“From deep dives into the ocean’s most fascinating creatures to gripping accounts of high-stakes exploration, resource extraction, and shipwrecks, this collection is sure to max out your library card and fill your shelves with unforgettable tales from the deep.”

As promised, part two of my “Stories from the Sea” reading roundup is full of recommendations for even the choosiest of readers. From deep dives into the ocean’s most fascinating creatures to gripping accounts of high-stakes exploration, resource extraction, and shipwrecks, this collection is sure to max out your library card and fill your shelves with unforgettable tales from the deep.

Read this if…

You beeline it to the octopus at any aquarium you visit…

The Soul of an Octopus, by Sy Montgomery, Atria Books, 2015.

Volunteering at the Seattle Aquarium has given me the chance to spend time with the resident Giant Pacific octopus. Hours of teaching aquarium-goers about their remarkable intelligence and otherworldly abilities were made easy after reading The Soul of an Octopus. Sy Montgomery captures the beauty and spark of these majestic creatures in a book accessible to all audiences. Through intimate encounters with octopuses at aquariums and in the wild, Montgomery explores the remarkable emotional and cognitive lives of these shape-shifting animals. Each chapter challenges our understanding of consciousness, connection, and the boundaries between species.

You’ve already read The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson and hope to be similarly inspired…

The World Is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean’s Are One, by Sylvia Earle, National Geographic Books, 2009.

Legendary marine biologist Sylvia Earle delivers a powerful and urgent message about the interconnectedness of humanity and the oceans. Drawing on her decades of experience exploring the sea, Earle emphasizes how the health of our oceans directly impacts our survival, from climate regulation to food systems. With passionate insight and scientific authority, she calls for global action to protect the oceans and safeguard the future of both marine life and humanity. The World Is Blue is a compelling reminder that our fate is tied to the fate of the oceans—the time to act is now.

You’re more interested in the human (dark)side of fisheries…

The Outlaw Ocean, by Ian Urbina, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2019.

This gripping work of investigative journalism reads like a thriller as Ian Urbina journeys across the world’s oceans to expose the horrors, abuses, and crimes hidden on the high seas. Drawing on a career reporting for The New York Times and other outlets, Urbina recounts harrowing stories, from illegal trawlers in Thailand and post-Captain Phillips piracy in Somalia to oil rigs off Malaysian Borneo transformed into luxury dive resorts guarded by armed soldiers. The Outlaw Ocean lays bare the geopolitical and socioeconomic forces driving today’s maritime industry. It’s an urgent, unsettling read—one that challenges readers to confront the hidden costs of cheap seafood and the unseen labor behind global trade.

You went tide pooling as a kid, potentially in the UK…

Life Between the Tides: In Search of Rockpools and Other Adventures Along the Shore, by Adam Nicolson, Picador Books, 2021.

Adam Nicolson embarks on a poetic and thoughtful exploration of the shores and tidal pools that exist between land and sea. Blending personal reflection with natural history, Nicolson uncovers the incredible diversity of life that thrives in these often-overlooked ecosystems. From the humble seaweed to the fascinating creatures that inhabit rockpools, he delves into the rhythms and mysteries of coastal life. In this beautifully written book, he invites readers to slow down, observe, and appreciate the richness of life along the shore, while reflecting on our deeper connection to the natural world.

You took a trip to Seoul just for the aesthetics, but ended up eating lots of seafood in Jeju…

FISH, No. 27, by Various Authors, Magazine F, July 2023.

If you’re lucky enough to snag a copy of this niche editorial, prepare to be engrossed with stunning visuals and humble stories of fishermen around the world. Korean-based F Magazine is the Gen Z counterpart to Mark Kurlansky’s single-issue deep dives. With fishing epics, illustrated catch guides, chef interviews, and stories from Portugal’s historic canneries, Issue #27 Fish is a compendium of the sea. For more almanac entries, try to get your hands on Issue #13 Clam and Issue #1 Salt! 

You’re more impressed by mapping the seafloor than the night sky…

The Deepest Map, by Laura Trethewey, HarperCollins Publishers, 2023.

It’s often said that we’ve mapped more of the moon than Earth’s oceans—a comparison that fails to impress Laura Trethewey. After all, the moon is just 1.5% the volume of our planet, and surveying the ocean is far more complex than scanning the open sky. The Deepest Map explores the high-stakes race to chart the seafloor, navigating challenges from maritime border disputes to secret military maps and a billionaire’s quest to reach the deepest parts of the five oceans. With vivid storytelling, Trethewey brings to life the diverse cast working to uncover the mysteries of the deep—an effort that pushes the boundaries of exploration and human ambition.

You are fascinated by the geopolitical nature of the sea and wonder how your goods from across the world arrive at your doorstep…

Sinews of War and Trade: Shipping and Capitalism in the Arabian Peninsula, by Laleh Khalili, Verso Books, 2020.

