Jacques Cousteau "The Silent World", 21 Apr 2006
This is a wonderful book. Cousteau knows how to tell fascinating dive stories (some involving near-death moments) and keep you informed as well. The photos in the hardback edition are mostly (but not all) black and white, but stunning, especially the photo of a shark's maw one foot away from Cousteau's camera! The courage of the man takes the breath away and makes a lot of today's expert divers seem namby-pamby. No wetsuits for Jacques, he and Didi Dumas swam around in very brief swimtrunks which were no doubt regarded as sexy and trendy in the 1950s. Both of them do lots of things in the sea which would now be regarded as politically incorrect, so a really fun read.

Cousteau's 'The Silent World' is a tale of the deep sea., 18 Sep 2000
Cousteau's autobiographical account of his deep sea adventures is told with much vividness and recounts the experiences of Cousteasu and his comrade, Frederic Dumas, in the sea after their discovery of the aqua lung. A good book to read if interested in diving, or simply as a general interest publication. Either way the book makes for a good read and, considering Cousteau translated the story from the French himself, is impressively well written.

Jacques Cousteau "The Silent World", 21 Apr 2006
This is a wonderful book. Cousteau knows how to tell fascinating dive stories (some involving near-death moments) and keep you informed as well. The photos in the hardback edition are mostly (but not all) black and white, but stunning, especially the photo of a shark's maw one foot away from Cousteau's camera! The courage of the man takes the breath away and makes a lot of today's expert divers seem namby-pamby. No wetsuits for Jacques, he and Didi Dumas swam around in very brief swimtrunks which were no doubt regarded as sexy and trendy in the 1950s. Both of them do lots of things in the sea which would now be regarded as politically incorrect, so a really fun read.

Cousteau's 'The Silent World' is a tale of the deep sea., 18 Sep 2000
Cousteau's autobiographical account of his deep sea adventures is told with much vividness and recounts the experiences of Cousteasu and his comrade, Frederic Dumas, in the sea after their discovery of the aqua lung. A good book to read if interested in diving, or simply as a general interest publication. Either way the book makes for a good read and, considering Cousteau translated the story from the French himself, is impressively well written.

Really good introdution, 21 Jul 2003
This book is aq really good introdution to the life in the oceans. I recently used this book for a module in my Oceanography degree and it was really helpful. I also recommend this book for Marine Biologists as well.

Jacques Cousteau "The Silent World", 21 Apr 2006
This is a wonderful book. Cousteau knows how to tell fascinating dive stories (some involving near-death moments) and keep you informed as well. The photos in the hardback edition are mostly (but not all) black and white, but stunning, especially the photo of a shark's maw one foot away from Cousteau's camera! The courage of the man takes the breath away and makes a lot of today's expert divers seem namby-pamby. No wetsuits for Jacques, he and Didi Dumas swam around in very brief swimtrunks which were no doubt regarded as sexy and trendy in the 1950s. Both of them do lots of things in the sea which would now be regarded as politically incorrect, so a really fun read.

Cousteau's 'The Silent World' is a tale of the deep sea., 18 Sep 2000
Cousteau's autobiographical account of his deep sea adventures is told with much vividness and recounts the experiences of Cousteasu and his comrade, Frederic Dumas, in the sea after their discovery of the aqua lung. A good book to read if interested in diving, or simply as a general interest publication. Either way the book makes for a good read and, considering Cousteau translated the story from the French himself, is impressively well written.

Really good introdution, 21 Jul 2003
This book is aq really good introdution to the life in the oceans. I recently used this book for a module in my Oceanography degree and it was really helpful. I also recommend this book for Marine Biologists as well.

The Most Informative, Straight to the Point Fish Guide, 12 Jun 2007
This book is a godsend for all those looking to learn the compatibility about a given species of marine fish in a reef or fish only setup.

Every species that you could possibly put into a marine aquarium (including a nurse shark)is listed, with a short and informative summary across a full page.

The fish are easy to find, and give; a picture of the species, latin and common names, and almost everything you need to pick and keep fish for your aquarium.

My only reservation with this guide is that the aquarium suitibility colour code is vague and inaccurate, e.g. it would suggest that it is just as easy to keep a dragon moray as it is to keep a percula clownfish. Perhaps this is why the colour coded aquarium suitibilty was scrapped for the book "Marine Inverts" which is the same in layout and format.

Overall, it's the best quick guide for aquarium hobbiests, that includes such a large range of fish. (freshwater included)


Marine Fishes - A Pocket Expert Guide, 04 Jun 2004
We have been looking for a book to identify Marine Fish for some time and, had we found this one first, we would have looked no further and saved a fortune.
This book gives a one fish per page detailed coloured photo, max length, min aquarium size, foods and feeding tips, compataility and captive care guide. The text is easy to read and understand, the suitability index is simple to use and an index for both scientific name and common name can be found at the back of the book.
The 500 species included are of the more readily available variety and are listed within the book under main species type ie; Angel, Blennies,Surgeonfishes.
Excellent value for money and a must for any new or established marine fish enthusiast.

A well-done species catalog/identification aid/fish guide, 21 Jul 2000
I was looking for some basic marine aquarium books and as a species catalog/fish guide I decided on this one.

The book is structured in a one page - one fish style. Has good and well sized (for a pocket book) colour pictures on most of the not so rare marine fishes.

Also included is basic information about the fishes - great for finding suitable and mixable species and to become aware about special needs and difficulties. Has recommendations about aquarium sizes and types for particular fishes.

Great and simple book of pictures of fishes and their basic data. Great to be couple with a more technical/fundamental marine/reef aquarium book.

The title of Mapping the Deep suggests that it is primarily about oceanography. Although the extremely interesting history of this subject forms a major element in the book, its broader, richer subject is man's changing relationship with the oceans. Until recently these have been characterised by high-handed ignorance, the oceans seen at once as inexhaustible resource and bottomless dump. Robert Kunzig remarks that politicians and science writers seem to be most interested in space exploration, whereas the real story is closer at hand--in the oceans. The symbolic goals of space exploration are easier to understand than the endlessly complex ecology of the deep oceans or the mysteries of the great currents that circle the globe and control its weather. Yet, as Kunzig demonstrates, the oceans are where the future of mankind may be determined. It is now widely accepted, for example, that global warming may precipitate a sudden, massive realignment of the ocean currents, an event certain to have vast but unforeseeable consequences. The climatic catastrophes attendant on the relatively minor disturbance known as El Nino give an idea of what may be in store.

Mapping the Deep records the extraordinary (and chronically underfunded) work of the scientists who have painstakingly explored the huge chemical, biological and geographical mechanism of the oceans. Robert Kunzig provides expert and gripping accounts of the (literally) earth-shattering revelation of plate tectonics, the novel life-forms of the black smokers, the unexpected diversity of life at the greatest depths, the commanding ecological role played by the overlooked organisms of the oceanic plankton, the dreadful consequences of over-fishing; and much more. His ability to make complex science comprehensible to the non-scientist without over-simplification make him the best kind of populariser. A remarkable book, both a celebration and a warning. --Robin Davidson

Jacques Cousteau "The Silent World", 21 Apr 2006
This is a wonderful book. Cousteau knows how to tell fascinating dive stories (some involving near-death moments) and keep you informed as well. The photos in the hardback edition are mostly (but not all) black and white, but stunning, especially the photo of a shark's maw one foot away from Cousteau's camera! The courage of the man takes the breath away and makes a lot of today's expert divers seem namby-pamby. No wetsuits for Jacques, he and Didi Dumas swam around in very brief swimtrunks which were no doubt regarded as sexy and trendy in the 1950s. Both of them do lots of things in the sea which would now be regarded as politically incorrect, so a really fun read.

Cousteau's 'The Silent World' is a tale of the deep sea., 18 Sep 2000
Cousteau's autobiographical account of his deep sea adventures is told with much vividness and recounts the experiences of Cousteasu and his comrade, Frederic Dumas, in the sea after their discovery of the aqua lung. A good book to read if interested in diving, or simply as a general interest publication. Either way the book makes for a good read and, considering Cousteau translated the story from the French himself, is impressively well written.

Really good introdution, 21 Jul 2003
This book is aq really good introdution to the life in the oceans. I recently used this book for a module in my Oceanography degree and it was really helpful. I also recommend this book for Marine Biologists as well.

