The Whale in the Living Room: A Wildlife Documentary Maker's Unique View of the Sea

The Whale in the Living Room is a book by John Ruthven that follows his adventures as a film-maker and dives into our oceans, recounting his life-affirming experiences and exploring the vastness and importance of our planet's seas. It also highlights the lack of exploration and protection of our oceans, and the impact of human pollution on them.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 02 June 2022
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

The captivating journey of filmmaker John Ruthven takes readers on an exhilarating adventure as he explores the depths of our oceans and shares his life-changing experiences. What mysteries lie hidden in the vast expanse of the 95 percent of the seas that have yet to be fully explored? How vast is our ocean, truly? Despite the fact that we have a better understanding of the surface of Mars and Venus than we do of the Earth's seabed, mapping the world's ocean to an accuracy of 100-metre blocks is crucial for its protection, according to environmentalists. It may take another 300 years to accomplish this task. Even well-known creatures, such as the giant squid, have proven elusive in capturing their true essence on film.

John, fully immersed in his subject, passionately guides readers through the magnitude of our planet's oceans and the critical importance of protecting them. With a remarkable body of work, including nearly fifty films about the sea, he is the only producer to have dedicated full-time to both series of Blue Planet. Through his firsthand experiences, John transports us to the depths of the deep blue, where we witness the loneliness of whale calves, the fear of seals as they evade great white sharks near the coast, and the curious gaze of octopuses through the camera lens. His book takes us on a journey through the vibrant blue rings of South Pacific coral atolls, on submarine rides into the abyss, where ancient life forms await discovery, and up close and personal encounters with singing humpback whales that leave us feeling connected to the water around us.

In addition to his exploration of the ocean's wonders, The Whale in the Living Room delves into the topic of our collective blindness to the pollution of our seas. John sheds light on the issue of plastic pollution, tracing its origins and exploring how we found ourselves in this predicament. He raises important questions about our responsibility and offers insights into potential solutions. Through his storytelling, John encourages us to reflect on our actions and take steps.

The Whale in the Living Room is a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of raising awareness about the delicate balance of our oceans. John Ruthven's passion and dedication to his craft inspire us to explore, protect, and cherish the wonders of our planet's seas. This captivating book invites readers to embark on a journey of discovery, where they will be immersed in the beauty and fragility of our marine ecosystems and inspired to take action to preserve them for generations to come.

Weight: 306g
Dimension: 127 x 197 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472143525