Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone

by Juli Berwald Narrated by Juli Berwald

Overview

"A book full of wonders"*-Helen Macdonald, author of H Is for Hawk

"Witty, insightful. . . .The story of jellyfish. . . is a significant part of the environmental story. Berwald's engaging account of these delicate, often ignored creatures shows how much they matter to our oceans' future."*-New York Times Book Review*

Jellyfish have been swimming in our oceans for well over half a billion years, longer than any other animal that lives on the planet. They make a venom so toxic it can kill a human in three minutes. Their sting-microscopic spears that pierce with five million times the acceleration of gravity-is the fastest known motion in the animal kingdom. Made of roughly 95 percent water, some jellies are barely perceptible virtuosos of disguise, while others glow with a luminescence that has revolutionized biotechnology. Yet until recently, jellyfish were largely ignored by science, and they remain among the most poorly understood of ocean dwellers.

More than a decade ago, Juli Berwald left a career in ocean science to raise a family in landlocked Austin, Texas, but jellyfish drew her back to the sea. Recent, massive blooms of billions of jellyfish have clogged power plants, decimated fisheries, and caused millions of dollars of damage. Driven by questions about how overfishing, coastal development, and climate change were contributing to a jellyfish population explosion, Juli embarked on a scientific odyssey. She traveled the globe to meet the biologists who devote their careers to jellies, hitched rides on Japanese fishing boats to see giant jellyfish in the wild, raised jellyfish in her dining room, and throughout it all marveled at the complexity of these alluring and ominous biological wonders.

Gracefully blending personal memoir with crystal-clear distillations of science, Spineless is the story of how Juli learned to navigate and ultimately embrace her ambition, her curiosity, and her passion for the natural world. She discovers that jellyfish science is more than just a quest for answers. It's a call to realize our collective responsibility for the planet we share.

Editorial Reviews

JANUARY 2018 - AudioFile

Juli Berwald’s fascination with brainless blobs of seaborne gelatin and stinging tentacles makes 10 hours of stories about seeking and studying—and even eating—jellyfish a pleasure for armchair (or beach chair) naturalists. Berwald is not a professional audiobook narrator. Her delivery is a bit too frenetic at times, but she is telling her own story, and her emotions clearly enter into her vocal style, making this audiobook not only a scientific study but also the story of a personal life journey. Many characters from around the world, from fishermen to scientists, weave through the story, and to the narrator’s credit, she does not attempt to duplicate their accents. Those who live in coastal communities will especially enjoy this audiobook. C.M.A. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

The New York Times Book Review - Vicki Constantine Croke

If there really is such a thing as "jellyfish journalism," as Berwald says, then she's the dean of the genre, and a fun one at that. In Spineless, her memoirish, witty, insightful work, she explores her fascination with ocean science and the detours in her life…that led to an unexpected and happy obsession with jellyfish…Berwald makes this world inviting and easy to visualize…The story of jellyfish…is a significant part of the environmental story. Berwald's engaging account of these delicate, often ignored creatures shows how much they matter to our oceans' future.

Publishers Weekly

★ 08/14/2017
Combining humor and passion, science textbook writer Berwald investigates the strange world of the jellyfish in this captivating and informative science memoir. She reveals the ways these seemingly simple creatures are far more complex than many people imagine, examining how they communicate, how some sense light without eyes, and how some are virtually immortal. Berwald interviews leading jellyfish scientists around the world while sharing some of her own experiences with the animals, including searching for blooms in the eastern Mediterranean and tasting some at home in Austin, Tex. Her message transcends jellyfish themselves: Berwald makes clear that researching jellyfish “is not just to look at a creature unfamiliar and bizarre to most, but to study the planet and our place in it.” As oceans acidify and fisheries crash from overuse, jellyfish populations appear to be expanding: clogging cooling systems of power plants, disrupting tourism, and further damaging fish stock. Yet Berwald makes clear that the oceans are incredibly complex ecosystems and scientists aren’t fully certain what role jellyfish play, only that they are a critical component of the environment. Berwald details how focusing on jellyfish expanded her own intellectual horizons and she tells some awfully good stories along the way. Agent: Mollie Glick, Creative Artists. (Nov.)