The Most Informative, Straight to the Point Fish Guide, 12 Jun 2007
This book is a godsend for all those looking to learn the compatibility about a given species of marine fish in a reef or fish only setup.

Every species that you could possibly put into a marine aquarium (including a nurse shark)is listed, with a short and informative summary across a full page.

The fish are easy to find, and give; a picture of the species, latin and common names, and almost everything you need to pick and keep fish for your aquarium.

My only reservation with this guide is that the aquarium suitibility colour code is vague and inaccurate, e.g. it would suggest that it is just as easy to keep a dragon moray as it is to keep a percula clownfish. Perhaps this is why the colour coded aquarium suitibilty was scrapped for the book "Marine Inverts" which is the same in layout and format.

Overall, it's the best quick guide for aquarium hobbiests, that includes such a large range of fish. (freshwater included)


Marine Fishes - A Pocket Expert Guide, 04 Jun 2004
We have been looking for a book to identify Marine Fish for some time and, had we found this one first, we would have looked no further and saved a fortune.
This book gives a one fish per page detailed coloured photo, max length, min aquarium size, foods and feeding tips, compataility and captive care guide. The text is easy to read and understand, the suitability index is simple to use and an index for both scientific name and common name can be found at the back of the book.
The 500 species included are of the more readily available variety and are listed within the book under main species type ie; Angel, Blennies,Surgeonfishes.
Excellent value for money and a must for any new or established marine fish enthusiast.

A well-done species catalog/identification aid/fish guide, 21 Jul 2000
I was looking for some basic marine aquarium books and as a species catalog/fish guide I decided on this one.

The book is structured in a one page - one fish style. Has good and well sized (for a pocket book) colour pictures on most of the not so rare marine fishes.

Also included is basic information about the fishes - great for finding suitable and mixable species and to become aware about special needs and difficulties. Has recommendations about aquarium sizes and types for particular fishes.

Great and simple book of pictures of fishes and their basic data. Great to be couple with a more technical/fundamental marine/reef aquarium book.

Well worth it, 11 Aug 2008
Quick read; easy to understand; enjoyable; wide coverage but insufficient depth of explanation at times; excellent value for money.
Not enough pictures/diagrams and some diagrams were too small/fuzzy to see clearly; needed metric measurements - is America the last place in the world to use feet in science books?

a masterclass in how to make science interesting, 19 Jul 2006
Robert Kunzig won the Aventis Science Book of the Year award for Mapping the Deep.In my opinion it is the best science book written in the last ten years.Scientists know so little about the ocean and most of them know little about how to communicate what they do know to the layman.Kunzig takes their limited knowledge and conveys the great beauty and mystery of the oceans to the reader.



don't believe the hype, 21 May 2005
I had to read this book as part of my degree. It was really really reallyyyyyyyyyyyy... boring. It wasn't very well written although it contains a few interesting facts they are few and far between.

This book tries to be both a novel & a text book and fails on both accounts, I dont' care if Edward Forbes wanted to be an artist but was refused admission to the Royal Academy in London, this book is full of such useless waffle. Do yourself a favour and don't bother, unless you have to of course in which case read it quick to ease the pain like pulling off a plaster & don't say you weren't warned.

Fascinating science, well and wittily written., 16 Apr 2002
Really enjoyed this book, the science is not new, but covered well, concisely and accurately. I found the book hard to put down and the anecdotes about scientists and their research raised a few laughs too. and its got pictures! Very nice

Superb popular introduction to oceanography, 21 Jan 2002
This book is a superb popular introduction to the oceans that fully deserved its prize. Everything you need to know about the sea is here: what is water, where did the oceans come from, plate tectonics, the creatures of the deep, jellyfish, evolution, ocean currents, how the oceans affect climate ... It has a superb set of colour photographs, too: I wish I could get the double-page spread as a poster. My only complaint is about the quality of the binding.

Jacques Cousteau "The Silent World", 21 Apr 2006
This is a wonderful book. Cousteau knows how to tell fascinating dive stories (some involving near-death moments) and keep you informed as well. The photos in the hardback edition are mostly (but not all) black and white, but stunning, especially the photo of a shark's maw one foot away from Cousteau's camera! The courage of the man takes the breath away and makes a lot of today's expert divers seem namby-pamby. No wetsuits for Jacques, he and Didi Dumas swam around in very brief swimtrunks which were no doubt regarded as sexy and trendy in the 1950s. Both of them do lots of things in the sea which would now be regarded as politically incorrect, so a really fun read.

Cousteau's 'The Silent World' is a tale of the deep sea., 18 Sep 2000
Cousteau's autobiographical account of his deep sea adventures is told with much vividness and recounts the experiences of Cousteasu and his comrade, Frederic Dumas, in the sea after their discovery of the aqua lung. A good book to read if interested in diving, or simply as a general interest publication. Either way the book makes for a good read and, considering Cousteau translated the story from the French himself, is impressively well written.

Really good introdution, 21 Jul 2003
This book is aq really good introdution to the life in the oceans. I recently used this book for a module in my Oceanography degree and it was really helpful. I also recommend this book for Marine Biologists as well.

The Most Informative, Straight to the Point Fish Guide, 12 Jun 2007
This book is a godsend for all those looking to learn the compatibility about a given species of marine fish in a reef or fish only setup.

Every species that you could possibly put into a marine aquarium (including a nurse shark)is listed, with a short and informative summary across a full page.

The fish are easy to find, and give; a picture of the species, latin and common names, and almost everything you need to pick and keep fish for your aquarium.

My only reservation with this guide is that the aquarium suitibility colour code is vague and inaccurate, e.g. it would suggest that it is just as easy to keep a dragon moray as it is to keep a percula clownfish. Perhaps this is why the colour coded aquarium suitibilty was scrapped for the book "Marine Inverts" which is the same in layout and format.

Overall, it's the best quick guide for aquarium hobbiests, that includes such a large range of fish. (freshwater included)


Marine Fishes - A Pocket Expert Guide, 04 Jun 2004
We have been looking for a book to identify Marine Fish for some time and, had we found this one first, we would have looked no further and saved a fortune.
This book gives a one fish per page detailed coloured photo, max length, min aquarium size, foods and feeding tips, compataility and captive care guide. The text is easy to read and understand, the suitability index is simple to use and an index for both scientific name and common name can be found at the back of the book.
The 500 species included are of the more readily available variety and are listed within the book under main species type ie; Angel, Blennies,Surgeonfishes.
Excellent value for money and a must for any new or established marine fish enthusiast.

A well-done species catalog/identification aid/fish guide, 21 Jul 2000
I was looking for some basic marine aquarium books and as a species catalog/fish guide I decided on this one.

The book is structured in a one page - one fish style. Has good and well sized (for a pocket book) colour pictures on most of the not so rare marine fishes.

Also included is basic information about the fishes - great for finding suitable and mixable species and to become aware about special needs and difficulties. Has recommendations about aquarium sizes and types for particular fishes.

Great and simple book of pictures of fishes and their basic data. Great to be couple with a more technical/fundamental marine/reef aquarium book.

Well worth it, 11 Aug 2008
Quick read; easy to understand; enjoyable; wide coverage but insufficient depth of explanation at times; excellent value for money.
Not enough pictures/diagrams and some diagrams were too small/fuzzy to see clearly; needed metric measurements - is America the last place in the world to use feet in science books?

a masterclass in how to make science interesting, 19 Jul 2006
Robert Kunzig won the Aventis Science Book of the Year award for Mapping the Deep.In my opinion it is the best science book written in the last ten years.Scientists know so little about the ocean and most of them know little about how to communicate what they do know to the layman.Kunzig takes their limited knowledge and conveys the great beauty and mystery of the oceans to the reader.



don't believe the hype, 21 May 2005
I had to read this book as part of my degree. It was really really reallyyyyyyyyyyyy... boring. It wasn't very well written although it contains a few interesting facts they are few and far between.

This book tries to be both a novel & a text book and fails on both accounts, I dont' care if Edward Forbes wanted to be an artist but was refused admission to the Royal Academy in London, this book is full of such useless waffle. Do yourself a favour and don't bother, unless you have to of course in which case read it quick to ease the pain like pulling off a plaster & don't say you weren't warned.

