Life At Sea

In Life at Sea, anthropologist Monique Layton draws on her experiences on modern cruise ships to examine the evolution of sailing from the Age of Exploration to the Age of Tourism. Using historical records and the reports of people who once went to sea through necessity, curiosity, or adventure, she shows the common events that have shaped their voyages and the ingenuity, courage, and determination that characterize mankind's connection with the all-surrounding sea. The book's topics range from the dependence on the wind and manpower through the invention of devices to determine location at sea to modern maritime technology, from the devastation of scurvy and starvation on early ships of exploration and trade to the luxuries of omnipresent food, on-board medical treatment, and professional entertainment available on behemoth cruise ships. The book also delves into the deeper meaning of seafarers' rituals and their harsh lives with severe discipline and few rewards. These aspects along with the horrors of the slave trade and naval warfare, the harrowing crossings of emigrants and convicts, the ambiguities of piracy, and economics of global trade all show the contradictory elements that have consistently shaped travel by sea.

A thrilling tour of the sea's most extreme species, coauthored by one of the world's leading marine scientists The ocean teems with life that thrives under difficult situations in unusual environments. The Extreme Life of the Sea takes readers to the absolute limits of the ocean world—the fastest and deepest, the hottest and oldest creatures of the oceans. It dives into the icy Arctic and boiling hydrothermal vents—and exposes the eternal darkness of the deepest undersea trenches—to show how marine life thrives against the odds. This thrilling book brings to life the sea's most extreme species, and tells their stories as characters in the drama of the oceans. Coauthored by Stephen Palumbi, one of today’s leading marine scientists, The Extreme Life of the Sea tells the unforgettable tales of some of the most marvelous life forms on Earth, and the challenges they overcome to survive. Modern science and a fluid narrative style give every reader a deep look at the lives of these species. The Extreme Life of the Sea shows you the world’s oldest living species. It describes how flying fish strain to escape their predators, how predatory deep-sea fish use red searchlights only they can see to find and attack food, and how, at the end of her life, a mother octopus dedicates herself to raising her batch of young. This wide-ranging and highly accessible book also shows how ocean adaptations can inspire innovative commercial products—such as fan blades modeled on the flippers of humpback whales—and how future extremes created by human changes to the oceans might push some of these amazing species over the edge.

Full color photographs of marine life from the most simple to the most complex.

Life Well Cruised is a close-to-the-heart account of a marine engineer’s fascinating life on commercial ships and ashore as well. The story begins right from the days as a student cadet as the author trains and prepares himself for an arduous seafaring journey ahead. The book also vividly portrays the incredible voyages on commercial ships across seas, the several ups and downs and mind-blowing experiences on and off the shore. From the port of Mumbai, across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Panama Canal, to the Pacific, Atlantic, Mediterranean and Caribbean oceans, the book takes readers on a thrilling expedition to different ports and places. Interspersed with details of engines and machinery, the problems and perils at sea, and the innovative ways in which the author finds solutions with limited resources, the book is a must-read for all aspiring marine engineers and anyone who enjoys adventures. The author makes enduring friendships and everlasting memories that make the often lonely voyages away from family worthwhile. Life Well Cruised is a tale of endurance, courage and perseverance in the face of unexpected encounters and challenges. The experiences and anecdotes shared by the author are not just reflections of life at sea but life in general as well