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 dismissed 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 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 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.
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"Waves both rogue and freak in size cause destruction to ships both large and small, while providing extreme surfers an adrenaline rush high. Follow the author as she travels around the globe following big wave surfers who are towed into the big waves via jet skis and also explores the big wave phenomenon from the science point of view as we try to understand what causes these monsters."
— Robb (4 out of 5 stars)
" Both the science of rogue waves and the sociology and nature of the big wave surfers were fascinating for me in this one. "
— Shamit, 2/6/2014" While the writing is a bit unsophisticated, the stories are gripping and the possibility of increasing numbers of rogue and monster waves is certainly scary to contemplate. If you have a curiosity about these phenonmena, or if you are into tow-surfing, you'll enjoy this book. "
— Rob, 2/6/2014" absolutley loved this book and its theme! as a great lover of the ocean & obsessed with its power i was instantly intrigued by this book! susan casey does an amazing job of telling the real stories of this "freaks of the sea." laird hamilton himself is a beast if i may add. love him and this book. "
— Merelise, 1/29/2014" Really interesting book about huge waves, the effect they have on our world and what the future of global warming might hold. "
— Kerry, 1/29/2014" hard to put down. a terrifying and awe-inspiring portrait of the watery part of God's creation. "
— Pete, 1/22/2014" I burned through this book in about three days. It's a page-turner. "
— Daniel, 1/2/2014" Very interesting. I found it helpful to view some footage of Hamilton actually doing what was described, which can be found on YouTube. OHMYGAWD. "
— Leslie, 12/31/2013" I thought this book was great....it was really fascinating. "
— Ellen, 11/17/2013" Good if you like stuff to do with oceans and the sea. Some fascinating facts and stories. A bit too much surf fandom for me. I learnt a lot but also had to skim some bits. "
— Flora, 11/11/2013" This book is why I love to read. Smart, fun, informative and likeable, it's easy to feel like you're Susan Casey's best friend, along for the (rogue wave) ride. "
— Elysabetheline, 10/5/2013" Wonderful stories about some real characters. Does make you think twice about ever getting in or sailing on the ocean ever again.... My grandmother was right -- those rogue waves are just lurking out there, ready to get you! "
— Nancy, 2/17/2013" This is a pretty good book that tells the story of big waves along with surfing legends and their ability to ride them. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it for sure. "
— David, 2/5/2013" Liked it a lot. Great info on giant wave phenomena and the crazy, gorgeous surfer dudes that ride these humongous waves, as well as scientists that study them. The stories are great. It's the first eBook I read on my new Nook! "
— Louisa, 9/25/2012" Good book and an interesting read. The stories of big wave surfing and storms at sea are great. The author did seem a little adrift when it came to her search for answers about the effect of climate change on waves. "
— Steve, 9/13/2012" While I enjoyed the book, I definitely think that her book about the Farallon Islands was a much better written piece. Still, her descriptions and adventures in writing the book were well-worth the time. "
— Camilla, 7/15/2012" Beautifully written. Easy to understand. Google keeps showing me surf-related ads because I've Googled so many surf-related items from the book! "
— Jessica, 7/12/2012" I may be afraid to live in a city, go to Hawaii, or ride on a cruise ship but this book was great. Very well written, presented in an engaging format. I am in awe of the crazy big wave surfers that actually look for these monsters to ride but then again, I'm not a thrill seeker. "
— Tamara, 6/23/2012" I do not read a lot of nonfiction, but I could NOT put this book down. "
— Erica, 4/10/2012" Very interesting & well done for a non-fiction. "
— Lisa, 3/3/2012" This is a really, really good book, but don't take it on a cruise or beach vacation. Lots of facinating stories about unbelievably huge waves told from the perspective of scientists, salvagers and big-wave surfers. "
— Susie, 1/27/2012" Great narrative, whether she's talking about extreme surfers or the science of waves. Casey is skilled at taking what could be a dry scientific study and making it an understandable, readable and very compelling tale. "
— Allison, 11/21/2011" Wow Peter. We read the same book at the same time! This one was not too good given that I have read more or less the same thing in different articles. "
— Stan, 7/24/2011" Amazing how good a book about waves can be. "
— Adam, 6/23/2011" A fun read. Surfers will particularly enjoy this. "
— Tracy, 6/18/2011" Liked it a lot. Great info on giant wave phenomena and the crazy, gorgeous surfer dudes that ride these humongous waves, as well as scientists that study them. The stories are great. It's the first eBook I read on my new Nook! "
— Louisa, 5/24/2011" Really cool read. It's about more than surfing, plus it has great pictures. "
— Perry, 5/24/2011" I picked this book up on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. Who knew that someone could describe waves in so many different and descriptive terms? a 8 out of 10. "
— Avi, 5/22/2011" This was an extremely facinating book. Its amazing how these guys surf waves that have distroyed towns and communities, and even lives. "
— Natasha, 5/18/2011" The author goes between surfing the biggest wave to the science behind rogue waves and all the people involved in between. Let's just say, I will think twice about taking another cruise. :) "
— Lisa, 5/16/2011" Just loved it ! It's more about surf, than about science, but it's ok, because the surf is great! <br/>Maybe the author has a crush on Hamilton, but I don't care, because the book made me feel this way to... A great book, quick and amusing reading. "
— Ana, 5/12/2011" Given to me by my friend Nicole. A great read, interesting and informative, and not just for the amazing stories from the surfers we used to oogle over. "
— Connie, 5/10/2011" While reading this book i was conflicted with a desire to learn how to tow surf and a similarly strong desire to never go near the ocean again. Do ypu know that on average two large ships are lost at sea each week? Neither did i. Fascinating read. "
— Tiffani, 5/6/2011" Could not put this down! It also inspired me to get back into my mile swim routine because I miss being in the water. "
— Sarah, 5/4/2011" I was interested in the subject and science behind it, but most of the book focused on glowing portraits of surfers. The writing was cloying, so much so that I could barely get through it. "
— Christina, 4/30/2011Susan Casey is author of several nonfiction books, including New York Times bestsellers. She is the former editor in chief of O, The Oprah Magazine. She is a National Magazine Award-winning journalist whose work has been featured in the Best American Science and Nature Writing, Best American Sports Writing, and Best American Magazine Writing anthologies. Her writing has also appeared in Esquire, Sports Illustrated, Fortune, and Outside.
Kirsten Potter has won several awards, including more than a dozen AudioFile Earphones Awards and been a three-time finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. Her work has been recognized by the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and by AudioFile magazine, among many others. She graduated with highest honors from Boston University and has performed on stage and in film and television, including roles on Medium, Bones, and Judging Amy.