Fascinating science, well and wittily written., 16 Apr 2002
Really enjoyed this book, the science is not new, but covered well, concisely and accurately. I found the book hard to put down and the anecdotes about scientists and their research raised a few laughs too. and its got pictures! Very nice

Superb popular introduction to oceanography, 21 Jan 2002
This book is a superb popular introduction to the oceans that fully deserved its prize. Everything you need to know about the sea is here: what is water, where did the oceans come from, plate tectonics, the creatures of the deep, jellyfish, evolution, ocean currents, how the oceans affect climate ... It has a superb set of colour photographs, too: I wish I could get the double-page spread as a poster. My only complaint is about the quality of the binding.

Not that useful overall, 23 Sep 2008
We only went to Lake Garda as opposed to the entire Lakes area, as we were attending a wedding in Malcesine and looking for day trips - but virtually all the reports are negative in this book and therefore unhelpful. Yes, I know it's going to be touristy - especially when we went in August - but these are the Italian lakes not some unspoilt paradise. Some of those touristy places are quite nice you know - espeically if you find a nice little corner near the lake, or a quiet piazza for a cool beer in the shade.
Reading this gave me the feeling that the authors had a really rubbish trip to Italy. Shame, because I had a great one despite this book.

Excellent On Milan, 27 Aug 2007
We used this book last October when visiting Milan. We have also been to Verona in the past and this book is informative on both cities. Did not make it as far as the lakes so cannot speak about previous reviews. But fine on the cities.

Sniffy and snotty, 19 Jun 2007
This is like some of the earlier and poorer Rough Guides, snottily dismissive of anything that equates to "tourism". Which is of course ridiculous, because it's a tourist guide, and the smug authors are of course also tourists.

No doubt they consider themselves "travellers" ...

Plenty of decent content of course, but fundamentally unbalanced. Some of the stuff about Garda is inconsistent with what I have seen (e.g. Riva is not hard to get to at all, and the eastern lakeside shore is not afflicted with horrendous traffic jams. Busy yes, jammed no, in my probably lengthier experience). I suspect they visited some areas very briefly indeed. Other Rough Guides are rather more realistic.



Don't leave home without it!, 17 Nov 2006
Our trip to Lake Garda last month was superb, and this book was a crucial element in making it so. The recommendations were spot on, particularly in helping us to avoid the spoilt package holiday destinations (of which there are many around Garda), and instead finding the real "Lago di Benaco". Thank you Rough Guides!

A must have guide book, 28 Jul 2006
After searching high and low for a relevant guide book we found this beauty. The guide is well written, concise and easy to use. It became our 'bible' on our recent trip to the Italian Lakes'

The hotel & restaurant reviews were spot on.

Jacques Cousteau "The Silent World", 21 Apr 2006
This is a wonderful book. Cousteau knows how to tell fascinating dive stories (some involving near-death moments) and keep you informed as well. The photos in the hardback edition are mostly (but not all) black and white, but stunning, especially the photo of a shark's maw one foot away from Cousteau's camera! The courage of the man takes the breath away and makes a lot of today's expert divers seem namby-pamby. No wetsuits for Jacques, he and Didi Dumas swam around in very brief swimtrunks which were no doubt regarded as sexy and trendy in the 1950s. Both of them do lots of things in the sea which would now be regarded as politically incorrect, so a really fun read.

Cousteau's 'The Silent World' is a tale of the deep sea., 18 Sep 2000
Cousteau's autobiographical account of his deep sea adventures is told with much vividness and recounts the experiences of Cousteasu and his comrade, Frederic Dumas, in the sea after their discovery of the aqua lung. A good book to read if interested in diving, or simply as a general interest publication. Either way the book makes for a good read and, considering Cousteau translated the story from the French himself, is impressively well written.

Really good introdution, 21 Jul 2003
This book is aq really good introdution to the life in the oceans. I recently used this book for a module in my Oceanography degree and it was really helpful. I also recommend this book for Marine Biologists as well.

The Most Informative, Straight to the Point Fish Guide, 12 Jun 2007
This book is a godsend for all those looking to learn the compatibility about a given species of marine fish in a reef or fish only setup.

Every species that you could possibly put into a marine aquarium (including a nurse shark)is listed, with a short and informative summary across a full page.

The fish are easy to find, and give; a picture of the species, latin and common names, and almost everything you need to pick and keep fish for your aquarium.

My only reservation with this guide is that the aquarium suitibility colour code is vague and inaccurate, e.g. it would suggest that it is just as easy to keep a dragon moray as it is to keep a percula clownfish. Perhaps this is why the colour coded aquarium suitibilty was scrapped for the book "Marine Inverts" which is the same in layout and format.

Overall, it's the best quick guide for aquarium hobbiests, that includes such a large range of fish. (freshwater included)


Marine Fishes - A Pocket Expert Guide, 04 Jun 2004
We have been looking for a book to identify Marine Fish for some time and, had we found this one first, we would have looked no further and saved a fortune.
This book gives a one fish per page detailed coloured photo, max length, min aquarium size, foods and feeding tips, compataility and captive care guide. The text is easy to read and understand, the suitability index is simple to use and an index for both scientific name and common name can be found at the back of the book.
The 500 species included are of the more readily available variety and are listed within the book under main species type ie; Angel, Blennies,Surgeonfishes.
Excellent value for money and a must for any new or established marine fish enthusiast.

A well-done species catalog/identification aid/fish guide, 21 Jul 2000
I was looking for some basic marine aquarium books and as a species catalog/fish guide I decided on this one.

The book is structured in a one page - one fish style. Has good and well sized (for a pocket book) colour pictures on most of the not so rare marine fishes.

Also included is basic information about the fishes - great for finding suitable and mixable species and to become aware about special needs and difficulties. Has recommendations about aquarium sizes and types for particular fishes.

Great and simple book of pictures of fishes and their basic data. Great to be couple with a more technical/fundamental marine/reef aquarium book.

Well worth it, 11 Aug 2008
Quick read; easy to understand; enjoyable; wide coverage but insufficient depth of explanation at times; excellent value for money.
Not enough pictures/diagrams and some diagrams were too small/fuzzy to see clearly; needed metric measurements - is America the last place in the world to use feet in science books?

a masterclass in how to make science interesting, 19 Jul 2006
Robert Kunzig won the Aventis Science Book of the Year award for Mapping the Deep.In my opinion it is the best science book written in the last ten years.Scientists know so little about the ocean and most of them know little about how to communicate what they do know to the layman.Kunzig takes their limited knowledge and conveys the great beauty and mystery of the oceans to the reader.



don't believe the hype, 21 May 2005
I had to read this book as part of my degree. It was really really reallyyyyyyyyyyyy... boring. It wasn't very well written although it contains a few interesting facts they are few and far between.

This book tries to be both a novel & a text book and fails on both accounts, I dont' care if Edward Forbes wanted to be an artist but was refused admission to the Royal Academy in London, this book is full of such useless waffle. Do yourself a favour and don't bother, unless you have to of course in which case read it quick to ease the pain like pulling off a plaster & don't say you weren't warned.

Fascinating science, well and wittily written., 16 Apr 2002
Really enjoyed this book, the science is not new, but covered well, concisely and accurately. I found the book hard to put down and the anecdotes about scientists and their research raised a few laughs too. and its got pictures! Very nice

Superb popular introduction to oceanography, 21 Jan 2002
This book is a superb popular introduction to the oceans that fully deserved its prize. Everything you need to know about the sea is here: what is water, where did the oceans come from, plate tectonics, the creatures of the deep, jellyfish, evolution, ocean currents, how the oceans affect climate ... It has a superb set of colour photographs, too: I wish I could get the double-page spread as a poster. My only complaint is about the quality of the binding.

Not that useful overall, 23 Sep 2008
We only went to Lake Garda as opposed to the entire Lakes area, as we were attending a wedding in Malcesine and looking for day trips - but virtually all the reports are negative in this book and therefore unhelpful. Yes, I know it's going to be touristy - especially when we went in August - but these are the Italian lakes not some unspoilt paradise. Some of those touristy places are quite nice you know - espeically if you find a nice little corner near the lake, or a quiet piazza for a cool beer in the shade.
Reading this gave me the feeling that the authors had a really rubbish trip to Italy. Shame, because I had a great one despite this book.

