Synopses & Reviews
From bodysurfing in Central American war zones, diving barrier reefs with his tragically fated love, Nancy, or being bumped by a whale off Antarctica, David Helvarg has lived a life often as endangered as the ocean he now works to protect.
Saved by the Sea is the story of this longtime journalist's personal love, loss, and redemption in the free-flowing heart of our blue-marble planet. This eloquent and honestly told tale of the changes in one man's journey and the world's ocean over the last half-century is also a profound, startling, and sometimes surprisingly funny reflection on the state of our seas and the intimate ways in which our lives are all linked to the natural world around us.
Saved by the Sea will bring salt water to your eyes and small waves of hope to your heart.
David Helvarg is founder and president of the Blue Frontier Campaign, a Washington, D.C.-based organization working for ocean and coastal conservation. An award-winning journalist, he has written for
The New York Times, the
Los Angeles Times,
Smithsonian,
Popular Science,
Sierra, and
The Nation, and has produced more than forty documentaries for PBS, the Discovery Channel, and others. His previous books include
The War Against the Greens,
Blue Frontier,
50 Ways to Save the Ocean, and
Rescue Warriors. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. From bodysurfing in Central American war zones, diving barrier reefs with his tragically fated love, Nancy, or being bumped by a whale off Antarctica, David Helvarg has lived a life often as endangered as the ocean he now works to protect.
Saved by the Sea is the story of this longtime journalist and activist's personal love, loss, and the story he shares with the sea.
This eloquent and honestly told tale of the changes in one man's journey and the world's ocean over the last half-century is also a profound, startling, and sometimes surprisingly funny reflection on the state of our seas and the intimate ways in which our lives are all linked to the natural world around us.
"Helvarg offers us a glimpse not only of his own amazing and often heartrending adventures in and around the ocean but also gives insight into the human condition . . . A great read from an outstanding writer."Philippe Cousteau, ocean explorer
"Read Saved by the Sea for pleasure, read it for adventure, read it because it conveys the gift of being allowed to slip into David Helvargs world and view the ocean, and humankind, with profound new understanding. But beware: This book has the power to change the way you think about the world, about yourself, and the future of humankind."Slyvia Earle, ocean explorer and author of The World is Blue"In this powerful story of love, loss, and resolve, Helvarg bares his heart and takes us through his life and across the oceans, letting us see that the antidote to all is simply to have something to believe in, and a cause to serve."Carl Safina, author of Song for the Blue Ocean
"This is a love story, filled as most of them are with a certain amount of pain and a great deal of pleasure. David Helvarg has done an awful lot to protect the world's oceans, not least this fine piece of writing!"Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature
"In David Helvargs remarkable life as journalist and activist, he has participated in and reported on many of the major events of the last five decades, from the Vietnam War to Hurricane Katrina. Throughout his odyssey, Helvargs love of the sea has provided him both a cause to fight for and a cure for his ills. In Saved by the Sea, the reader will discover why he cares, and why he continues to fight for the oceansand why we all need to."Ted Danson, actor
"In this important yet eminently readable book, David Helvarg skillfully weaves together three narrative strandsthe life in our oceans, his own colorful life, and the impact that politics, culture, and industry have had on both."Roz Savage, ocean rower and author of Rowing the Atlantic
"Helvarg makes the case for effective conversation of our oceans while sharing his compelling personal story. Rhode Island and the rest of the nation rely on the health of our oceans, and we must act swiftly to protect them."U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island
"David Helvarg dives into our endangered-ocean crisis through the prism of his often endangered life. His memoir of the sea is full of compassion and concern."Paul R. this, coauthor of The Dominant Animal "Writing is a kind of art. In telling of his life and love of the sea, David Helvarg has created a narrative masterpiece. Read thsi book to learn about how this wild man has come to dedicate himself to our living ocean, but mostly read Saved by the Sea for the pure salty pleasure of it."Wyland, marine life artist and conservationist
"[Helvarg] possesses a narrative skill that makes his story readable and an intrepid spirit that makes his story worth reading."Jim Toomey, cartoonist of Sherman's Lagoon
"A call to protect 'our blue frontier and last great wilderness commons at sea.' Helvarg . . . has led an adventurous life as a journalist, private investigator, producer of documentary films and a political activist. During his boyhood on the north shore of Queens, New York, he witnessed the destruction of the wetlands he loved. While attending Boston University in the late '60s, he was arrested for participating in an antiwar riot. He promptly dropped out of college in 1971 and moved to San Diego to organize against the war. It was there that he became an avid bodysurfer and began his 'lifelong connection to the ocean.' Resuming his education, he transferred to Goddard College, which had a work-study program that allowed him to study urban warfare firsthand in Northern Ireland, laying the groundwork for his future career as a journalist. After graduation, he returned to San Diego where he edited a small weekly newspaper and wrote articles about navy dolphins, navy nuclear weapons, white sharks, offshore oil drilling and other marine topics. He discovered that the two major marine-biological research centersScripps on the West coast and Woods Hole in Cape Codwere heavily involved in Cold War research, to the detriment of oceanographic biology and marine ecology. Although he is a willing risk taker who welcomes the challenges of rough water and covering war zones, he writes movingly about how the 'sea, like death, has been the main theme in my life; it has provided rapture, joy, solitude, and solace at different points along the journey.' Now approaching 60, Helvarg has dedicated his remaining years to the 'protection, exploration, and restoration of our living seas,' even though he is no longer a young radical. An elegant memoir of a meaningful life."Kirkus Reviews
