8221;and#8212;G.A. Bradshaw Ph.D., Director, The Kerulos Center
Review
and#8220;Hallelujahand#8212;this is the book I've been waiting for. Everyone who loves dolphins, everyone interested in the science of animal behavior, everyone who cares about preserving the life of the seas must get this riveting book.
Dolphin Mysteries will deepen your awe and rouse your compassion. It's a book worthy of its subject. I'll refer to it again and again.and#8221;and#8212;Sy Montgomery, author of
Journey of the Pink Dolphins and
The Good Good PigReview
"
Dolphin Mysteries is wonderfully written in a personal style that reveals the authors passion for these animals. This amazing work is accessible to everyone."and#8212;
Newsletter of the Puget Sound chapter of the American Cetacean SocietyReview
". . . Of all the books I've read . . . this one has the most to offer in terms of understanding how dolphins behave and interact (both with one another and with humans), and it describes their remarkable cognitive powers in layman's terms."and#8212;Peter Evans,
BBC Wildlife MagazineSynopsis
Unveiling an intimate and scientifically accurate portrait of dolphins, this book is sure to appeal to everyone who has wanted a closer glimpse into the hearts and minds of these amazing creatures.
Synopsis
This enthralling book takes us into the dolphinsand#8217; world beneath the sea to discover details of their lives, their methods of communication, and how they interact with one another and with humans. Drawing on decades of firsthand research, the authors unveil one of the most intimate and scientifically accurate portraits of dolphins to date.
About the Author
A conversation with Kathleen Dudzinski and Toni Frohoff:
and#160;
Q: What inspired both of you to make the study of dolphins your lifeand#8217;s work?
Toni: It was the mind of the dolphin that intrigued me the most. I wanted to know how these amazingly intelligent animals communicated with each other and with us. But it is the heart of the dolphin that motivates me to return to the sea for more. By understanding dolphins as individuals, Iand#8217;ve observed a diverse and rich complex of emotions that is belied by their permanent and#147;smiles.and#8221; I am therefore inspired to learn how to better protect these smart and passionate mammals.
and#160;
Kathleen: I have always loved science, the ocean, and animals. A college internship studying dolphins and whales showed me that I could merge these three passions, and so I jumped at the opportunity to pursue research on dolphin social behavior.
and#160;
Q: Are there specific challenges you confront in observing dolphins, and what are they?
A: When we observe wild dolphins, the first challenge is finding them. The ocean is vast with many places to hide. Observing dolphins noninvasively is another challenge, especially when so many individuals are so very inquisitive of us underwater. Having the correct tools to document their behavior and vocalizations has been yet another challenge. But new technologies are helping in this respect. The biggest challenge of all is just spending time underwater: we can only visit their aquatic world for short bursts.
and#160;
Q: What is unique about the way that dolphins communicate?
A: Their bells and whistles and their use of sonar are truly impressive. Most fascinating is that dolphins use touch and behaviors such as jaw clapping as forms of communication.
and#160;
Q: What do you hope readers will learn from reading Dolphin Mysteries?
A: We hope readers will enjoy the journey weand#8217;ve experienced in studying these magnificent creatures and gain a better understanding of the unique requirements of dolphins and their ocean home. We have to strive for better protection of the worldand#8217;s marine ecosystems and the animals in them. Also, dolphins deserve to be recognized and protected as individuals as well as in populations.
Exclusive Essay
Read an exclusive essay by Marc Bekoff and Jessica Pierce