Excellent On Milan, 27 Aug 2007
We used this book last October when visiting Milan. We have also been to Verona in the past and this book is informative on both cities. Did not make it as far as the lakes so cannot speak about previous reviews. But fine on the cities.

Sniffy and snotty, 19 Jun 2007
This is like some of the earlier and poorer Rough Guides, snottily dismissive of anything that equates to "tourism". Which is of course ridiculous, because it's a tourist guide, and the smug authors are of course also tourists.

No doubt they consider themselves "travellers" ...

Plenty of decent content of course, but fundamentally unbalanced. Some of the stuff about Garda is inconsistent with what I have seen (e.g. Riva is not hard to get to at all, and the eastern lakeside shore is not afflicted with horrendous traffic jams. Busy yes, jammed no, in my probably lengthier experience). I suspect they visited some areas very briefly indeed. Other Rough Guides are rather more realistic.



Don't leave home without it!, 17 Nov 2006
Our trip to Lake Garda last month was superb, and this book was a crucial element in making it so. The recommendations were spot on, particularly in helping us to avoid the spoilt package holiday destinations (of which there are many around Garda), and instead finding the real "Lago di Benaco". Thank you Rough Guides!

A must have guide book, 28 Jul 2006
After searching high and low for a relevant guide book we found this beauty. The guide is well written, concise and easy to use. It became our 'bible' on our recent trip to the Italian Lakes'

The hotel & restaurant reviews were spot on.

Great book for Marine Biology students, 18 Apr 2007
A great book that proved to be an invaluable start point for many of the topics on my Marine Biology degree. The process and systems sections were particularly helpful. The information was presented in a clear and easy to understand way and the diagrams/photos really helped with the explanations. Well worth the money.

Jacques Cousteau "The Silent World", 21 Apr 2006
This is a wonderful book. Cousteau knows how to tell fascinating dive stories (some involving near-death moments) and keep you informed as well. The photos in the hardback edition are mostly (but not all) black and white, but stunning, especially the photo of a shark's maw one foot away from Cousteau's camera! The courage of the man takes the breath away and makes a lot of today's expert divers seem namby-pamby. No wetsuits for Jacques, he and Didi Dumas swam around in very brief swimtrunks which were no doubt regarded as sexy and trendy in the 1950s. Both of them do lots of things in the sea which would now be regarded as politically incorrect, so a really fun read.

Cousteau's 'The Silent World' is a tale of the deep sea., 18 Sep 2000
Cousteau's autobiographical account of his deep sea adventures is told with much vividness and recounts the experiences of Cousteasu and his comrade, Frederic Dumas, in the sea after their discovery of the aqua lung. A good book to read if interested in diving, or simply as a general interest publication. Either way the book makes for a good read and, considering Cousteau translated the story from the French himself, is impressively well written.

Really good introdution, 21 Jul 2003
This book is aq really good introdution to the life in the oceans. I recently used this book for a module in my Oceanography degree and it was really helpful. I also recommend this book for Marine Biologists as well.

The Most Informative, Straight to the Point Fish Guide, 12 Jun 2007
This book is a godsend for all those looking to learn the compatibility about a given species of marine fish in a reef or fish only setup.

Every species that you could possibly put into a marine aquarium (including a nurse shark)is listed, with a short and informative summary across a full page.

The fish are easy to find, and give; a picture of the species, latin and common names, and almost everything you need to pick and keep fish for your aquarium.

My only reservation with this guide is that the aquarium suitibility colour code is vague and inaccurate, e.g. it would suggest that it is just as easy to keep a dragon moray as it is to keep a percula clownfish. Perhaps this is why the colour coded aquarium suitibilty was scrapped for the book "Marine Inverts" which is the same in layout and format.

Overall, it's the best quick guide for aquarium hobbiests, that includes such a large range of fish. (freshwater included)


Marine Fishes - A Pocket Expert Guide, 04 Jun 2004
We have been looking for a book to identify Marine Fish for some time and, had we found this one first, we would have looked no further and saved a fortune.
This book gives a one fish per page detailed coloured photo, max length, min aquarium size, foods and feeding tips, compataility and captive care guide. The text is easy to read and understand, the suitability index is simple to use and an index for both scientific name and common name can be found at the back of the book.
The 500 species included are of the more readily available variety and are listed within the book under main species type ie; Angel, Blennies,Surgeonfishes.
Excellent value for money and a must for any new or established marine fish enthusiast.

A well-done species catalog/identification aid/fish guide, 21 Jul 2000
I was looking for some basic marine aquarium books and as a species catalog/fish guide I decided on this one.

The book is structured in a one page - one fish style. Has good and well sized (for a pocket book) colour pictures on most of the not so rare marine fishes.

Also included is basic information about the fishes - great for finding suitable and mixable species and to become aware about special needs and difficulties. Has recommendations about aquarium sizes and types for particular fishes.

Great and simple book of pictures of fishes and their basic data. Great to be couple with a more technical/fundamental marine/reef aquarium book.

Well worth it, 11 Aug 2008
Quick read; easy to understand; enjoyable; wide coverage but insufficient depth of explanation at times; excellent value for money.
Not enough pictures/diagrams and some diagrams were too small/fuzzy to see clearly; needed metric measurements - is America the last place in the world to use feet in science books?

a masterclass in how to make science interesting, 19 Jul 2006
Robert Kunzig won the Aventis Science Book of the Year award for Mapping the Deep.In my opinion it is the best science book written in the last ten years.Scientists know so little about the ocean and most of them know little about how to communicate what they do know to the layman.Kunzig takes their limited knowledge and conveys the great beauty and mystery of the oceans to the reader.



don't believe the hype, 21 May 2005
I had to read this book as part of my degree. It was really really reallyyyyyyyyyyyy... boring. It wasn't very well written although it contains a few interesting facts they are few and far between.

This book tries to be both a novel & a text book and fails on both accounts, I dont' care if Edward Forbes wanted to be an artist but was refused admission to the Royal Academy in London, this book is full of such useless waffle. Do yourself a favour and don't bother, unless you have to of course in which case read it quick to ease the pain like pulling off a plaster & don't say you weren't warned.

Fascinating science, well and wittily written., 16 Apr 2002
Really enjoyed this book, the science is not new, but covered well, concisely and accurately. I found the book hard to put down and the anecdotes about scientists and their research raised a few laughs too. and its got pictures! Very nice

Superb popular introduction to oceanography, 21 Jan 2002
This book is a superb popular introduction to the oceans that fully deserved its prize. Everything you need to know about the sea is here: what is water, where did the oceans come from, plate tectonics, the creatures of the deep, jellyfish, evolution, ocean currents, how the oceans affect climate ... It has a superb set of colour photographs, too: I wish I could get the double-page spread as a poster. My only complaint is about the quality of the binding.

Not that useful overall, 23 Sep 2008
We only went to Lake Garda as opposed to the entire Lakes area, as we were attending a wedding in Malcesine and looking for day trips - but virtually all the reports are negative in this book and therefore unhelpful. Yes, I know it's going to be touristy - especially when we went in August - but these are the Italian lakes not some unspoilt paradise. Some of those touristy places are quite nice you know - espeically if you find a nice little corner near the lake, or a quiet piazza for a cool beer in the shade.
Reading this gave me the feeling that the authors had a really rubbish trip to Italy. Shame, because I had a great one despite this book.

Excellent On Milan, 27 Aug 2007
We used this book last October when visiting Milan. We have also been to Verona in the past and this book is informative on both cities. Did not make it as far as the lakes so cannot speak about previous reviews. But fine on the cities.

Sniffy and snotty, 19 Jun 2007
This is like some of the earlier and poorer Rough Guides, snottily dismissive of anything that equates to "tourism". Which is of course ridiculous, because it's a tourist guide, and the smug authors are of course also tourists.

No doubt they consider themselves "travellers" ...

Plenty of decent content of course, but fundamentally unbalanced. Some of the stuff about Garda is inconsistent with what I have seen (e.g. Riva is not hard to get to at all, and the eastern lakeside shore is not afflicted with horrendous traffic jams. Busy yes, jammed no, in my probably lengthier experience). I suspect they visited some areas very briefly indeed. Other Rough Guides are rather more realistic.