From the Publisher

Spineless is as mesmerizing, surprising, and beautiful as the jellyfish itself. Every page contains some astonishing treasure. If you cherish the sea, if you care about the environment, if you relish life on this sweet, blue planet, you will love this book.” —Sy Montgomery, New York Times–bestselling author of The Soul of an Octopus

"Thoroughly engaging. . . . Berwald shows us a kind of natural science in which beauty and wonder, scientific investigation and the varied shapes of human lives are bound closely together. I love Spineless for that, and also for its inspiring call to follow your own star." —Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk  

“Berwald’s engaging book is part memoir, part pop science, weaving together stories of her own twisting academic path along with fascinating, vivid details about the delicate creatures.” —New York Times Book Review

“Part travelogue, part memoir, part deep-dive (literally) into the world of jellyfish... Spineless can serve as inspiration for any of us to reclaim a creative space in the midst of family life.” —NPR

“[Spineless is] fascinating... This combination of insider and outsider perspective is uniquely suited to a book on creatures whose internal organs are visible through transparent outer layers.” —Wall Street Journal


“[Berwald’s] sense of wonder is infectious and the book is a heartfelt plea for humans to fulfill their responsibilities toward nature.” —New Yorker
“In this memoir/science-reporting mash-up, [Berwald] profiles one of the ocean's most intriguing creatures—the unique contractions it uses to propel through water, its acidifying habitat and its booming populations.” —Scientific American

“An astonishingly gorgeous book... Science enthusiasts, curious animal lovers, and those who want to educate themselves more on climate change’s effect on our oceans will find this book irresistible.” —W Magazine

“Carefully and insistently, Berwald’s book reveals to us that the world is wider and vastly stranger than we know… This is a book full of wonders.” —New Statesman


“Berwald's clear, delectable prose is accessible... The book forces the reader to reconsider the future of our planet, and of our role in it. It will, at the very least, leave you with a newfound appreciation of the translucent, spineless jellies.” —Buzzfeed
“A wandering, compelling mixture of memoir and nature writing... [written with] clear, strong prose, a welcome help when dealing with the complex stew of biomechanics, chemistry and evolutionary theory that the subject entails.” —Texas Observer

“Breathtaking... What shines through this is Berwald’s fascination with her subject, and the way it transformed a woman feeling stuck in her life and craving a new purpose.”  —Outside

“There is perhaps no more soothing sight than the illuminated jellyfish tanks in an aquarium. In Spineless Juli Berwald brings us inside, unraveling a memoir about the scientific exploration of these strange, wonderful creatures.” —Popular Science

“Berwald offers an engrossing look at the enigmatic sea creature most easily recognised in its swimming ‘medusa’ form. . . . A revelatory science memoir.” —BBC Culture

“It’s a story of personal discovery, rediscovery of the underwater world, and an earth-spanning journey to study these complex creatures, all the while throwing into stark relief the importance of understanding and protecting our increasingly endangered marine ecosystems.” —Southern Living


“Full of humor and intrigue, Spineless is a seaworthy saga brimming with information about not only jellyfish but also about the health and future of the oceans and our planet.” —BookPage
“Stunning memoir.” —Bustle

“Captivating and informative.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Unexpected and uniquely delightful.” —Parade Magazine

“In this astonishing adventure of a book, Juli Berwald takes us on a personal journey into the enchanting and mystifying aqueous world of jellyfish, and in so doing, sheds light on the vital ecological balances upon which our own survival depends.” —Ruth Ozeki, author of A Tale for the Time Being

Ruth Ozeki

In this astonishing adventure of a book, Juli Berwald takes us on a personal journey into the enchanting and mystifying aqueous world of jellyfish, and in so doing, sheds light on the vital ecological balances upon which our own survival depends.” —Ruth Ozeki, author of A Tale for the Time Being

Andrea Barrett

Like Bernd Heinrich, Juli Berwald illuminates an entire ecosystem through the lens of one remarkable group of creatures. I learned something from every page, not only about jellyfish but about the crucial role of marine scientists and their studies.” —Andrea Barrett, author of Archangel and The Voyage of the Narwhal

