Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Underworld:
Nope. Not going down there. No way.
Quick synopsis:
A look at the deepest depths of the ocean.
Fact for Non-History People:
The top layer of the ocean that we can see is called the epipelagic (sunlight) zone. It only makes up 5% of the ocean’s volume.
Fact for History Nerds:
The deepest part of the ocean is the Mariana Trench which bottoms at Challenger Deep which is 35,876 feet deep. For comparison, Mount Everest is 29,029 feet high.
My Take on The Underworld:
Prepare to be both horrified and mesmerized by the ocean in Susan Casey’s, “The Underworld.”
As a rule, I am not a fan of deep dark places which seem to have no end. My phobia was only reinforced by chapter 2 of this book which reads like a horror story. Casey chronicles the first deep sea dives, and the reader can feel the claustrophobia along with at least 2 other phobias. I have never been more excited to be on land and not stuck in a cramp, cold, and damp sphere. (Note: I read the book and wrote the review before the events of the OceanGate Titan disaster. Susan discusses the disaster with me on the podcast released the day after this review is posted.)
Nightmares aside, this book is excellent. Casey mixes the history of ocean exploration with her own modern-day adventures. Casey is a great storyteller, but what truly makes this book special is her love of the ocean. It is palpable on every page and her excitement is infectious. I loved this book and even if you don’t necessarily like the ocean or science, Casey will make you a convert.
Oh, and there are also ridiculous fish names. Did you know there is an assfish? Because there is an assfish.
(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Doubleday Books.)
Verdict:
An amazing book even if you aren’t a history or ocean nerd. Buy it here!
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