Don't leave home without it!, 17 Nov 2006
Our trip to Lake Garda last month was superb, and this book was a crucial element in making it so. The recommendations were spot on, particularly in helping us to avoid the spoilt package holiday destinations (of which there are many around Garda), and instead finding the real "Lago di Benaco". Thank you Rough Guides!

A must have guide book, 28 Jul 2006
After searching high and low for a relevant guide book we found this beauty. The guide is well written, concise and easy to use. It became our 'bible' on our recent trip to the Italian Lakes'

The hotel & restaurant reviews were spot on.

Great book for Marine Biology students, 18 Apr 2007
A great book that proved to be an invaluable start point for many of the topics on my Marine Biology degree. The process and systems sections were particularly helpful. The information was presented in a clear and easy to understand way and the diagrams/photos really helped with the explanations. Well worth the money.

Fabulous Monsters, 29 Oct 2008
Bought this book to go with Nigel's DVD Walking with Sea Monsters - the DVD is great, but the book is outstanding. A real treasure!!! Delivered promptly and well packed as usual. Thank you.

Jacques Cousteau "The Silent World", 21 Apr 2006
This is a wonderful book. Cousteau knows how to tell fascinating dive stories (some involving near-death moments) and keep you informed as well. The photos in the hardback edition are mostly (but not all) black and white, but stunning, especially the photo of a shark's maw one foot away from Cousteau's camera! The courage of the man takes the breath away and makes a lot of today's expert divers seem namby-pamby. No wetsuits for Jacques, he and Didi Dumas swam around in very brief swimtrunks which were no doubt regarded as sexy and trendy in the 1950s. Both of them do lots of things in the sea which would now be regarded as politically incorrect, so a really fun read.

Cousteau's 'The Silent World' is a tale of the deep sea., 18 Sep 2000
Cousteau's autobiographical account of his deep sea adventures is told with much vividness and recounts the experiences of Cousteasu and his comrade, Frederic Dumas, in the sea after their discovery of the aqua lung. A good book to read if interested in diving, or simply as a general interest publication. Either way the book makes for a good read and, considering Cousteau translated the story from the French himself, is impressively well written.

Really good introdution, 21 Jul 2003
This book is aq really good introdution to the life in the oceans. I recently used this book for a module in my Oceanography degree and it was really helpful. I also recommend this book for Marine Biologists as well.

The Most Informative, Straight to the Point Fish Guide, 12 Jun 2007
This book is a godsend for all those looking to learn the compatibility about a given species of marine fish in a reef or fish only setup.

Every species that you could possibly put into a marine aquarium (including a nurse shark)is listed, with a short and informative summary across a full page.

The fish are easy to find, and give; a picture of the species, latin and common names, and almost everything you need to pick and keep fish for your aquarium.

My only reservation with this guide is that the aquarium suitibility colour code is vague and inaccurate, e.g. it would suggest that it is just as easy to keep a dragon moray as it is to keep a percula clownfish. Perhaps this is why the colour coded aquarium suitibilty was scrapped for the book "Marine Inverts" which is the same in layout and format.

Overall, it's the best quick guide for aquarium hobbiests, that includes such a large range of fish. (freshwater included)


Marine Fishes - A Pocket Expert Guide, 04 Jun 2004
We have been looking for a book to identify Marine Fish for some time and, had we found this one first, we would have looked no further and saved a fortune.
This book gives a one fish per page detailed coloured photo, max length, min aquarium size, foods and feeding tips, compataility and captive care guide. The text is easy to read and understand, the suitability index is simple to use and an index for both scientific name and common name can be found at the back of the book.
The 500 species included are of the more readily available variety and are listed within the book under main species type ie; Angel, Blennies,Surgeonfishes.
Excellent value for money and a must for any new or established marine fish enthusiast.

A well-done species catalog/identification aid/fish guide, 21 Jul 2000
I was looking for some basic marine aquarium books and as a species catalog/fish guide I decided on this one.

The book is structured in a one page - one fish style. Has good and well sized (for a pocket book) colour pictures on most of the not so rare marine fishes.

Also included is basic information about the fishes - great for finding suitable and mixable species and to become aware about special needs and difficulties. Has recommendations about aquarium sizes and types for particular fishes.

Great and simple book of pictures of fishes and their basic data. Great to be couple with a more technical/fundamental marine/reef aquarium book.

Well worth it, 11 Aug 2008
Quick read; easy to understand; enjoyable; wide coverage but insufficient depth of explanation at times; excellent value for money.
Not enough pictures/diagrams and some diagrams were too small/fuzzy to see clearly; needed metric measurements - is America the last place in the world to use feet in science books?

a masterclass in how to make science interesting, 19 Jul 2006
Robert Kunzig won the Aventis Science Book of the Year award for Mapping the Deep.In my opinion it is the best science book written in the last ten years.Scientists know so little about the ocean and most of them know little about how to communicate what they do know to the layman.Kunzig takes their limited knowledge and conveys the great beauty and mystery of the oceans to the reader.



don't believe the hype, 21 May 2005
I had to read this book as part of my degree. It was really really reallyyyyyyyyyyyy... boring. It wasn't very well written although it contains a few interesting facts they are few and far between.

This book tries to be both a novel & a text book and fails on both accounts, I dont' care if Edward Forbes wanted to be an artist but was refused admission to the Royal Academy in London, this book is full of such useless waffle. Do yourself a favour and don't bother, unless you have to of course in which case read it quick to ease the pain like pulling off a plaster & don't say you weren't warned.

Fascinating science, well and wittily written., 16 Apr 2002
Really enjoyed this book, the science is not new, but covered well, concisely and accurately. I found the book hard to put down and the anecdotes about scientists and their research raised a few laughs too. and its got pictures! Very nice

Superb popular introduction to oceanography, 21 Jan 2002
This book is a superb popular introduction to the oceans that fully deserved its prize. Everything you need to know about the sea is here: what is water, where did the oceans come from, plate tectonics, the creatures of the deep, jellyfish, evolution, ocean currents, how the oceans affect climate ... It has a superb set of colour photographs, too: I wish I could get the double-page spread as a poster. My only complaint is about the quality of the binding.

Not that useful overall, 23 Sep 2008
We only went to Lake Garda as opposed to the entire Lakes area, as we were attending a wedding in Malcesine and looking for day trips - but virtually all the reports are negative in this book and therefore unhelpful. Yes, I know it's going to be touristy - especially when we went in August - but these are the Italian lakes not some unspoilt paradise. Some of those touristy places are quite nice you know - espeically if you find a nice little corner near the lake, or a quiet piazza for a cool beer in the shade.
Reading this gave me the feeling that the authors had a really rubbish trip to Italy. Shame, because I had a great one despite this book.

Excellent On Milan, 27 Aug 2007
We used this book last October when visiting Milan. We have also been to Verona in the past and this book is informative on both cities. Did not make it as far as the lakes so cannot speak about previous reviews. But fine on the cities.

Sniffy and snotty, 19 Jun 2007
This is like some of the earlier and poorer Rough Guides, snottily dismissive of anything that equates to "tourism". Which is of course ridiculous, because it's a tourist guide, and the smug authors are of course also tourists.

No doubt they consider themselves "travellers" ...

Plenty of decent content of course, but fundamentally unbalanced. Some of the stuff about Garda is inconsistent with what I have seen (e.g. Riva is not hard to get to at all, and the eastern lakeside shore is not afflicted with horrendous traffic jams. Busy yes, jammed no, in my probably lengthier experience). I suspect they visited some areas very briefly indeed. Other Rough Guides are rather more realistic.



Don't leave home without it!, 17 Nov 2006
Our trip to Lake Garda last month was superb, and this book was a crucial element in making it so. The recommendations were spot on, particularly in helping us to avoid the spoilt package holiday destinations (of which there are many around Garda), and instead finding the real "Lago di Benaco". Thank you Rough Guides!

A must have guide book, 28 Jul 2006
After searching high and low for a relevant guide book we found this beauty. The guide is well written, concise and easy to use. It became our 'bible' on our recent trip to the Italian Lakes'

The hotel & restaurant reviews were spot on.

