Il faut aller voir (We must go and see for ourselves)

How about a foray into the realm of non-fiction?


11. Jacques Cousteau: The Sea King by Brad Matsen

I remember as a kid, I was fascinated by two things that, looking back, probably started me on the path to become a conservation biologist: "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom," and the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau. I remember being thrilled, learning about wildlife and ecosystems and delicate webs of interdependence. Jacques Cousteau seemed like a kindly grandfather, showing us not only all the wonderful and amazing species that lived in the ocean but also how fragile the mighty oceans are.

This biography was an eye-opening adventure in learning about the real Cousteau. There were the awe-inspiring moments: his daring work with the French resistance in World War II, his input into the development of the Aqua Lung and its subsequent testing, the procurement of a WWII minesweeper turned ferry which would be reincarnated as the infamous and much loved Calypso, and the testing of human limits under the surface. But there were also the darker moments: his lack of financial sense, his lack of tolerance with anything but perfection, his arrogance/self-confidence, and his decades long affair with an Air France flight attendant which remained secret until his wife's death and created a rift between his first and second families that still exists today (thirteen years after his death). Matsen fairly detailed the many sides of the pioneer ocean explorer, which I appreciated. Despite his many faults, the impact Cousteau has had on our understanding of our oceans and their inhabitants is undeniable. A 4/5 star biography (deduction of one star for too few photographs).