Safina’s writing makes the reader anxious to turn the page, as he writes the non-fiction book to read like a novel. While all of these ideals may seem very separate and unique, Safina finds a way to connect them and entertain the reader throughout each page. In addition to showing the effects of industry, Safina addresses conservation efforts, environmental views, economic stipulations, and political aspects. As he endeavors on this journey, Safina uses descriptive quotes to introduce the endangered tuna, salmon, and coral reef and how these organisms have been affected by industry. Within the Song for the Blue Ocean, Carl Safina encompasses the reader on his journey throughout the world to address “the only wild animals still hunted on a large scale” (Safina, p. He's also hilarious, even in the face of bleak ruin.

His voice is crystalline, sharp as a scalpel, and lyrical. Setting aside the content, which is presented clearly and unsentimentally, I was blown away by Safina's excellent writing. Where Safina held out some hope that if we acted quickly the salmon runs might be salvaged, my newspaper ten years on is much less sanguine. It was interesting and disheartening to be reading the section in Safina's book about the Northwest's salmon annihilation while seeing daily reports in the Oregonian which said basically the same thing, only worse. I Googled around some, looking for hopeful trends. I hoped, reading it, that some of what the scientists at the various front lines were telling Safina would have percolated into the nonscientific community and been acted upon. I had to put it down and read hopeful things in between chapters, but I also was compelled to return.

More than once I thought suicide might be a reasonable alternative to using up more of our resources. Parts made me cry hard enough I got a headache.

This incredible book is a searing look at humanity's attitude towards the formerly inexhaustible sea, and I will never be the same after reading it.

Song for the blue ocean by carl safina