Rating: 
Summary: A different Steinbeck
Review: I read this book while preparing to follow the footsteps of Steinbeck and Ricketts to the Sea of Cortez (the Gulf of California). I was living, at the time, in 'Steinbeck Country,' Monterey, California--where Ed 'Doc' Ricketts kept his lab (referred to in "Cannery Row."). In this book, "The Log From the Sea of Cortez," Steinbeck sheds his fiction-writer persona, and regales his readers with the story of his trip, which Ricketts initiated for scientific purposes. The thing that interested me the most, aside from the descriptive passages about the area in question, was the juxtaposition of Ed Rickett's pragmatism and Steinbeck's unabashed idealism and populism. Steinbeck comes across as a flaming socialist--not too surprising, considering "The Grapes of Wrath" and some of his other works. The friendship of these two men, despite the radical differences in their philosophies, is intriguing. If you are a fan of Steinbeck's fiction, this book will give you more insight into his character and philosophy than any of his other books save, perhaps, "Travels With Charlie," which came much later.
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite From Steinbeck
Review: As someone who has been reading and admiring Steinbeck since childhood, this was by far my favorite of all his books. The book is full of adventure, amazing insight, and quite a bit more of humor than one would expect from a non-fiction story pertaining largely to biology.
Steinbeck is joined by biologist Ed Ricketts as they sail the Sea of Cortez and examine the various conditions and sea life within. Upon each discovery or finding, Steinbeck offers a detailed description of their encounter, and further makes a correlation to life on the land as it is experienced by humankind. Just to cite one example, Steinbeck notes how animals that prey on others and have stronger instincts are seen as "survivors" and admired, whereas human beings who step on others to get to the top are seen as evil or heartless. I would highly recommend this book to anybody that enjoys well-written non-fiction that reads just as if it were fiction. If you enjoy this book you should definitely read Travels With Charley by Steinbeck next.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the usual Steinbeck fare
Review: But still a good read. If you are an aficianado of Steinbeck you are gonna find few less pleasurable than this one.
The writer's other works from that period, Tortilla Flat, Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday are the Steinbeck masterpieces, in my opinion. Reading this one is all about filling in the gaps between readings of the major pieces of the Steinbeck puzzle.
On the other hand, the Steinbeck lover, if he's true to the passion, will wish to read them all. This one will tell you much about Steinbeck as a young man, which makes it worth the price of admission.
Rating:
Summary: Not the usual Steinbeck fare
Review: But still a good read. If you are an aficianado of Steinbeck you are gonna find far less pleasurable than this one.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed Bag of Specimens and Thoughts
Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. I was an oceonographer wannabe, so I'm familiar with many of the specimens described in the collection process. But without a visual guide, I think it may be difficult for some readers. It made me want to see the full 600 page text, which was the scientific (not narrative) portion of the Sea of Cortez. I liked Steinbeck's intimate stories within the narrative - the stories of Tiny and Sparky, Tony and Tex, and the villagers and fishermen of Mexico. I tend to dislike the philosophical discussions - tho the intro says that the inner workings of Steinbeck's mind has been revealed. Many of the societal attitudes seem outdated. It's a definite period piece - the gringos visiting the Mexicans and Indios during a time when few gringos came into their isolated world. When Baja California was an unspoiled habitat for marine life, instead of a resort/sportsman area. A time when you could freely collect marine specimens without desimating the species. What a great adventure, though, to make many discoveries (not of unusual species) but of the abundance and variety of species - and to record them for other science lovers. The book jumps in tone, emphasis, and style - showing the variety of Steinbeck's interests, strengths and weaknesses, and makes you want to go back to his classic fiction -where he is strongest in telling the stories of common man. A good read!
Rating:
Summary: Mixed Bag of Specimens and Thoughts
Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. I was an oceonographer wannabe, so I'm familiar with many of the specimens described in the collection process. But without a visual guide, I think it may be difficult for some readers. It made me want to see the full 600 page text, which was the scientific (not narrative) portion of the Sea of Cortez. I liked Steinbeck's intimate stories within the narrative - the stories of Tiny and Sparky, Tony and Tex, and the villagers and fishermen of Mexico. I tend to dislike the philosophical discussions - tho the intro says that the inner workings of Steinbeck's mind has been revealed. Many of the societal attitudes seem outdated. It's a definite period piece - the gringos visiting the Mexicans and Indios during a time when few gringos came into their isolated world. When Baja California was an unspoiled habitat for marine life, instead of a resort/sportsman area. A time when you could freely collect marine specimens without desimating the species. What a great adventure, though, to make many discoveries (not of unusual species) but of the abundance and variety of species - and to record them for other science lovers. The book jumps in tone, emphasis, and style - showing the variety of Steinbeck's interests, strengths and weaknesses, and makes you want to go back to his classic fiction -where he is strongest in telling the stories of common man. A good read!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent travel story, but better still, excellent philosop
Review: I read this book while sailing in Sea of Cortez and on land at La Paz. Not only did I love it as a travel story, but Steinbeck's gems of philosophy were even better. Highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Profound
Review: I was compelled to read this book several years ago, as it made a list of "Most inspirational books to Marine Biologists." Since I consider myself a marine biologist and was then taking some free time to revisit the classics I couldn't resist. I had appreciated Of Mice and Men and other Steinbeck work in highschool, but was tragically unaware of his interest in marine science. Needless to say I now read this book at least once a year.
