Ocean's End: Travels Through Endangered Seas

by Colin Woodard

The Black Sea is already dead. Because of sea-level rise, an entire nation in the South Pacific, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, is being washed away. Throughout the Caribbean Sea, vast stretches of coral reef-called the "rainforests of the ocean" because of their diversity of life-are dying at increasingly rapid rates. The reefs along the entire north coast of Jamaica are dead. Ocean's End is not about the damage our oceans could suffer (and inflict) in ten or a hundred years, if we're not careful. It's an eyewitness account, in compelling and vivid detail, of the massive worldwide destruction that's already happened.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Science Nature, Science

320 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2000

Reviews

[Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Woodward's writing style and the collection of cases (and ecosystems) he put together: Black Sea, Great Banks, Mississippi Delta, Belize's coral reefs, Marshall Islands, and Antartica. His exploration of each one allows him to cogently discuss the myriad influences on ocean ecosystems (e.g. climate change, overfishing, river eutrophication, etc.), interweaving the science (very well explained) with personal anecdotes, historic overviews, and observations on local societies. He has a particular knack for including numbers in his prose in a very simple but powerful way; in fact, his book is packed with data and evidence, but is a breeze to read. He does not lose sight of the forest for the trees. If their is one weakness in his style (in my opinion), it's his attempts at waxing lyrical (e.g. describing his diving experiences in Belize). My one issue with the book (not Woodward's fault), is its age. It is almost 20 years old now! The problem with this is that the problems he describes in the book have evolved (or worsened) considerably since. For example, the ozone hole is not such a large issue, but global warming and overfishing are way more potent. Woodward would do us a great favor if he revisited the book and rewrote it for 2020. What would he find different? What surprised him? What new cases could he describe? I would love to read this follow-up.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terribly depressing, and also already out of date. The urgency is in most ways greater now, which just makes it more depressing. Very weird to revisit New Orleans pre-Katrina. Still well-written and informative, data age aside.

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am reading this book (or parts of it) for a school project. What I have read is not the most interesting. The thing I do like about the book is the context, and the way it is written. The author is amazing with words, but might find better luck with a different topic. His way of writing in a horror story? Awesome. Either way, not a book I would recommend my peers, or anyone interested in the things I am. For the person whose looking for more of a biography type of story, and packed with information about sea life, please feel free to read this book.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been a great book if I had read it around 2002, but so many things have changed since it was written that it was hard to concentrate on the author's examples. Katrina, The BP oil spill, Superstorm Sandy...and those are just the USA examples. It's a much different world, and I'm dying to know how things are NOW vs. how they were looking in 2000. Frustration aside, the book had a very engaging style, and seemed well researched. I'd be interested in reading more by this author.

[Artie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good look at a few specific issues hurting our world's ocean.

[Zed · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ey-opening over-view of the state of the worlds oceans.

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I couldnt put it down! It went everywhere with me and i took notes that i have shared with online and offline friends strangers and family!

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it for a class, but I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the condition of our oceans and what we can do to help.