Spying on WhalesSpying on Whales

Whales are superlative creatures. They are among the largest, most intelligent, deepest diving species to have ever lived on our planet. We have hunted them for thousands of years and scratched their icons into our mythologies. Humans have a complex relationship with whales they fill us with waves of terror, awe and affection. Despite centuries of observing whales, we know hardly anything about them. They live an elusive existence, 99 per cent of their lives are spent underwater. They can live human lifetimes, roam entire ocean basins, yet only enter our awareness when they die, struck by a ship or stranded in the surf. In this book, Smithsonian scientist Nicholas Pyenson takes readers to the frontlines of palaeontological whale research, from the cool halls deep inside the Smithsonian's priceless fossil collection to the frigid fishing decks on Antarctic whaling stations, to the largest fossil whalebone site on Earth, in the blazing hot desert of Chile. He tells a story of scientific discovery that is equal parts field work, guidebook and memoir to bring readers closer to the most enigmatic and beloved animals of all time. He takes readers into the mysterious world of whales in this timely, unputdownable account that will attract readers interested not just in whales, but in evolution, climate change and the fate of our oceans.