Andrew Benesh’s Reviews > The Whale: In Search of the Giants of the Sea > Status Update

Finished! The final chapters on dining with whales and the author's personal connections are really well written, but feel out of sync with the book. I really appreciate the photography and extensive index at the end.

The discussion of the transition from whale hinting to whale watching feels hopeful, though it doesn't feel like it's necessarily sustainable. I'm curious as to the relationship between the remnant modern whaling industry and the ambergris market...

The politics of modern whaling bans - and their defiance by Japan and Norway - feels really well written. The attention to the effects of the Cold War and US withdrawal from the industry as drivers are depressing but important observations.

Apparently some whales can spontaneously combust after death, if their death was particularly violent. The section on breaching was depressing; I never realized how many whales entered the Thames. The advent of modern commercial whaling is frightening with its efficiency.

The broader philosophical and political landscape of whaling is fascinating. Seeing the feeling science and commercial delusions feels familiar. Still some weird sexual fixations in this book.

The chapter on Thoreau, Sea Monsters, and Ancient Wishes was cool, but I wish there was more fronting in fact rather than reliance on old sailing notes. While they are fascinating, that aren't necessarily informative.

The chapter on Melville and Hawthorne's relationship was long and a bit hard to get into. I really want more whale content and less historical personality.

This frustrates me. A great section about whales and historical whaling, followed by a long dreary chapter about Nantucket. Also, the author is really focused on penises, and sailors sex lives.

The chapter on the Sperm whale was informative, though the author gets a little carried away with the majesty of the whale at times. The historical underpinnings if whaling and connections with slavery were well addressed. Whale museums are weird.

Chapter 2 seems to be more about Hermann Melville than whales. Though I did learn about a brand whale whose bowels exploded, fatally infecting onlookers. So there's that.