The Silent World

In 2004, Anthony Brandt of the National Geographic Society wrote, "It is hard, at this distance, to know what a sensation he [Cousteau]  caused when he published the book. Here for the first time men swim with dolphins and dance with octopi. They hitch rides on the fins of sharks and tails of manta rays. From ancient wrecks in the Mediterranean they uncover the intricately carved capitals of ancient marble columns and amphorae of wine still sealed after 2,000 years under the sea...It is remarkable stuff, exciting and enlightening at the same time."

That sentiment inspired the world. Cousteau's 1953 book sold 5 million copies. A 1956 film based on his book won accolades at both the Academy Awards and the Cannes Film Festival. Together these kick-started a world-wide recreational diving craze. By 1960, in the US alone, a million Americans were diving with Cousteau's scuba gear.

Despite the perspective from 70 years, it is hard, even today, not to get swept up by Cousteau's seemingly effortless courage and animated storytelling.........(Timothy Oleson)

The Silent World is the book that begins the adventure. The book where Cousteau explains his first desperate steps in secretly developing his aqualung under the nose of Nazi occupation in WWII France, how he came about the idea of a functioning waterproof camera, and his first steps into the amazing and unknown world of the under sea. After all these years, Cousteau still is able to bring you along with him. It's an amazing book.