Despite the often-complex subject matter, readers will find Clarke’s style easy to digest. He veers from technical writing to a more relaxed, creative manner that brings the natural world to life, unraveling his astonishment at the billowing underwater environment he falls in love with, where “fluorescently colored juvenile reef fish [dart] about” and “territorial three-spot damselfishes” take their aggression out on him. Despite that lighthearted feel—Clarke even declares that “science is a form of play”—his recollections center on the importance of data collection and analysis, explaining to readers how fieldwork helps him strike a balance between immersing himself in the natural environment and becoming “an intellectual being engaged in abstract thought.”
The most powerful sections in Clarke’s memoir revolve around his family’s annual trips to St. Croix, a reunion of sorts for them. He writes, “That first snorkel always felt like a homecoming. I was surrounded by fish and corals I knew intimately… I belonged here, and the reef community welcomed me.” Those trips were the breeding ground for several breathtaking discoveries, and Clarke includes personal photographs of his family during their time there. Nature lovers and curious minds will be fascinated.
Takeaway: Compelling memoir that blends scientific inquiry with rich personal recollections.
Comparable Titles: Christine Figgener’s My Life with Sea Turtles, Juli Berwald’s Spineless.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
