The wave : in pursuit of the rogues, freaks, and giants of the ocean

From Publishers WeeklyCasey, O magazine editor-in-chief, travels across the world and into the past to confront the largest waves the oceans have to offer. This dangerous water includes rogue waves south of Africa, storm-born giants near Hawaii, and the biggest wave ever recorded, a 1,740 foot-high wall of wave (taller than one and a third Empire State Buildings) that blasted the Alaska coastline in 1958. Casey follows big-wave surfers in their often suicidal attempts to tackle monsters made of H2O, and also interviews scientists exploring the danger that global warning will bring us more and larger waves. Casey writes compellingly of the threat and beauty of the ocean at its most dangerous. We get vivid historical reconstructions and her firsthand account of being on a jet-ski watching surfers risk their lives. Casey also smoothly translates the science of her subject into engaging prose. This book will fascinate anyone who has even the slightest interest in the oceans that surround us. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. FromPart science lesson and part adrenaline rush, The Wave is an intense thrill ride that manages to take a broad look at oversized, potentially devastating waves. The critics praised Casey's eloquent writing and jaw-droppingly vivid descriptions of chasing--or trying desperately to steer clear of--these aquatic behemoths. Although the Los Angeles Times craved more technical information, and the New York Times Book Review considered the combination of science and surfing a bit odd, most critics brushed such concerns aside. Casey's entertaining and enlightening exploration of the world's giant waves will leave readers with "a healthy respect for the power of these waves" (\_Los Angeles Times\_) and a chilling sense of how little we truly know about the oceans that surround us. From Susan Casey, bestselling author of The Devil's Teeth, an astonishing book about colossal, ship-swallowing rogue waves and the surfers who seek them out. For centuries, mariners have spun tales of gargantuan waves, 100-feet high or taller. Until recently scientists dis?missed these stories--waves that high would seem to violate the laws of physics. But in the past few decades, as a startling number of ships vanished and new evidence has emerged, oceanographers realized something scary was brewing in the planet's waters. They found their proof in February 2000, when a British research vessel was trapped in a vortex of impossibly mammoth waves in the North Sea--including several that approached 100 feet. As scientists scramble to understand this phenomenon, others view the giant waves as the ultimate challenge. These are extreme surfers who fly around the world trying to ride the ocean's most destructive monsters. The pioneer of extreme surfing is the legendary Laird Hamilton, who, with a group of friends in Hawaii, figured out how to board suicidally large waves of 70 and 80 feet. Casey follows this unique tribe of peo?ple as they seek to conquer the holy grail of their sport, a 100?foot wave. In this mesmerizing account, the exploits of Hamilton and his fellow surfers are juxtaposed against scientists' urgent efforts to understand the destructive powers of waves--from the tsunami that wiped out 250,000 people in the Pacific in 2004 to the 1,740-foot-wave that recently leveled part of the Alaskan coast. Like Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air, The Wave brilliantly portrays human beings confronting nature at its most ferocious. From the Hardcover edition Investigates Colossal Ship-swallowing Rogue Waves And The Surfers Who Seek Them Out. For Centuries, Mariners Have Spun Tales Of Gargantuan Waves, 100 Feet High Or Taller. Until Recently Scientists Dismissed These Stories; Waves That High Would Seem To Violate The Laws Of Physics. But In The Past Few Decades, As A Number Of Ships Have Vanished And New Evidence Has Emerged, Oceanographers Realized Something Was Brewing In The Planet's Waters. They Found Their Proof In February 2000, When A British Research Vessel Was Trapped In A Vortex Of Impossibly Mammoth Waves In The North Sea, Including Several Approaching 100 Feet. Scientists Scramble To Understand This Phenomenon. Yet Extreme Surfers Fly Around The World Trying To Ride The Ocean's Ultimate Challenges. The Sport's Pioneer, Laird Hamilton, With A Group Of Friends In Hawaii, Figured Out How To Board Waves Of 70 And 80 Feet. The Exploits Of Hamilton And His Fellow Surfers Are Juxtaposed Against Scientists' Urgent Efforts To Understand The Destructive Powers Of Waves, From The Tsunami That Wiped Out 250,000 People In The Pacific In 2004 To The 1,740 Foot Wave That Recently Leveled Part Of The Alaskan Coast. The Book Portrays Human Beings Confronting Nature At Its Most Ferocious. -- Publisher Info. The Grand Empress -- Broken Skulls -- Schrodinger's Wave -- Karma, Tiger Sharks, And The Golden Carrot -- Wave Good-bye -- Mavericks -- I Never Saw Anything Like It -- Killers -- Heavy Weather -- Egypt -- Out, Way Out, On The Cortes Bank -- The Wild Coast -- At The Edge Of The Horizon. Susan Casey. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 317-324). An astonishing book about colossal, ship-swallowing rogue waves and the surfers who seek them out For centuries mariners have spun tales of gargantuan waves100-feet high or taller. Until recently scientists dismissed these stories, believing waves that high violate the laws of physics. But in the past few decades, as a startling number of ships have vanished and new evidence has emerged, oceanographers realized something scary is brewing in the planets waters. They found their proof in February 2000, when a British research vessel was trapped in a vortex of impossibly mammoth waves in the North Seaincluding several that approached 100 feet. As scientists scramble to understand this phenomenon, others view the giant waves as the ultimate challenge. These are extreme surfers who fly around the world trying to ride the oceans most destructive monsters. The pioneer of extreme surfing is the legendary Laird Hamilton, who, with a group of friends in Hawaii, figured out how to board suicidally large waves of 70 and 80 feet. Casey follows this unique tribe of people as they seek to conquer the holy grail of their sport: a 100-foot wave. In this mesmerizing account, the exploits of Hamilton and his fellow surfers are juxtaposed with scientists urgent efforts to understand the destructive power of waves, from the tsunami that wiped out 250,000 people in the Pacific in 2004 to the 1,740-foot-wave that leveled part of the Alaskan coast. Like Jon Krakauers Into Thin Air , The Wave brilliantly portrays human beings confronting nature at its most ferocious. The grand empress -- Broken skulls -- Schrodinger's wave -- Karma, tiger sharks, and the golden carrot -- Wave good-bye -- Mavericks -- "I never saw anything like it" -- Killers -- Heavy weather -- Egypt -- Out, way out, on the Cortes bank -- The wild coast -- At the edge of the horizon.;Investigates colossal ship-swallowing rogue waves and the surfers who seek them out. For centuries, mariners have spun tales of gargantuan waves, 100 feet high or taller. Until recently scientists dismissed these stories; waves that high would seem to violate the laws of physics. But in the past few decades, as a number of ships have vanished and new evidence has emerged, oceanographers realized something was brewing in the planet's waters. They found their proof in February 2000, when a British research vessel was trapped in a vortex of impossibly mammoth waves in the North Sea, including several approaching 100 feet. Scientists scramble to understand this phenomenon. Yet extreme surfers fly around the world trying to ride the ocean's ultimate challenges. The sport's pioneer, Laird Hamilton, with a group of friends in Hawaii, figured out how to board waves of 70 and 80 feet. The exploits of Hamilton and his fellow surfers are juxtaposed against scientists' urgent efforts to understand the destructive powers of waves, from the tsunami that wiped out 250,000 people in the Pacific in 2004 to the 1,740 foot wave that recently leveled part of the Alaskan coast. The book portrays human beings confronting nature at its most ferocious. -- Publisher info. In recent years waves have been recorded which are dramatically larger in size. They have the power to flatten oil rigs and sink supertankers; they seem to disobey the laws of physics, swelling when logic shows they should be running out of steam. These rogue waves have attracted an obsessive following of scientists, who seek to understand them, and of extreme surfers, looking to tame them. The author talks to the climatologists trying to unlock the causes of these waves, and looks at the danger they will wreak on our planet. Guided by Laird Hamilton, big-wave-rider extraordinaire, the author exposes a world of obsession and dare-devil surfing, a world filled with eccentric wave-hunters - both scientists and surfers - who are universally convinced that bigger waves are coming. And that they can ride them. NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this "wonderfully vivid, kinetic narrative" ( The New York Times ), the bestselling author of Voices in the Ocean captures colossal, ship-swallowing waves, and the surfers and scientists who seek them out. For legendary surfer Laird Hamilton, hundred foot waves represent the ultimate challenge. As Susan Casey travels the globe, hunting these monsters of the ocean with Hamilton’s crew, she witnesses first-hand the life or death stakes, the glory, and the mystery of impossibly mammoth waves. Yet for the scientists who study them, these waves represent something truly scary brewing in the planet’s waters. With inexorable verve, The Wave brilliantly portrays human beings confronting nature at its most ferocious. Traces the recent discovery of physics-defying ocean waves at heights previously thought impossible, describing the efforts of the scientific community to understand the phenomenon, the pursuits of extreme surfers to ride these waves, and the destructive capabilities of tsunamis.