Exploding Whale: And Other Remarkable Stories from the Evening News

by Paul Linnman, Paul Linnman

This lively and entertaining autobiography about the career of a television news reporter begins and ends with the one story he covered early in this career that just won't go away. The scene made "cult-classic status" right from the start: here's rookie broadcast newsman Paul Linnman in the foreground, reporting on a tricky situation at the Oregon coast. State government officials have been working to remove the body of a beached whale, long dead and now rotting. The solution: explosives. As Linnman ducks, the skies issue forth chunks of whale meat, and Linnman's live-action reporting takes its place in broadcast history. The title piece is merely one career highlight among many for Linnman, who writes from the inside about his work in this glamorous field.  Linnman reflects on the inspiring people and incredible events, as well as the just plain oddities that he's witnessed over the years. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you will enjoy this behind scenes look at life on camera.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since 2006, I've read many books about my adopted home state of Oregon. This one was on my must-read shelf because the exploding whale story is too strange not to be true, and I wanted to get the whole explanation from the reporter who was there. Paul Linnman does a nice job weaving the story of the whale with other stories of Oregon residents, their lives and contributions. Mr. Linnman's description of his career as a TV reporter here in Portland is also interesting, especially as he describes changes in technology and reporting.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can a whale being blown up by half a ton of dynamite be so inspirational?! Not even our author knows for sure. The fact remains, however, that in this book every possible answer to that question is thoroughly researched and presented with many connections to other stories also covered by the newsman/author in painstaking, rib-splitting, and tear-inducing detail. Yes, my friends...I laughed. I cried. And I laughed until I cried quite noticeably on a plane traveling from Boston to LA. Several times. What can I say?! You will have to read it for yourselves to fully comprehend this insane, unique experience. And then watch it online to see if the movie is half as well-done as the book.

[Tamara Blackwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wondered how you write a book about an exploding whale and have more than a pamphlet. Paul Linnman is an excellent writer/journalist and this book was a delight. In addition to his own biography, he includes stories about people he met and covered through his job. He is a very generous person and these stories are wonderful. Of course, interspersed with these is the full story of the exploding whale. What more can you ask for? Loved this book and recommend it to curious readers.

[Ann LePore · Rating 5 out of 5]

We bought this as a joke gift for our adult son who for some unknown reason is afraid of whales (a running family laugh). The book tells the bizarre story of the whale but also tells amazing heartwarming stories of people Paul Linnman has met in his long running career. As he puts it “ordinary people doing extraordinary things”. It was a pleasure to read. I ended up reading it before wrapping it up for the gift. :)

[Kandy Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished it, although it was tough to continue at times. Choppy storytelling made it difficult to maintain interest. The whale portions were quite entertaining and I think that's why I finished. I love the idea of all of his "good news stories, I just wish they didn't feel like filler.

[Mary Lou]

This one gets moved to the maybe I'll come back and read it later. Just couldn't get into, didn't like the choppy feel of it as he jumped back and forth between "the whale story," his career road (i.e. how he ended up on the beach that day), and all they great stories he wrote and people he has meet since then that he thinks trump the "whale story". I think I might enjoy it when I have more free time in my life but right now books that I read need to A) allow me to escape my own life for a little while or B) teach me something that will help make my current life better and 90 pages in this book hadn't done either of those things.

[Selina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after seeing the live footage of the whale explosion while touring the Oregon Coast. Funny story, but it contained so many more human interest stories and the author loved his work so much that I raved about this one while reading it.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard a version of this story while working on the Truth boats out of Santa Barbara harbor in the early 90s. What I liked most about this book was the way Linnman talked about the other stories he covered: all the inspiring non-exploding-whale stories.