As revealed in The Outlaw Ocean by Ian Urbina, the highways of the sea are an essential piece of our deeply connected world. One region reigns supreme in complexity: the Arabian Peninsula. Sinews of War and Trade explores how the development of ports and shipping infrastructure on the Arabian Peninsula has reshaped not only the region but the global economy. Far from being a passive backdrop to trade, maritime transportation is portrayed as a driving force in the architecture of global capitalism. The book reveals how ports—crucial hubs for logistics, hydrocarbon transport, and global supply chains—reinforce racialized labor hierarchies, transform physical and social environments, and perpetuate colonial systems of profit, law, and governance across borders.

You loved listening to your grandparents tell stories they learned from their grandparents…

The Book Of Luelen, by Luelen Bernart and translated and edited by John L. Fischer, Saul H. Riesenberg, and Marjorie G. Whiting, Australia National University Press, 1977.

Luelen Bernart, a respected member of a prominent Ponapean family, was deeply valued for his extensive traditional knowledge. Educated at the Protestant mission school at Ohwa (Oa), he blended oral tradition with written narrative to create The Book of Luelen—the most comprehensive history of Ponape ever authored by a native of the island. Intended for his relatives and descendants, Bernart’s account traces Ponape’s story from its origins through to the arrival of Europeans, weaving together legend, history, and botanical knowledge. Bernart’s work remains a rare and invaluable insider’s perspective on Ponapean culture and identity that will leave you eager to begin documenting your own story.

Suffering appeals to you somehow…

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage, by Alfred Lansing, Basic Books, 2015. (First Published, Hodder & Stoughton, 1959).

In 1914, British explorer Ernest Shackleton and his crew set out to cross Antarctica, only to have their ship, Endurance, trapped by pack ice and slowly crushed. Stranded in the frozen wilderness and far from rescue, Shackleton’s leadership, determination, and resourcefulness became the crew’s only hope. Lansing’s masterful retelling of this extraordinary journey details the crew’s desperate struggle for survival, their fight against the elements, and the unyielding will to live. With stunning depth and vivid detail, Endurance is an unforgettable story of human courage, resilience, and the power of hope in the face of unimaginable adversity. Even if you don’t want to read this yourself, it’s probably a safe gift for Father’s Day.

You got SCUBA certified in a flooded mining quarry, the Navy, or trade school–or you happen to own a personal submarine…

In Oceans Deep: Courage, Innovation, and Adventure Beneath the Waves, by Bill Streever, Little, Brown and Company, 2019.

A former commercial oilfield diver turned biologist and science writer, Bill Streever lives for the pursuit of ocean exploration. From the first daring explorations of the deep to modern-day technological breakthroughs, Streever chronicles the courage and innovation that have driven humanity’s quest to understand the vast, uncharted waters below. He investigates harrowing accounts of Naval midshipmen testing gas mixtures leading to the development of SCUBA gear we use today, capturing the lengths people are willing to push their bodies while freediving. With a blend of history, science, and adventure, In Oceans Deep reveals the stories of pioneers who risked everything to uncover the secrets of the deep sea, offering a compelling look at the challenges, triumphs, and enduring fascination with the ocean’s depths.

You read all the books in Oprah’s and Good Morning America’s Book Club… 

Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2018.

Ever since my high school English teacher dismissed popular fiction as mere “beach reads for housewives,” I’ve held a certain bias against New York Times Best Sellers with a “Famous Person’s Book Club Pick” sticker on the cover. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, however, has proven me wrong. And for that, I must apologize for my previous prejudice. 

The novel itself is a fitting exploration of small-town prejudice, mirroring the judgment placed on its young protagonist, a remarkably intelligent and resourceful girl navigating life in the Bayou. Owens, a zoologist and conservationist who grew up in the Georgia wilderness, offers vivid depictions of the lush, mysterious ecosystems of the American South. While many readers will be captivated by the book’s murder mystery plot, those with a background in environmental science may find themselves particularly drawn to the detailed portrayals of nature’s wonders in the region. While always nice to read on the beach, this book is worth much more attention than that.

As any book lover will know, buying books and reading books are two different hobbies. My TBR (to be read) list is ever-growing and appears increasingly aquatic. Here’s my list of books yet to be explored.

Up Next:

Abalone: The Remarkable History and Uncertain Future of California’s Iconic Shellfish by Ann Vileisis

Let Them Eat Shrimp: The Tragic Disappearance of the Rainforests of the Sea by Kennedy Warne

Coral Whisperers: Scientists on the Brink by Irus Braverman

The Deep by Rivers Solomon with Jonathan Snipes (Contributor), Daveed Diggs (Contributor), William Hutson (Contributor)

Tentacle by Rita Indiana with Achy Obejas (Translator)

An Aquarium: Poems by Jeffrey Yang

Pearce Oysters by Joselyn Takacs