Great book for Marine Biology students, 18 Apr 2007
A great book that proved to be an invaluable start point for many of the topics on my Marine Biology degree. The process and systems sections were particularly helpful. The information was presented in a clear and easy to understand way and the diagrams/photos really helped with the explanations. Well worth the money.

Fabulous Monsters, 29 Oct 2008
Bought this book to go with Nigel's DVD Walking with Sea Monsters - the DVD is great, but the book is outstanding. A real treasure!!! Delivered promptly and well packed as usual. Thank you.

A superb book, 31 Jan 2007
In a class of its own, with excellent photographs of a huge range of species. A book like this adds a whole new dimension to a Caribbean holiday. Snorkellers should be aware that the frequency of sightings of many species will be very different from that reported by scuba divers.

Reef Fish Identification: Florida Caribbean Bahamas, 24 Nov 2002
Really easy to use and very helpful identification tips. All the other divers "borrowed" this book extensively. The pictures are very clear. I especially liked the fish sightings record at the back of the book.

I used this in conjunction with the snorkelling guide to marine life, Florida, Bahamas, Carribbean ( by the same authors). I took the smaller snorkelling guide on the boat and then referred to the more detailed guide back at the hotel

Probably the best book on Marine Fishes to day, 08 Feb 2001
I am owning a lot of books about tropical fishes,but no one is as beautifull and usefull as this one. It is almost too good to have five stars!It contains almost 7,00 photograhs and 494 species,of which about 350 are pictured,the remaining ones are similar to the pictured and are only given a description. Many of the species here I have not found in any other book. And if you buy this book,you will be like you`ve taken a drug - your life will be the fishes. Fishes are my great passion in the life and this book is a must-have for any diver,aquarist,fish lover,or biologist. The only thing which isn`t perfect is that there stands nothing about the behaviour of the fishes - but instead they have made a separate book for that (Reef Fish Behaviour). Overall,I am a great lover of marine life,and especially caribbean reef fishes. When I first received it for christmas,I was so happy that I cannot describe it. Now I own the entire trilogy and they are very enjoyable to read and look at over and over again.

The definitive guide for reef fish of the Caribbean, 08 Jun 1999
I visit family in St. Croix (US Virgin Islands) yearly, and I have looked at a number of books in order to learn the names of the numerous fish I see when I'm snorkeling or diving. This one makes identification easy, with beautiful pictures and the all-important "Distinctive Features" sections, which give you tips on how to distinguish one fish from the next. Make no mistake: this book is the easiest to use and the most comprehensive one I've seen. I'm online to buy the other two books (Reef Coral and Reef Creatures).

A must have for any diver visiting the Bahamas, 26 May 1999
As a SCUBA INSTRUCTOR this book is the best I've seen for fish identification. It gives many pointers on how to distinguish between fish. If your looking for a book to take on a trip make no mistake this is your best choice.

Jacques Cousteau "The Silent World", 21 Apr 2006
This is a wonderful book. Cousteau knows how to tell fascinating dive stories (some involving near-death moments) and keep you informed as well. The photos in the hardback edition are mostly (but not all) black and white, but stunning, especially the photo of a shark's maw one foot away from Cousteau's camera! The courage of the man takes the breath away and makes a lot of today's expert divers seem namby-pamby. No wetsuits for Jacques, he and Didi Dumas swam around in very brief swimtrunks which were no doubt regarded as sexy and trendy in the 1950s. Both of them do lots of things in the sea which would now be regarded as politically incorrect, so a really fun read.

Cousteau's 'The Silent World' is a tale of the deep sea., 18 Sep 2000
Cousteau's autobiographical account of his deep sea adventures is told with much vividness and recounts the experiences of Cousteasu and his comrade, Frederic Dumas, in the sea after their discovery of the aqua lung. A good book to read if interested in diving, or simply as a general interest publication. Either way the book makes for a good read and, considering Cousteau translated the story from the French himself, is impressively well written.

Really good introdution, 21 Jul 2003
This book is aq really good introdution to the life in the oceans. I recently used this book for a module in my Oceanography degree and it was really helpful. I also recommend this book for Marine Biologists as well.

The Most Informative, Straight to the Point Fish Guide, 12 Jun 2007
This book is a godsend for all those looking to learn the compatibility about a given species of marine fish in a reef or fish only setup.

Every species that you could possibly put into a marine aquarium (including a nurse shark)is listed, with a short and informative summary across a full page.

The fish are easy to find, and give; a picture of the species, latin and common names, and almost everything you need to pick and keep fish for your aquarium.

My only reservation with this guide is that the aquarium suitibility colour code is vague and inaccurate, e.g. it would suggest that it is just as easy to keep a dragon moray as it is to keep a percula clownfish. Perhaps this is why the colour coded aquarium suitibilty was scrapped for the book "Marine Inverts" which is the same in layout and format.

Overall, it's the best quick guide for aquarium hobbiests, that includes such a large range of fish. (freshwater included)


Marine Fishes - A Pocket Expert Guide, 04 Jun 2004
We have been looking for a book to identify Marine Fish for some time and, had we found this one first, we would have looked no further and saved a fortune.
This book gives a one fish per page detailed coloured photo, max length, min aquarium size, foods and feeding tips, compataility and captive care guide. The text is easy to read and understand, the suitability index is simple to use and an index for both scientific name and common name can be found at the back of the book.
The 500 species included are of the more readily available variety and are listed within the book under main species type ie; Angel, Blennies,Surgeonfishes.
Excellent value for money and a must for any new or established marine fish enthusiast.

A well-done species catalog/identification aid/fish guide, 21 Jul 2000
I was looking for some basic marine aquarium books and as a species catalog/fish guide I decided on this one.

The book is structured in a one page - one fish style. Has good and well sized (for a pocket book) colour pictures on most of the not so rare marine fishes.

Also included is basic information about the fishes - great for finding suitable and mixable species and to become aware about special needs and difficulties. Has recommendations about aquarium sizes and types for particular fishes.

Great and simple book of pictures of fishes and their basic data. Great to be couple with a more technical/fundamental marine/reef aquarium book.

Well worth it, 11 Aug 2008
Quick read; easy to understand; enjoyable; wide coverage but insufficient depth of explanation at times; excellent value for money.
Not enough pictures/diagrams and some diagrams were too small/fuzzy to see clearly; needed metric measurements - is America the last place in the world to use feet in science books?

a masterclass in how to make science interesting, 19 Jul 2006
Robert Kunzig won the Aventis Science Book of the Year award for Mapping the Deep.In my opinion it is the best science book written in the last ten years.Scientists know so little about the ocean and most of them know little about how to communicate what they do know to the layman.Kunzig takes their limited knowledge and conveys the great beauty and mystery of the oceans to the reader.



don't believe the hype, 21 May 2005
I had to read this book as part of my degree. It was really really reallyyyyyyyyyyyy... boring. It wasn't very well written although it contains a few interesting facts they are few and far between.

This book tries to be both a novel & a text book and fails on both accounts, I dont' care if Edward Forbes wanted to be an artist but was refused admission to the Royal Academy in London, this book is full of such useless waffle. Do yourself a favour and don't bother, unless you have to of course in which case read it quick to ease the pain like pulling off a plaster & don't say you weren't warned.

Fascinating science, well and wittily written., 16 Apr 2002
Really enjoyed this book, the science is not new, but covered well, concisely and accurately. I found the book hard to put down and the anecdotes about scientists and their research raised a few laughs too. and its got pictures! Very nice

Superb popular introduction to oceanography, 21 Jan 2002
This book is a superb popular introduction to the oceans that fully deserved its prize. Everything you need to know about the sea is here: what is water, where did the oceans come from, plate tectonics, the creatures of the deep, jellyfish, evolution, ocean currents, how the oceans affect climate ... It has a superb set of colour photographs, too: I wish I could get the double-page spread as a poster. My only complaint is about the quality of the binding.

Not that useful overall, 23 Sep 2008
We only went to Lake Garda as opposed to the entire Lakes area, as we were attending a wedding in Malcesine and looking for day trips - but virtually all the reports are negative in this book and therefore unhelpful. Yes, I know it's going to be touristy - especially when we went in August - but these are the Italian lakes not some unspoilt paradise. Some of those touristy places are quite nice you know - espeically if you find a nice little corner near the lake, or a quiet piazza for a cool beer in the shade.
Reading this gave me the feeling that the authors had a really rubbish trip to Italy. Shame, because I had a great one despite this book.

