Description

‘Fascinating’ Greta Thunberg
‘Extraordinary’ Merlin Sheldrake
‘A must-read’ New Scientist
‘Enthralling’ George Monbiot
‘Brilliant’ Philip Hoare

As a biologist and nature filmmaker, Tom Mustill had always liked whales. But when one landed on his kayak, nearly killing him, the video clip of the event going viral, he became obsessed.

This book traces an extraordinary investigation into the deep ocean and today’s cutting-edge science. Using ‘underwater ears,’ robotic fish, big data and machine intelligence, leading scientists and tech-entrepreneurs across the world are working to turn the fantasy of Dr Dolittle into a reality, upending much of what we know about these mysterious creatures. But what would it mean if we were to make contact? Can we hope to one day understand animals? Are we ready for what they might say?

Enormously original and hugely entertaining, How to Speak Whale is an unforgettable look at how close we truly are to communicating with another species – and how doing so might change our world beyond recognition.

Publisher Review

'We rarely pause to consider what animals think or feel, or question whether their inner lives resemble our own. Tom Mustill's fascinating and deeply humane book shows us why we must do so - and what we, and the planet, could stand to gain by it' Greta Thunberg 'A rich, enthralling, brilliant book that opens our eyes and ears to worlds we can scarcely imagine' George Monbiot, Sunday Times bestselling author of Regenesis 'Tantalizing ... Think how transformative it would be if we could chat with whales about their love lives or their sorrows or their thoughts on the philosophy of language' Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker 'Mind-blowing ... You will never feel closer to the magnificence of whales' Lucy Jones, author of Losing Eden 'A scary, important and brilliant book ... If we do get to translate 'whale', will we like what they've got to say?' Philip Hoare, author of Leviathan, and Albert & the Whale 'Mustill takes us farther, much farther, than Dr. Dolittle ever imagined. And he does it with humility and sensitivity that befits the subject' Carl Safina 'Riveting ... How to Speak Whale is one of the most exciting and hopeful books I have read in ages' Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus 'Mustill conveys the richness of whale song and communication. Most of all we gain immense respect for these giants of the ocean' Frans de Waal 'A lively and informative read that heralds what could be the golden age of animal communication' Jonathan Slaght, author of Owls of the Eastern Ice 'Extraordinary' Christiana Figueres