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, 2/17/2013Susan 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.