"...the reporting for this book was emotionally difficult at times..."
— Susan Casey
Susan Casey is every bit as compelling in person as she is on the page. As we sat down to talk about her latest book, 'Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins.' She mentioned that she had a new bit of science that had come out after publication. She was clearly jubilant not just by virtue of the discovery and what it implied, but as well by how it altered her relationship with the science. She was even deeper inside those alien beings than ever.
What for me is very interesting is that Casey profiles both the science and the scientists, the professionals and the predators with equal aplomb. She's at home talking with the denizens of Dolphinville, a very "New Age" group of folks who harbor a variety of beliefs that range from reasonable to a wild as the critters themselves. But she's a great reporter, who knows how to walk the line of crafting quirky real characters with charm and without bias. The upshot is that we got to talk about John Lilly, who had a rather tragic arc with regards to his scientific career, and Joan Ocean, who spends much of her time swimming with dolphins.
We also talked about that new bit of science which involves healing and goes quite a bit further than she was able to in the book. This is cutting edge, relevant science and you can hear it here first.
Alas, there is also the dark side of this; dolphin slaughter and the captive dolphins. Casey went and witnessed with some significant personal risk. The chances are that you won't be visiting any ocean parks after reading this book. That said, the takeaway from the book is powerful and authentically uplifting. We are not the only sentient creatures on the planet earth, and our marine co-inhabitants seem to actually love us in a manner we're only barely beginning to be able to comprehend.
09-05-15 UPDATE:Podcast Update: Time to Read Episode 213: Susan Casey 'Voices in the Ocean: A Journey into the Wild and Haunting World of Dolphins'
Click image for audio link.
Here's the two-hundred-thirteenth episode of my series of podcasts, which I'm calling Time to Read, or when I warn the writer in advance, the lightning round. This is turning out to be really fun, and especially since I get to take on my game show host persona.
This week, I'm way behind, but who knows what the hell might happen. I am hoping to get back up and stumbling. I have lots of great books in the hopper to review and lots of great interviews to podcast.
My hope is that in under four minutes I can offer readers a concise review and an opportunity to hear the author read from or speak about the work. I'm hoping to offer a new one every week.
08-21-15: Agony Column Podcast News Report : Senator Claire McCaskill is 'Plenty Ladylike' : Internalizing Determination to Overcome Sexism [Incudes Time to Read EP 211: Claire McCaskill, Plenty Ladylike, plus A 2015 Interview with Senator Claire McCaskill]
Agony Column Podcast News Report : Emily Schultz Unleashes 'The Blondes' : A Cure by Color [Incudes Time to Read EP 210: Emily Schultz, The Blondes, plus A 2015 Interview with Emily Schultz]
07-05-15: Commentary : Dr. Michael Gazzaniga Tells Tales from Both Sides of the Brain : A Life in Neuroscience Reveals the Life of Science
Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Michael Gazzaniga : "We made the first observation and BAM there was the disconnection effect..."
04-21-15: Commentary : Kazuo Ishiguro Unearths 'The Buried Giant' : The Mist of Myth and Memory
Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Kazuo Ishiguro : ".... by the time I was writing this novel, the lines between what was fantasy and what was real had blurred for me..."
Agony Column Podcast News Report : A 2015 Interview with Marc Goodman : "...every physical object around us is being transformed, one way or another, into an information technology..."
Agony Column Podcast News Report UPDATE: Time to Read Episode 199: Marc Goodman : Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected, Everyone Is Vulnerable and What We Can Do About It