Review
“Helvarg draws upon his unique experiences and background as an environmental journalist and documentary filmmaker, and writes in a clear and vivid style. He expands the readers awareness, hope and concern for the ocean environment. . . an inspiring read. And an important one."--San Francisco Chronicle
“Ever since the publication of his wave-making book Blue Frontier in 2001, David Helvarg has become the premier chronicler of Americas complex relationship with our oceans and coasts, our last frontier...In his new book, Saved by the Sea: A Love Story with Fish, Helvarg adds a new and moving dimension to his work by exploring his own personal relationships with the ocean and the three main women in his life: his mother, girlfriend, and sister.”--Honolulu Weekly
“Theres something special about writers who think deeply over decades about the ocean. In their memoirs, they seem to have globe-trotting lives, unhampered by ordinary boundaries and borders.”--LA Times“This is a heartfelt tribute to the seas power and importance in our lives in addition to being a very human story that will resonate in the heart of every reader.”--Tucson Citizen "In this inspiring memoir, an activist expands the reader's awareness of the ocean environment."--SFGate.com “An elegant memoir of a meaningful life.”--Kirkus Reviews
“A compelling picture of how deep those connections to the sea can run.”--Emagazine.com"His writings can be read as both a memoir and a plea, but most of all, as a loving tribute to the natural world."--Sierra Magazine
“There are many books available that delve into the complexities of the oceans or detail the many facts and figures to document the threats faced by the oceans and the marine life within. But there are few that make a personal one-to-one connection… Saved by the Sea is a fascinating look at a mans life and how the thread of the ocean is woven throughout. . . . Full of personal experiences that emphasize to the reader that mankind is connected to the sea, whether man knows it or not.”--RT Sea Blog
"Helvarg offers us a glimpse not only of his own amazing and often heartrending adventures in and around the ocean but also gives insight into the human condition....A great read from an outstanding writer."--PHILIPPE COUSTEAU, ocean explorer
“Read Saved by the Sea for pleasure, read it for adventure, read it because it conveys the gift of being allowed to slip into David Helvargs world and view the ocean, and humankind, with profound new understanding. But beware: This book has the power to change the way you think about the world, about yourself, and the future of humankind.”--SYLVIA EARLE, ocean explorer and author of The World is Blue
"In this powerful story of love, loss, and resolve, Helvarg bares his heart and takes us through his life and across the oceans, letting us see that the antidote to all is simply to have something to believe in, and a cause to serve."--CARL SAFINA, author of Song for the Blue Ocean "This is a love story, filled as most of them are with a certain amount of pain and a great deal of pleasure. David Helvarg has done an awful lot to protect the world's oceans, not least this fine piece of writing!"--BILL McKIBBEN, author of The End of Nature “In David Helvargs remarkable life as journalist and activist, he has participated in and reported on many of the major events of the last five decades, from the Viet Nam War to Hurricane Katrina. Throughout his odyssey, Helvargs love of the sea has provided him both a cause to fight for and a cure for his ills. In Saved by the Sea, the reader will discover why he cares, and why he continues to fight for the oceans—and why we all need to.”--TED DANSON, actor
Review
"Helvarg offers us a glimpse not only of his own amazing and often heartrending adventures in and around the ocean but also gives insight into the human condition....A great read from an outstanding writer."
--PHILIPPE COUSTEAU, ocean explorer
Read Saved by the Sea for pleasure, read it for adventure, read it because it conveys the gift of being allowed to slip into David Helvargs world and view the ocean, and humankind, with profound new understanding. But beware: This book has the power to change the way you think about the world, about yourself, and the future of humankind.”
--SYLVIA EARLE, ocean explorer and author of The World is Blue"In this powerful story of love, loss, and resolve, Helvarg bares his heart and takes us through his life and across the oceans, letting us see that the antidote to all is simply to have something to believe in, and a cause to serve." --CARL SAFINA, author of Song for the Blue Ocean "This is a love story, filled as most of them are with a certain amount of pain and a great deal of pleasure. David Helvarg has done an awful lot to protect the world's oceans, not least this fine piece of writing!" --BILL McKIBBEN, author of The End of Nature In David Helvargs remarkable life as journalist and activist, he has participated in and reported on many of the major events of the last five decades, from the Viet Nam War to Hurricane Katrina. Throughout his odyssey, Helvargs love of the sea has provided him both a cause to fight for and a cure for his ills. In Saved by the Sea, the reader will discover why he cares, and why he continues to fight for the oceansand why we all need to.” --TED DANSON, actor
Synopsis
From bodysurfing in Central American war zones, diving barrier reefs with his tragically fated love, Nancy, or being bumped by a whale off Antarctica, David Helvarg has lived a life often as endangered as the ocean he now works to protect. Saved by the Sea is the story of this longtime journalist's personal love, loss, and redemption in the free-flowing heart of our blue-marble planet. This eloquent and honestly told tale of the changes in one man's journey and the world's ocean over the last half-century is also a profound, startling, and sometimes surprisingly funny reflection on the state of our seas and the intimate ways in which our lives are all linked to the natural world around us. Saved by the Sea will bring salt water to your eyes and small waves of hope to your heart.
About the Author
DAVID HELVARG is founder and president of the Blue Frontier Campaign, a Washington, D.C.-based organization working for ocean and coastal conservation. An award-winning journalist, he has written for the
New York Times, the
Los Angeles Times,
Smithsonian,
Popular Science,
Sierra, and
The Nation, and has produced more than forty documentaries for PBS, the Discovery Channel, and others. His previous books include
The War Against the Greens,
Blue Frontier,
50 Ways to Save the Ocean, and
Rescue Warriors. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.