Trevor Norton

I love this book. I wish I had the drive to do some of the things that the author has done! I found myself highlighting passage after passage in this book, my favorite being:

My love affair with the sea would lead me to walk on empty shores before the tourists invaded. And I would come to know the ocean as a wild aquarium, a laboratory, a cemetery for men and ships, and an anthology of legends. I would understand the spell it casts on fisherman, divers, treasure seekers and writers, for the the sea is a place for obsessives.

I learned so many interesting things about the underwater world that I love so much, and I thoroughly enjoyed Norton's tongue-in-cheek humor.
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A most interesting look at scientists and doctors throughout the years who have chosen to run their experiments on themselves. Starting with early medical practices, the author goes through the development of anesthesia (the use of cocaine was abandoned fairly early on) to blood typing to introducing vaccines against our most deadly diseases. Told in an anecdotal style, many of the accounts were hysterical, and some were simply horrifying! This is all made better by Norton's clever use of language and great storytelling. It's wonderful for dipping in to, or reading for short spells in the car.… (mehr)