The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean

What better reading for a wave-filled vacation than Susan Casey's The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean?

I admit that I was completely sold by the title, but a bit apprehensive as to the readability. After all, the last water book I started didn't end so well. Happily, Casey's Wave is well researched, well written, and incredibly interesting. In chasing big waves, Casey has captured the intersection of scientists and surfers, each of whom search out the largest waves on the planet for their own purposes. With the surfers, it's rather obvious. The scientists' interest lies in understanding the forces that generate these waves, their relative frequency, and their root causes. Casey also examines the connection to the global economy by exploring the workings of maritime insurance and the salvage companies that rescue ships that have been disabled - and sometimes dashed in half - by these monster waves. In sum, it's a comprehensive look at waves and everything with a vested interest in them.

I read this book much more quickly than I expected. Casey takes subject matter that could be, frankly, dense and dull, and creates a fascinating narrative. This is science writing as it should be, and an excellent beach read in the most literal sense. And, it hurts not one bit that Hawaii and Tahiti feature prominently throughout.