Excellent On Milan, 27 Aug 2007
We used this book last October when visiting Milan. We have also been to Verona in the past and this book is informative on both cities. Did not make it as far as the lakes so cannot speak about previous reviews. But fine on the cities.

Sniffy and snotty, 19 Jun 2007
This is like some of the earlier and poorer Rough Guides, snottily dismissive of anything that equates to "tourism". Which is of course ridiculous, because it's a tourist guide, and the smug authors are of course also tourists.

No doubt they consider themselves "travellers" ...

Plenty of decent content of course, but fundamentally unbalanced. Some of the stuff about Garda is inconsistent with what I have seen (e.g. Riva is not hard to get to at all, and the eastern lakeside shore is not afflicted with horrendous traffic jams. Busy yes, jammed no, in my probably lengthier experience). I suspect they visited some areas very briefly indeed. Other Rough Guides are rather more realistic.



Don't leave home without it!, 17 Nov 2006
Our trip to Lake Garda last month was superb, and this book was a crucial element in making it so. The recommendations were spot on, particularly in helping us to avoid the spoilt package holiday destinations (of which there are many around Garda), and instead finding the real "Lago di Benaco". Thank you Rough Guides!

A must have guide book, 28 Jul 2006
After searching high and low for a relevant guide book we found this beauty. The guide is well written, concise and easy to use. It became our 'bible' on our recent trip to the Italian Lakes'

The hotel & restaurant reviews were spot on.

Great book for Marine Biology students, 18 Apr 2007
A great book that proved to be an invaluable start point for many of the topics on my Marine Biology degree. The process and systems sections were particularly helpful. The information was presented in a clear and easy to understand way and the diagrams/photos really helped with the explanations. Well worth the money.

Fabulous Monsters, 29 Oct 2008
Bought this book to go with Nigel's DVD Walking with Sea Monsters - the DVD is great, but the book is outstanding. A real treasure!!! Delivered promptly and well packed as usual. Thank you.

A superb book, 31 Jan 2007
In a class of its own, with excellent photographs of a huge range of species. A book like this adds a whole new dimension to a Caribbean holiday. Snorkellers should be aware that the frequency of sightings of many species will be very different from that reported by scuba divers.

Reef Fish Identification: Florida Caribbean Bahamas, 24 Nov 2002
Really easy to use and very helpful identification tips. All the other divers "borrowed" this book extensively. The pictures are very clear. I especially liked the fish sightings record at the back of the book.

I used this in conjunction with the snorkelling guide to marine life, Florida, Bahamas, Carribbean ( by the same authors). I took the smaller snorkelling guide on the boat and then referred to the more detailed guide back at the hotel

Probably the best book on Marine Fishes to day, 08 Feb 2001
I am owning a lot of books about tropical fishes,but no one is as beautifull and usefull as this one. It is almost too good to have five stars!It contains almost 7,00 photograhs and 494 species,of which about 350 are pictured,the remaining ones are similar to the pictured and are only given a description. Many of the species here I have not found in any other book. And if you buy this book,you will be like you`ve taken a drug - your life will be the fishes. Fishes are my great passion in the life and this book is a must-have for any diver,aquarist,fish lover,or biologist. The only thing which isn`t perfect is that there stands nothing about the behaviour of the fishes - but instead they have made a separate book for that (Reef Fish Behaviour). Overall,I am a great lover of marine life,and especially caribbean reef fishes. When I first received it for christmas,I was so happy that I cannot describe it. Now I own the entire trilogy and they are very enjoyable to read and look at over and over again.

The definitive guide for reef fish of the Caribbean, 08 Jun 1999
I visit family in St. Croix (US Virgin Islands) yearly, and I have looked at a number of books in order to learn the names of the numerous fish I see when I'm snorkeling or diving. This one makes identification easy, with beautiful pictures and the all-important "Distinctive Features" sections, which give you tips on how to distinguish one fish from the next. Make no mistake: this book is the easiest to use and the most comprehensive one I've seen. I'm online to buy the other two books (Reef Coral and Reef Creatures).

A must have for any diver visiting the Bahamas, 26 May 1999
As a SCUBA INSTRUCTOR this book is the best I've seen for fish identification. It gives many pointers on how to distinguish between fish. If your looking for a book to take on a trip make no mistake this is your best choice.

Excellent guide, 13 May 2008
Unlike many Collins wildlife guides that use photographs (always a bad idea) this is fully illustrated throughout to a very high standard. My only reservation is that it contains only a limited number of fish species.

Almost perfect - nothing better on a market , 08 Mar 2007
An excellent guide I have been waiting long time for. I will be recommending it to all my students as a basic book for field excursions. But nothing is perfect: I miss that eggs/clutches/cocoons of neither group are not depicted as one readily finds this sort of evidence that something lives in a pond/stream.
Also, the variety of dipteran larvae is not shown with the same extensity as those of other groups although they are far the most species rich group of insects living in freshwater habitats. However, their selection in the guide is still very satisfactory for a freswater enthusiast. Regarding the planktonic microlife, i.e. when you need a microscope to appreciate the beauty of freshwater organisms from your plankton net, you will need another guide (I wish there would be some at this entry level); this book takes the plankton just marginally. But, for what it claims it is, i.e. what you can see by naked eye, it is a gem.

Jacques Cousteau "The Silent World", 21 Apr 2006
This is a wonderful book. Cousteau knows how to tell fascinating dive stories (some involving near-death moments) and keep you informed as well. The photos in the hardback edition are mostly (but not all) black and white, but stunning, especially the photo of a shark's maw one foot away from Cousteau's camera! The courage of the man takes the breath away and makes a lot of today's expert divers seem namby-pamby. No wetsuits for Jacques, he and Didi Dumas swam around in very brief swimtrunks which were no doubt regarded as sexy and trendy in the 1950s. Both of them do lots of things in the sea which would now be regarded as politically incorrect, so a really fun read.

Cousteau's 'The Silent World' is a tale of the deep sea., 18 Sep 2000
Cousteau's autobiographical account of his deep sea adventures is told with much vividness and recounts the experiences of Cousteasu and his comrade, Frederic Dumas, in the sea after their discovery of the aqua lung. A good book to read if interested in diving, or simply as a general interest publication. Either way the book makes for a good read and, considering Cousteau translated the story from the French himself, is impressively well written.

Really good introdution, 21 Jul 2003
This book is aq really good introdution to the life in the oceans. I recently used this book for a module in my Oceanography degree and it was really helpful. I also recommend this book for Marine Biologists as well.

The Most Informative, Straight to the Point Fish Guide, 12 Jun 2007
This book is a godsend for all those looking to learn the compatibility about a given species of marine fish in a reef or fish only setup.

Every species that you could possibly put into a marine aquarium (including a nurse shark)is listed, with a short and informative summary across a full page.

The fish are easy to find, and give; a picture of the species, latin and common names, and almost everything you need to pick and keep fish for your aquarium.

My only reservation with this guide is that the aquarium suitibility colour code is vague and inaccurate, e.g. it would suggest that it is just as easy to keep a dragon moray as it is to keep a percula clownfish. Perhaps this is why the colour coded aquarium suitibilty was scrapped for the book "Marine Inverts" which is the same in layout and format.

Overall, it's the best quick guide for aquarium hobbiests, that includes such a large range of fish. (freshwater included)


Marine Fishes - A Pocket Expert Guide, 04 Jun 2004
We have been looking for a book to identify Marine Fish for some time and, had we found this one first, we would have looked no further and saved a fortune.
This book gives a one fish per page detailed coloured photo, max length, min aquarium size, foods and feeding tips, compataility and captive care guide. The text is easy to read and understand, the suitability index is simple to use and an index for both scientific name and common name can be found at the back of the book.
The 500 species included are of the more readily available variety and are listed within the book under main species type ie; Angel, Blennies,Surgeonfishes.
Excellent value for money and a must for any new or established marine fish enthusiast.

A well-done species catalog/identification aid/fish guide, 21 Jul 2000
I was looking for some basic marine aquarium books and as a species catalog/fish guide I decided on this one.

