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A Fish Caught in Time: The Search for the Coelacanth Paperback – February 6, 2001
by
Samantha Weinberg
(Author)
Samantha Weinberg
(Author)
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Print length220 pages
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LanguageEnglish
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PublisherHarper Perennial
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Publication dateFebruary 6, 2001
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Dimensions5.31 x 0.54 x 8 inches
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ISBN-109780060932855
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ISBN-13978-0060932855
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Samantha Weinberg has written a lovely book about this discovery and What It All Means, and everybody ought to read it... This is terrific stuff, and even if you haven't given much thought recently to big, supposedly extinct fishes first found in East Africa and then in Indonesia, you ought to read this book. It will knock your socks off."-- Richard Ellis, London "Times"Weinberg knows what is important and what is not, but does not let good stories go unnoticed all the same. Her command of the details is impressive--you come away knowing what the excitement was all about. The account is excellent and humane...and the cliffhangers about extinction and possible other habitats are exciting as well."-- Roz Kaveney, Amazon.co.ukA "fascinating study of an arcane subject and the scientists caught up in the adventure...full of incident and skulduggery. Weinberg holds us enthralled until the last page."-- "Tatler, London"The discovery of the coelacanth, as told in Samantha Weinberg's thrilling new book, reads like some classic Spielberg creation - Indiana Jones let loose in a real-life Jurassic Park."-- "The Mail on Sunday, London"this book has all the ingredients of a bestseller: a curious, four-limbed fish to which we probalby owe our own evolutionary existence, a host of eccentric icthyologists, Teutonic submariners, British adventurers, and a series of political and environmental imbroglios."-- Giles Foden, "Guardian, London"Weinberg's lively account of politics and serendipity in marine research helps you understand how even a fish could engender fanaticism."-- Richard Fortey, "Yorkshire Post, England"Samantha Weinberg's account of the many lives of the coelacanth has all the ingredientsof a great scientific story...rare mytical beasts, mad professors, last-minute mercy dashes, international piracy, high-level political intrigue, and richly satisfactory cast of supplementary cameos...Weinberg skillfully fills the narrative with educational asides and...sharp character sketches."-- Bella Bathurst, The "Scotsman, UK"a fascinating and accessible study of an arcane subject."-- "Literary Review, EnglandSamantha Weinberg "writes with enthusiasm and passion."-- Simon Singh, "The Sunday Telegraph"a fascinating tale...Samantha Weinberg uses her journalistic skills to weave an entertaining and well researched account of coelacanth mania."-- Gail Vines, "Independent, UKa "lively book...part natural history, part adventure story and...part evolutionary musing...garnished with great splashes of narrative color."-- The "Daily Telegraph, UK"Samantha Weinberg's "A Fish Caught in Time is like Dalva Sobel's "Longitude or Simon Winchester's "The Professor and the Madman--great fun to read yet seriously informative. All three of these journalist-authors know how to craft a good story."--Michael Dirda, "The Washington Post
About the Author
Samantha Weinberg is a British writer and traveler. She has reported from the four corners of the world for American, African, and European newspapers and magazines. She divides her time between her suitcase and a thatched cottage in Wiltshire, England.
Product details
- ASIN : 0060932856
- Publisher : Harper Perennial; First Edition (February 6, 2001)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 220 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9780060932855
- ISBN-13 : 978-0060932855
- Item Weight : 6.9 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.31 x 0.54 x 8 inches
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Best Sellers Rank:
#468,348 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #86 in Organic Evolution
- #176 in Marine Biology (Books)
- #321 in Biology of Fishes & Sharks
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
68 global ratings
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2019
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A very informative and fascinating book on the first early discovery of this "living fossil" in the 1930's and how it took an exciting adventure to get preserved, along with other discoveries decades later. Also interesting to learn about the history (some tragic) of those involved in the search, research and preservation of this ancient fish. Highly recommended
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2020
Verified Purchase
You'd think a history book on an extinct fish would be that, a history book. It was a page turner! It has mystery, romance, death & entrails everywhere! It is a good read. I truly enjoyed it!
