Into the Deep

April 1, 2021

Ballard is celebrated as the man who located the Titanic; he has written several books on the subject, like The Discovery of the Titanic. But this fascinating, page-turning memoir also recounts his many other deep-sea adventures. It begins with his early interest in the sea, his doctorate studies, and his stint in the navy. Soon after, Ballard was diving in manned submersibles and writing books on plate tectonics, the existence of hydrothermal vents, and the discovery of animals that use chemosynthesis to live. Believing that robots are a safer way to explore the deep ocean, he worked to develop ever more sophisticated versions, which helped him locate and explore ships like the Titanic, Lusitania, Bismarck, and Yorktown. Ballard discovered ancient shipping routes and provided information for the U.S. and foreign governments on sunken submarines and planes. He candidly shares how he has navigated funding difficulties, pushback from his employer, and more. VERDICT This exciting memoir, recounted by a wonderful storyteller, will be relished by readers who enjoy adventure, oceanography, underwater archaeology, and scientific discovery. Ballard's latest account will appeal to a great many readers.--Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove, IL

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 15, 2021
An explorer's memoir of discovering the wreck of the Titanic--and so much more. As a young boy, Ballard was perpetually in motion. Feeling confined in school and suffering from dyslexia, he found that he learned better by seeing and doing. From an early age, his mother had given him "license to roam," so he spent much of his time fishing, swimming, and exploring the tidal pools of Southern California. After seeing Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea at age 12, he was hooked on the ocean: "It blew my mind." Although Ballard is best known for the Titanic, he has made numerous remarkable discoveries in the face of significant obstacles. Among his other adventures and accomplishments: witnessing the ocean floor expanding at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; investigating alleged Loch Ness monster sightings; finding the Bismarck and the Yorktown; exploring the wreckage of the Lusitania; tracking ancient trade routes of the Romans and the Phoenicians; stumbling upon a site that pointed the way for Israel to find "a significant offshore oil and gas field"; making findings that confirmed a theory that a catastrophic event occurred in the Black Sea (which some believe was the biblical Noah's flood); locating John F. Kennedy's PT-109; discovering a German U-boat in the Gulf of Mexico; and his current quest to find the wreckage of Amelia Earhart's plane. All of this would be enough to fill multiple lifetimes, but Ballard has also developed and improved technologies to aid in the exploration of the ocean floor, made speaking appearances and written numerous articles and books about his work, and created video documentaries and live broadcasts of his adventures, bringing science to life for schoolchildren. Throughout the book, the author discusses the many challenges and setbacks he faced along the way, noting that failure should be embraced, since "every failure is a learning lesson." Ballard's incredible achievements and gift for storytelling will captivate readers from all walks of life.

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April 15, 2021
Although his mother worried that he would be known only as the guy who found "that rusty old boat," Ballard not only discovered the sunken Titanic in 1985, he made exploration of the deep ocean his life's work. His memoir will solidify his legendary status as he describes how he overcame dyslexia to become a renowned oceanographer and marine geologist. Ballard and coauthor Drew chronicle a lifetime of adventures at sea, recounting such significant discoveries as previously unknown life forms along hydrothermal vents and pioneering use of robotic technology and deep-diving submersibles to map the ocean floor and study deep-sea ocean life. Like Ballard himself, this book bolts along at a breakneck pace, making it a joy to read as it provides a new perspective on the man behind Ballard's many National Geographic television specials and countless educational presentations. As Into the Deep illuminates exciting oceanic scientific and engineering advances it also offers a compelling summation of a life dedicated to making the world aware of the wonders of our planet's oceans, which need our attention and protection.

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