Below the Edge of Darkness

PRAISE FOR EDITH WIDDER ANDBELOW THE EDGE OF DARKNESS

‘Edith Widder’s subject is light itself—the manufacture of light by strange and eerie denizens of the deep sea—and her scintillating style is worthy of it…A book of marvels, marvellously written.’ Richard Dawkins

‘Edie’s story is one of hardscrabble optimism, two-fisted exploration and groundbreaking research. As I’ve said many times, I’d have wrapped my submersible, the Deepsea Challenger, in bacon if it would have lured the elusive giant squid from the depths. In Below the Edge of Darkness, Edie tells you how she did it.’ James Cameron

‘My experience of exploring the deep ocean and its alien life with Edie Widder was fabulous. She enthralls us with many such stories in her book. I recommend it.’ Ray Dalio

‘Personal and page-turning, adventurous and awe-inspiring, Below the Edge of Darkness sparkles with the thrill of exploration and glows with an urgent plea for the future of our precious seas. Comparisons to Jacques Cousteau spring to mind, as Edith Widder shares the profound journey of her life—one as unique and important as the unexplored realms of our very own planet.’ - Juli Berwald, author of Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone

‘Luminous—the topic, the heroic journey, and the author herself. Dive in with Edith Widder, trail-blazing scientist and explorer, as she reveals the galaxy of light and life in the universe below the surface of the sea, out-shining sceptical male colleagues with dignity, grace and a robust sense of humour.’ Sylvia Earle, oceanographer, founder of Mission Blue and National Geographic Society Explorer in Residence

‘Widder illuminates life in the dark depths of the ocean in her fascinating debut…Informs and electrifies in equal measure.’ - Publishers Weekly

‘Captivating…Widder’s enthusiastic, joyful memoir amply describes the “wonder and exhilaration of discovery”. Inspiring for science-loving readers and environmentalists young and old.’ - Kirkus

‘A superbly captivating writer, Widder fluently elucidates complex scientific inquiries and findings…She also renders the ludicrous, the terrifying, and the enthralling with equal vim and vigor…Widder dazzles readers with dramatic tales of expeditions…passionately and expertly arguing that it is urgently important for us to understand the oceans, which are severely imperiled and essential to our survival.’ - Booklist (starred review)

Edith Widder is an oceanographer, a marine biologist, and the co-founder, CEO and senior scientist at the Ocean Research & Conservation Association, where she is developing technologies for protecting the ocean’s estuaries. She has given three TED talks, and been awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, the Explorers Club Citation of Merit and, in 2020, the inaugural Captain Don Walsh Award for Ocean Exploration. In 2012 she helped capture the first footage of live giant squid in the deep ocean. Born in Massachusetts, she spent part of her childhood in Melbourne and later received her PhD from the University of California.