Sy Montgomery

Spineless is as mesmerizing, surprising, and beautiful as the jellyfish itself. Every page contains some astonishing treasure. If you cherish the sea, if you care about the environment, if you relish life on this sweet, blue planet, you will love this book.” —Sy Montgomery, New York Times–bestselling author of The Soul of an Octopus

Real Simple

Spineless explores not only jellies’ suffering ecoysystem and our responsibility to the planet but also how Berwald strengthened her own backbond.” —Real Simple

Miriam Horn

With lucid, gorgeous, arresting language, Juli Berwald opens a rare window on the adventures of scientists at work, capturing the fabulously ingenious ways they make sense of our world. Spineless will leave you awestruck, revering the ever-more fragile brilliance of life on Earth.” —Miriam Horn, author of Rancher, Farmer, Fisherman

Library Journal

08/01/2017
When ocean scientist and science writer Berwald began researching jellyfish, she discovered two things. First, to understand jellyfish, one has to comprehend all the complexities of the ocean and its inhabitants. Second, it's important to write something that matters. As a result, this passion project of science and memoir does not center on jellyfish alone. Rather, it presents information on the ocean's ecosystem, the effects of climate change, and the economics of fishing, in order to get people thinking about the ocean and its future. Unfortunately, with so many issues covered, the book's organization may be confusing. Some unnecessary descriptions and awkward sentence structures also detract from the narrative. However, the writer's epiphany about her own life's journey in the second half of the volume provides more focus. Readers might relate to Berwald's reminiscing about lost dreams and disappointments, although some may find the tone whiny. More than a mere look at jellyfish, this title is a challenge to be more deliberate in how we live. VERDICT Though the volume's writing is uneven, the jellyfish is a hot topic that will likely see more coverage in the future. This will not be the definitive title on the subject, but it provides plenty of food for thought for those seeking to make different choices in their treatment of the environment and in their own lives.—Elissa Cooper, Helen Plum Memorial Lib., Lombard, IL

JANUARY 2018 - AudioFile

Juli Berwald’s fascination with brainless blobs of seaborne gelatin and stinging tentacles makes 10 hours of stories about seeking and studying—and even eating—jellyfish a pleasure for armchair (or beach chair) naturalists. Berwald is not a professional audiobook narrator. Her delivery is a bit too frenetic at times, but she is telling her own story, and her emotions clearly enter into her vocal style, making this audiobook not only a scientific study but also the story of a personal life journey. Many characters from around the world, from fishermen to scientists, weave through the story, and to the narrator’s credit, she does not attempt to duplicate their accents. Those who live in coastal communities will especially enjoy this audiobook. C.M.A. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2017-08-28
A close look at the biology and behavior of jellyfish combined with a personal history of the author, a former ocean scientist who was pulled back to the sea by these enigmatic creatures.As science writer Berwald notes, details about jellyfish—whose species number in the hundreds—are scant in comparison with what is known about other marine animals despite the fact that they have been on Earth for at least 500 million years. Because they reproduce quickly and can adapt to different environments, they're notorious for disrupting ocean ecosystems and devastating fishing economies. For beachgoers, they are often just nuisances with a painful sting. But the further the author dives into her research, the more she suspects that jellyfish behavior may provide clues about how the Earth's changing climate is affecting ocean life. In addition, jellies have sophisticated propulsion systems and collagen-based bodies that may guide bioengineers in developing new products. In this appealing combination of solid science writing, investigative journalism, and memoir, Berwald chronicles her travels around the globe interviewing leading jellyfish experts and viewing all types of jellies in aquariums and native habitats. What the author discovered is that jellyfish science is growing as it becomes more apparent that the animals are a robust source of information about the ocean's conditions as well as many other facets of the natural world. After years of research, Berwald is convinced that "to research jellyfish is not just to look at a creature unfamiliar and bizarre to most, but to study the planet and our place in it." While writing this lucid, eye-opening book, the author discovered that her place was, in part, inextricably entangled with jellyfish. In this lovely exploration of the mysterious jellyfish, Berwald both entrances and sounds a warning: pay attention to the messages sent by ocean life, and act to protect their environment, and ours.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169152463
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	11/07/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	776,289

Read an Excerpt

1
(Continues…)

---

Excerpted from "Spineless"
by .
Copyright © 2017 Juli Berwald.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---

Videos