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2016
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I've bought this book as a gift for more than one person. I highly recommend it if you're interested in the subject matter
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2000
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This is a superbly researched and written history of the coelacanth and the people who have pursued it. Less technical than Keith Thomson's equally valuable book on the topic, this volume is filled with details about the effect this unique fish has had on those caught in its prehistoric aura. Weinberg includes a thorough account of the discovery of the second population in Indonesia, along with evidence for other populations. A must read for all who are interested in marine discovery and conservation.
Matt Bille Author, Rumors of Existence
Matt Bille Author, Rumors of Existence
10 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2016
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I guess I should've expected this would be more about the people who discovered the various coelacanth specimens rather than about the coelacanth itself but I didn't think it'd be this bad. While I did learn what little there is to know about the discovery of the coelacanth, I really didn't want to have to go through the entire gosh-darn life story of several different people to get to it. It still only ended up being a little over 200 pages, and that's including two appendices (the first of which apparently wasn't even edited). It includes black-and-white illustrations, a few maps, selected reading, and an index. Buy it for cheap (like I did) or borrow it at a library. Oh, and the author claims that "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" is "apparently" based on the discovery of the coelacanth. That's pretty compelling evidence. I didn't care to google it to see if it was true.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2018
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Smart, crisp, exciting and informed. I will reread this every few years both because it's good and because it's complimentary to do so when following new info.
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2000
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Samantha Weinberg has written a wonderful book outlining the history of the coelacanth. This "living fossil" fish, which predates the dinosaurs, was believed to have been extinct for millions of years until one was pulled from the sea in 1938. This incredible discovery has been referred to as the "number one zoological find of the twentieth century." The coelacanth, with it's primitive limbs, is a fascinating member of our evolutionary past. Much more than just a fish story, A FISH CAUGHT IN TIME tells an exciting tale of the many individuals involved in expanding our knowledge of the coelacanth--and hopefully preventing it's extinction as we enter the twenty-first century.
This is one of those special books that was hard to put down and ended far too soon!
This is one of those special books that was hard to put down and ended far too soon!
17 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2000
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Samantha Weinberg has told the remarkable story of the discovery of the fish that first caught my attention as a child. The story of the living coelacanth's discovery is nearly as facinating as the fish itself. I was ignorant of the body of knowledge that has been collected on this animal and was happy to learn that research and conservation efforts are ongoing.
The author's discussions of evolutionary theory were inadequate and the accompanying cartoons were inappropriate (and in some aspects wrong). The superficial treatment of this subject was disappointing in a book relating a story of scientific discovery.
The author's discussions of evolutionary theory were inadequate and the accompanying cartoons were inappropriate (and in some aspects wrong). The superficial treatment of this subject was disappointing in a book relating a story of scientific discovery.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries
Mr P S J Langhelt
5.0 out of 5 stars
and I am glad that I have done so
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2018Verified Purchase
I have read parts of this book when I was working, but since I have retired I seem to have had little time to do so. I came across the book while I was out and decided that I wanted to equate myself with this book, and I am glad that I have done so.
PeterWal
5.0 out of 5 stars
The fish is not the only star in this 5 Star book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2017Verified Purchase
Utterly fascinating - not just because of the fish but the extraordinary larger tha life people involved
Mr. Simon P. Nadin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2017Verified Purchase
This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. My girlfriend said the same. Highly entertaining. Buy it.
MR JULIAN GRANT
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just what I'd hoped
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2019Verified Purchase
Just what I'd hoped it would be - an intelligent treatise on the finding of the fish with accurate scientific detail woven into a descriptive narrative
sulli09
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2015Verified Purchase
Loved this book,inspired me to look into the coelacanth even more.
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