The Log from the Sea of Cortez

By: John Steinbeck

Narrated by: Joe Barrett

The Log from the Sea of Cortez is the exciting day-by-day account of Steinbeck's trip to the Gulf of California with biologist Ed Ricketts. Drawn from the longer Sea of Cortez, it is a wonderful combination of science, philosophy, and high-spirited adventure.

©1979 Elaine Steinbeck, John Steinbeck IV, and Thom Steinbeck (P)2012 Penguin

A wonderful journal full of marvelous observations but...

This is a wonderful journal full of marvelous observation. However, there is a great deal of irony that Steinbeck’s peacenik blather about his country’s unenlightened preparations for war would be so short lived....say until Dec. 7, 1941.

Sea of Cortez

I enjoyed this book. The performance is very well done. I learned so much about John Steinbeck and the creatures that live in the sea.

Travels around the Baja and Back.

"It is advisable to look from the tide pool to the stars and then back to the tide pool again."
- John Steinbeck, The Log from the Sea of Cortez

This book was originally the idea of Steinbeck and his marine biologist/muse Ed Ricketts. They traveled from Monterey, CA down to Baja and collected flora and fauna throughout the Sea of Cortez (see Gulf of California). This is right before WWII started for the US and about 1.5 years before Japan pulled us into it, but the impending war is like a giant submerged whale that follows the Western Flyer down to Mexico and back.

It is told mostly in a first person, plural, supposedly the joint thoughts of Steinbeck and Ricketts, but mostly a narrative constructed by Steinbeck after reviewing his log/diary from the trip. The original book, Sea of Cortez: A Leisurely Journal of Travel and Research included the research and accounting of Ed Ricketts of all the items they collected. After Ed Ricketts died, his name was dropped as was the species catalogue. Steinbeck added a Eulogy for his dead friend, but the estate keep Rickett's name from the authorship.

I read this book as I drank Pain Killers and Margaritas in Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point), Mexico while recovering for a week after breaking a femur in May. It seemed an appropriate time to carefully place a toe back in the warm pool of Steinbeck's writing.

Interesting look at Cortez 70 years ago

Notable how drastically marine life has declined since this book was published. I appreciated the candid look at the area and the indigenous inhabitants along the Sea of Cortez. However I found Steinbeck to be somewhat arrogant. Evolution is Science Fiction on an enormous scale. It does not even qualify as a Theory.

Best read / audio of Steinbeck

As a sailor, amateur naturalist...listen to it twice ...love the appendix on "doc"....read Cannery row years ago....this is the "back story" ....now I want more...

Wonderful mix of disciplines.

The mix of scientific cataloguing, exploring relationships and offering reflections about life enrich this work.

I Am in Love

I have no scientific background nor interest but this account, with its digressions, humor, and ventures, completely riveted and delighted me. The calming voice, pronunciation, and playfulness of the reader allowed me feel Steinbeck's passion and, for the duration of the book, made me passionate, too.

The last two chapters, About Ed Ricketts, moved me to pieces. That special, unknowable man will interest and excite me forever. Great Writing. Great performance. Great story.

Marvelous book

This is one of my most favorite of books, and it’s print version is superb. But the narration by Mr. Barrett is so excellent that it has become my preferred way of absorbing this classic tale.

The Log From the Sea of Cortez

This is by far my favorite book. I have read this countless times and each time is as good as the last. I would recommend this book to philosophers, sailors, marine biology enthusiasts, and any Steinbeck fan in general. I found myself a different person after encountering this book. 10/10.

A forgotten classic

While this one doesn't rate as highly as some of Steinbeck's all-time classics in many respects I enjoyed it just as much as Grapes of Wrath or Of Mice and Men.

On its surface this is a book a scientific expedition to document marine life in the Baja sea, on a deeper level it's about meaning, purpose and what does it mean to live life well.

While there's is plenty of writing about the expedition itself, I consider this more of a philosophy book as Steinbeck spends ample time considering where do we really find value in life. Zen and the art of tide pool collecting would have been a good subtitle.

This is one of those books that really makes you pause and reflect on your own life, which in some respects is the highest compliment you can pay a book.

I'm extremely happy that I discovered this one and I can imagine that this is one I'll revisit in the years to come.