Among Whales

by Roger Payne

Book Overview

How can we understand the language of whales? How will the evolving composition of seawater affect life on earth? Why do whales sing? Roger Payne has listened to the whales' haunting songs for most of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684802104
• ISBN13: 9780684802107
• Release Date: June 1995
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 431 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Touched By Whales

I am astonished that this book is out of print. How can this be? Why aren't people using it as a textbook in writing, psychology, ethics and marine biology classes? Why aren't high schools and universities clamouring to have Roger Payne speak at their commencement exercises? Why isn't he being interviewed by Oprah and Good Morning America? Why isn't the name Roger Payne as familiar to us as Jacques Cousteau or Keiko the whale? Believe me, it should be.Roger Payne is a cetacean scientist - that is to say he studies whales - however that doesn't begin to tell you about what he really does or who he really is. You see, Roger Payne swims up to Right Whales and looks them in the eye. He hangs upside down next to Humpback whales in order to experience their bone shaking songs up close. He spends hundredsd of hours a year on boats watching and recording the movements, behaviors and songs of whales. Best of all, Roger Payne has stories to tell about another world that exists beyond land. He knows and can prove, for example, that Humpback whales sing. Yes sing. Not simply make sounds but create rhythm, patterns and notes in sequences that put some of our greatest composers to shame. He has stories to tell of his encounters with whales that make it abundantly clear that they think, feel and communicate. In short Roger Payne has something to teach us about our relationship to another species on this planet, and we should be listening.But if you're not the sort to read a book just because it would be good for you, read it because Payne is a fine writer whose stories are well told and fascinating, and whose scientific explanations are so clear that even the most scientifically-challenged person can follow. Read it because it will enchant you with its descriptions of whales at play and captivate you with its studies of why whales do what they do. Read it because it will challenge your mind and touch your heart. It's that good.

a great book for an aspirering ceteacean biologist

Roger Payne brings up issuses that this world is going to have to deal with in the years to come. His passion for cetaceans shows through in every page, I encourage everyone to read this masterpeice!

Outstanding!!!

If you have wondered about the beauty of these mammals, then you must read this book. Roger Payne shares the wonders of the graceful aminals. If you care for them at all, then you are foolish not to read this book. It has really bought me closer to who they really are.

Fantastic book about the x's and o's of whales

This book explains many theories about whale behavior, communications, etc. in great detail. It is fairly complicated in its analysis and does not have any pictures. Definately a must read.

Amazing

Roger Payne takes you along while he swims with whales and studies whales. If that were all the book did, it would be a pretty good book. But Payne soars into theology and further -- while still being a hard-headed scientist. An incredible book. A great read even if you don't care about whales.