The book is structured in a one page - one fish style. Has good and well sized (for a pocket book) colour pictures on most of the not so rare marine fishes.

Also included is basic information about the fishes - great for finding suitable and mixable species and to become aware about special needs and difficulties. Has recommendations about aquarium sizes and types for particular fishes.

Great and simple book of pictures of fishes and their basic data. Great to be couple with a more technical/fundamental marine/reef aquarium book.

Well worth it, 11 Aug 2008
Quick read; easy to understand; enjoyable; wide coverage but insufficient depth of explanation at times; excellent value for money.
Not enough pictures/diagrams and some diagrams were too small/fuzzy to see clearly; needed metric measurements - is America the last place in the world to use feet in science books?

a masterclass in how to make science interesting, 19 Jul 2006
Robert Kunzig won the Aventis Science Book of the Year award for Mapping the Deep.In my opinion it is the best science book written in the last ten years.Scientists know so little about the ocean and most of them know little about how to communicate what they do know to the layman.Kunzig takes their limited knowledge and conveys the great beauty and mystery of the oceans to the reader.



don't believe the hype, 21 May 2005
I had to read this book as part of my degree. It was really really reallyyyyyyyyyyyy... boring. It wasn't very well written although it contains a few interesting facts they are few and far between.

This book tries to be both a novel & a text book and fails on both accounts, I dont' care if Edward Forbes wanted to be an artist but was refused admission to the Royal Academy in London, this book is full of such useless waffle. Do yourself a favour and don't bother, unless you have to of course in which case read it quick to ease the pain like pulling off a plaster & don't say you weren't warned.

Fascinating science, well and wittily written., 16 Apr 2002
Really enjoyed this book, the science is not new, but covered well, concisely and accurately. I found the book hard to put down and the anecdotes about scientists and their research raised a few laughs too. and its got pictures! Very nice

Superb popular introduction to oceanography, 21 Jan 2002
This book is a superb popular introduction to the oceans that fully deserved its prize. Everything you need to know about the sea is here: what is water, where did the oceans come from, plate tectonics, the creatures of the deep, jellyfish, evolution, ocean currents, how the oceans affect climate ... It has a superb set of colour photographs, too: I wish I could get the double-page spread as a poster. My only complaint is about the quality of the binding.

Not that useful overall, 23 Sep 2008
We only went to Lake Garda as opposed to the entire Lakes area, as we were attending a wedding in Malcesine and looking for day trips - but virtually all the reports are negative in this book and therefore unhelpful. Yes, I know it's going to be touristy - especially when we went in August - but these are the Italian lakes not some unspoilt paradise. Some of those touristy places are quite nice you know - espeically if you find a nice little corner near the lake, or a quiet piazza for a cool beer in the shade.
Reading this gave me the feeling that the authors had a really rubbish trip to Italy. Shame, because I had a great one despite this book.

Excellent On Milan, 27 Aug 2007
We used this book last October when visiting Milan. We have also been to Verona in the past and this book is informative on both cities. Did not make it as far as the lakes so cannot speak about previous reviews. But fine on the cities.

Sniffy and snotty, 19 Jun 2007
This is like some of the earlier and poorer Rough Guides, snottily dismissive of anything that equates to "tourism". Which is of course ridiculous, because it's a tourist guide, and the smug authors are of course also tourists.

No doubt they consider themselves "travellers" ...

Plenty of decent content of course, but fundamentally unbalanced. Some of the stuff about Garda is inconsistent with what I have seen (e.g. Riva is not hard to get to at all, and the eastern lakeside shore is not afflicted with horrendous traffic jams. Busy yes, jammed no, in my probably lengthier experience). I suspect they visited some areas very briefly indeed. Other Rough Guides are rather more realistic.



Don't leave home without it!, 17 Nov 2006
Our trip to Lake Garda last month was superb, and this book was a crucial element in making it so. The recommendations were spot on, particularly in helping us to avoid the spoilt package holiday destinations (of which there are many around Garda), and instead finding the real "Lago di Benaco". Thank you Rough Guides!

A must have guide book, 28 Jul 2006
After searching high and low for a relevant guide book we found this beauty. The guide is well written, concise and easy to use. It became our 'bible' on our recent trip to the Italian Lakes'

The hotel & restaurant reviews were spot on.

Great book for Marine Biology students, 18 Apr 2007
A great book that proved to be an invaluable start point for many of the topics on my Marine Biology degree. The process and systems sections were particularly helpful. The information was presented in a clear and easy to understand way and the diagrams/photos really helped with the explanations. Well worth the money.

Fabulous Monsters, 29 Oct 2008
Bought this book to go with Nigel's DVD Walking with Sea Monsters - the DVD is great, but the book is outstanding. A real treasure!!! Delivered promptly and well packed as usual. Thank you.

A superb book, 31 Jan 2007
In a class of its own, with excellent photographs of a huge range of species. A book like this adds a whole new dimension to a Caribbean holiday. Snorkellers should be aware that the frequency of sightings of many species will be very different from that reported by scuba divers.

Reef Fish Identification: Florida Caribbean Bahamas, 24 Nov 2002
Really easy to use and very helpful identification tips. All the other divers "borrowed" this book extensively. The pictures are very clear. I especially liked the fish sightings record at the back of the book.

I used this in conjunction with the snorkelling guide to marine life, Florida, Bahamas, Carribbean ( by the same authors). I took the smaller snorkelling guide on the boat and then referred to the more detailed guide back at the hotel

Probably the best book on Marine Fishes to day, 08 Feb 2001
I am owning a lot of books about tropical fishes,but no one is as beautifull and usefull as this one. It is almost too good to have five stars!It contains almost 7,00 photograhs and 494 species,of which about 350 are pictured,the remaining ones are similar to the pictured and are only given a description. Many of the species here I have not found in any other book. And if you buy this book,you will be like you`ve taken a drug - your life will be the fishes. Fishes are my great passion in the life and this book is a must-have for any diver,aquarist,fish lover,or biologist. The only thing which isn`t perfect is that there stands nothing about the behaviour of the fishes - but instead they have made a separate book for that (Reef Fish Behaviour). Overall,I am a great lover of marine life,and especially caribbean reef fishes. When I first received it for christmas,I was so happy that I cannot describe it. Now I own the entire trilogy and they are very enjoyable to read and look at over and over again.

The definitive guide for reef fish of the Caribbean, 08 Jun 1999
I visit family in St. Croix (US Virgin Islands) yearly, and I have looked at a number of books in order to learn the names of the numerous fish I see when I'm snorkeling or diving. This one makes identification easy, with beautiful pictures and the all-important "Distinctive Features" sections, which give you tips on how to distinguish one fish from the next. Make no mistake: this book is the easiest to use and the most comprehensive one I've seen. I'm online to buy the other two books (Reef Coral and Reef Creatures).

A must have for any diver visiting the Bahamas, 26 May 1999
As a SCUBA INSTRUCTOR this book is the best I've seen for fish identification. It gives many pointers on how to distinguish between fish. If your looking for a book to take on a trip make no mistake this is your best choice.

Excellent guide, 13 May 2008
Unlike many Collins wildlife guides that use photographs (always a bad idea) this is fully illustrated throughout to a very high standard. My only reservation is that it contains only a limited number of fish species.

Almost perfect - nothing better on a market , 08 Mar 2007
An excellent guide I have been waiting long time for. I will be recommending it to all my students as a basic book for field excursions. But nothing is perfect: I miss that eggs/clutches/cocoons of neither group are not depicted as one readily finds this sort of evidence that something lives in a pond/stream.
Also, the variety of dipteran larvae is not shown with the same extensity as those of other groups although they are far the most species rich group of insects living in freshwater habitats. However, their selection in the guide is still very satisfactory for a freswater enthusiast. Regarding the planktonic microlife, i.e. when you need a microscope to appreciate the beauty of freshwater organisms from your plankton net, you will need another guide (I wish there would be some at this entry level); this book takes the plankton just marginally. But, for what it claims it is, i.e. what you can see by naked eye, it is a gem.

Frozen Earth Review, 14 Feb 2007
In these days of media hype about global warming this book by Doug Macdougall is a breath of fresh air. It is clear, easily read by anyone and brings all the facts of our past ice ages together. I have read a number of books on this subject and this is without doubt one of the best.

Fascinatin