A Book of Waves

Stefan Helmreich explores ocean waves as media that carry ecological, geopolitical, and climatological news, drawing on ethnographic work with scientists and engineers to understand their materiality and meanings. He demonstrates how waves mark out the wakes and breaks of social histories and futures, interleaving ethnographic chapters with reflections on waves in mythology, surf culture, feminist theory, film, Indigenous Pacific activisms, Black Atlantic history, cosmology, and more.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 03 October 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

Stefan Helmreich delves into the captivating world of ocean waves as dynamic mediums that convey profound ecological, geopolitical, and climatological insights about our planet. Through extensive ethnographic research conducted in the Netherlands, the United States, Australia, Japan, and Bangladesh, Helmreich intricately explores how scientists at sea and in laboratories perceive the materiality of waves through abstract interpretations, striving to capture their multifaceted nature in technical language. These waves, characterized by their periodic yet irreversible nature, their wild and peaceful coexistence, their fleeting yet eternal presence, and their profound impact on human societies, serve as captivating avatars of nature.

For researchers and the broader public, the meanings of waves extend beyond their scientific significance. They reflect visions of the ocean as an essential environmental infrastructure, supporting vital trade, travel, warfare, humanitarian rescue, recreation, and managing sea level rise. Interweaving ethnographic chapters with reflections on waves in mythology, surf culture, feminist theory, film, Indigenous Pacific activisms, Black Atlantic history, cosmology, and more, Helmreich showcases how waves delineate the wakes and breaks of social histories and futures.

Through his meticulous exploration, Helmreich unveils the intricate connections between ocean waves and human societies, highlighting their role in shaping cultural identities, shaping political landscapes, and influencing climate change perceptions. A Book of Waves serves as a thought-provoking and interdisciplinary journey, offering valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of waves as agents of transformation and communication across time and space.

Weight: 708g
Dimension: 152 x 232 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478020417