The Big Pinchers of the Ocean

The Secret Life of Lobsters: How Fishermen and Scientists Are Unraveling the Mysteries of Our Favorite Crustacean by Trevor Corson

Summary: In this intimate portrait of an island lobstering community and an eccentric band of renegade biologists, journalist Trevor Corson escorts the reader onto the slippery decks of fishing boats, through danger-filled scuba dives, and deep into the churning currents of the Gulf of Maine to learn about the secret undersea lives of lobsters.

In revelations from the laboratory and the sea that are by turns astonishing and humorous, the lobster proves itself to be not only a delicious meal and a sustainable resource but also an amorous master of the boudoir, a lethal boxer, and a snoopy socializer with a nose that lets it track prey and paramour alike with the skill of a bloodhound.

"The Secret Life of Lobsters" is a rollicking oceanic odyssey punctuated by salt spray, melted butter, and predators lurking in the murky depths.

Review: Everything you ever wanted to know and then some about lobsters.

I have always thought lobsters were quite cool and cute (I also think crabs are cute). I also never eat them since they are too cute and cool to eat. I'm starting to become more interested in micro histories and crabs seemed like a cool thing to read about. I really did not know how much was not known about lobsters until recently and I am sure there are more mysteries to unravel. It's fascinating how much we know about the world and how much we do not truly know. 

Lobsters are really fascinating creatures and this book informs you all about it. You learn about how they molt, how they travel, where they live, and how they molt. Some of the experiments where they clipped off appendages or antennas made me cringe. Beyond information about lobsters, this book focuses on the relationship between lobstermen and scientists. It's a very touchy subject. Sometimes fishermen have been guilty of overfishing and sometimes scientists have the best interests of the fish in mind. Sometimes they work at odds and sometimes they work together. Nature does really work in mysterious ways and is sometimes tougher then we give it credit for.

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those interested in micro histories, lobsters, nature, or sea life.