From Powells.com
Staff Pick
Surprisingly funny, this thrilling, intelligent, and entertaining odyssey immerses readers into the bizarre and — let’s be honest — fascinating seduction and sexual behaviors of some of ocean life’s kinkier denizens. Nature’s curious and elaborate charms never cease to amaze. Recommended By Michal D., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Forget the Kama Sutra. When it comes to inventive sex acts, just look
to the sea. There we find the elaborate mating rituals of armored
lobsters; giant right whales engaging in a lively threesome whilst
holding their breath; full moon sex parties of groupers and daily mating
blitzes by blueheaded wrasse. Deep-sea squid perform inverted 69s,
while hermaphrodite sea slugs link up in giant sex loops. From doubly
endowed sharks to the maze-like vaginas of some whales, Sex in the Sea is a journey unlike any other to explore the staggering ways life begets life beneath the waves.
Beyond a deliciously voyeuristic excursion, Sex in the Sea
uniquely connects the timeless topic of sex with the timely issue of
sustainable oceans. Through overfishing, climate change, and ocean
pollution we are disrupting the creative procreation that drives the
wild abundance of life in the ocean. With wit and scientific rigor,
Hardt introduces us to the researchers and innovators who study the wet
and wild sex lives of ocean life and offer solutions that promote rather
than prevent, successful sex in the sea. Part science, part erotica, Sex in the Sea discusses how we can shift from a prophylactic to a more propagative force for life in the ocean.
Review
"Sex and the sea are both deeply mysterious. The combination of the two
is explosive and makes for a terrific yarn.” Paul Greenberg,
bestselling author of Four Fish and American Catch
Review
"Hilarious...Hardt’s science is up to date in a field where research can
be difficult, and readers will feel confident that they can talk
intelligently about fish gonads at their next sushi dinner." Publisher's Weekly
Review
"A watery romp under the waves that will appeal to anyone wanting to broaden their knowledge of our watery planet." Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Dr. Marah J. Hardt is Research Co-Director for the non-profit Future of
Fish. A coral reef ecologist by training, she is a former research
fellow at Blue Ocean Institute. She has written for Scientific American, The American Prospect, and Scuba Diver Magazine, among other publications. She currently embraces life as a mermaid in the mountains of Boulder, CO.