The Log From the Sea of Cortez starts out as a factual telling of a tail about the crew of a boat, seamen, fishermen and scientists who journey to the little traveled Gulf of California (sea of Cortez). The book does an wonderful job of describing the day to day toil of the journey where they must stop every day and collect large numbers of specimens at each low tide. The work is drudgery but it is offset by the fact that they are doing something new, learning things unknown. Throughout Steinbeck explores the metaphysics of being a scientist and an explorer. The characters, who happen to be real people, are excellent vehicles for this exploration. We feel as if we are there with them and appreciating the things that they are, thinking their thoughts and feeling there pain. The trip on the Western Flyer (the boat) would have been the trip of anyone's lifetime. If you read this book it is almost as if you made it also.
Rating:
Summary: First Rate
Review: John Steinbeck had a high interest in marine biology, one that helped forge an extraordinary friendship with Ed Ricketts in the 1930s. Ricketts, the model for Doc in CANNERY ROW, was a professional biologist living in Monterey. He proposed an exploration of the Gulf of California and in the spring of 1940 he and Steinbeck set sail on a rented boat with a colorful crew that should have suggested a sea novel along the lines of CANNERY ROW and TORTILLA FLAT. The original result from this trip was the book THE SEA OF CORTEZ, which included the "log" fashioned by Steinbeck and an extensive inventory of the scientific information collected. It was published in the fall of 1941 and promptly forgotten when Pearl Harbor was struck. A decade later, the scientific catalogue was removed and Steinbeck added another section, a moving and often hilarious appreciation of his friend Ed Ricketts. The title became THE LOG FROM THE SEA OF CORTEZ and that's what we have here. This is a great book for the beach, where I read it. It is filled with the imagery of a warm coastal area. It is several things, really: a book filled with the wonder and scientific knowledge of marine life, a how-to (and sometimes how-not-to) guide for collecting specimens, a travelogue that captures the wilderness communities of Baja California in its time, and an often hilarious account of staying amused at sea with the likes of a crew with names like Tony, Tex, Sparky and Tiny. Steinbeck also takes the occasion to explore his own philosophy as inspired by their studies. Especially interesting is his Easter Day entry, in which he defines and explores at length what he calls "teleological" and "non-teleological" thinking. He gives us much to think about, and does so in clear, fluent prose. If you pay close attention, you will see him forming the idea for what years later became THE PEARL. One caution: read the critical introduction AFTER enjoying the text. Like most introductions, it contains some spoilers and it also makes references that are better understood once one is familiar with the material it limns.
Rating:
Summary: First Rate
Review: John Steinbeck had a high interest in marine biology, one that helped forge an extraordinary friendship with Ed Ricketts in the 1930s. Ricketts, the model for Doc in CANNERY ROW, was a professional biologist living in Monterey. He proposed an exploration of the Gulf of California and in the spring of 1940 he and Steinbeck set sail on a rented boat with a colorful crew that should have suggested a sea novel along the lines of CANNERY ROW and TORTILLA FLAT. The original result from this trip was the book THE SEA OF CORTEZ, which included the "log" fashioned by Steinbeck and an extensive inventory of the scientific information collected. It was published in the fall of 1941 and promptly forgotten when Pearl Harbor was struck. A decade later, the scientific catalogue was removed and Steinbeck added another section, a moving and often hilarious appreciation of his friend Ed Ricketts. The title became THE LOG FROM THE SEA OF CORTEZ and that's what we have here. This is a great book for the beach, where I read it. It is filled with the imagery of a warm coastal area. It is several things, really: a book filled with the wonder and scientific knowledge of marine life, a how-to (and sometimes how-not-to) guide for collecting specimens, a travelogue that captures the wilderness communities of Baja California in its time, and an often hilarious account of staying amused at sea with the likes of a crew with names like Tony, Tex, Sparky and Tiny. Steinbeck also takes the occasion to explore his own philosophy as inspired by their studies. Especially interesting is his Easter Day entry, in which he defines and explores at length what he calls "teleological" and "non-teleological" thinking. He gives us much to think about, and does so in clear, fluent prose. If you pay close attention, you will see him forming the idea for what years later became THE PEARL. One caution: read the critical introduction AFTER enjoying the text. Like most introductions, it contains some spoilers and it also makes references that are better understood once one is familiar with the material it limns.
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