The Moon by Whale Light: And Other Adventures Among Bats, Penguins, Crocodilians, and Whales Paperback – September 29, 1992

"The many colors were in the ever-bluing sky, in the cloud formations, the muted light, the midnight sun, the auroras dancing over still waters with icebergs and crash ice, and in areas that dazzled like small hand mirrors, through which black-and-white penguins dove." ~ pg. 233Diane Ackerman is a woman who throws herself into her research with a sense of abandon. She blends her own experience with mythology and interesting facts and turns each journey into an exciting adventure. In this book she explores the worlds of bats, crocodiles, whales and penguins.When discussing bats she writes so beautifully you can almost imagine having a bat as a pet, and some people do. They seem cuddly and cute! This was a surprise and anyone who is afraid of bats should read the first section. Not only are they loveable, they help to pollinate flowers and disperse seeds for trees.The section on whales is magestic and awe inspiring. We learn about whales that "sail" and learn about various whale behaviours. Diane swims with a mother and a baby whale and they seem to be watching her as much as she is observing them.To complete the book, a section on penguins looks at how they live in captivity vs. how they live in the wild. A close encounter with an attacking leopard seal adds excitement to the story about Antarctica. In each story, Diane Ackreman shows incredible bravery and makes you long for your own nature adventure. If you love this book, you may also enjoy:A Natural History of the SensesCultivating Delight: A Natural History of My GardenAn Alchemy of Mind: The Marvel and Mystery of the Brain~The Rebecca ReviewOnce I held a baby bat in my handsas a child in Africa...

Here is an author I would like to call and thank. Not only is she articulate, poetic and interesting, but her fascination with and love for her subjects shines in every essay she writes.Here is the very special world of a woman who sees with the clarity of a scientist and writes with the perception of a poet. Moreover, she writes from her own experiences hanging out in front of bat caves, tackling 500 pound alligators and cuddling baby penguins in refrigerated nurseries. Nothing stops her and not much phases her, but a lot of what she sees and experiences makes her stop and think. It is the thinking that attracts me as much as her stories. She is hard at work on her own vision of the world and the place human beings occupy in it. It is a vision worth considering.Expect to be drawn with lyrical, insightful writing into the worlds of the creatures Ackerman studies, but expect to find yourself looking down the throat of some tough questions as well. I always come away from one of her books with some new thoughts to chew on. This book shouldn't be missed.

Diane is a great writer. I felt like I was there on her many adventures studying bats, whales, crocodilians and penguins. It was an excellent idea to divide the book up this way. I did not get bored learning just about one type of creature for 350 pages. I learned a lot. It’s amazing how many misconceptions humans have about animals. Her descriptions are beautiful even describing what might even be kind of unsightly. Her bravery and humility is inspiring. Anyone can enjoy this book.

This book is excellent. Diane writes about bats, crocodilians, whales, and penguins. She went into the wild with them along with experts on each type of animal. It is very well written and interesting.

I did not realize that the jacket was in bad shape (looks like it went through alot of readers). Otherwise, inside was good and is a good book.

A five star rating, and I wish I could give this book more. I borrowed The Moon by Whale Light from the public library, but I'll be ordering a paper copy for my personal library, something I normally only do with creativity reference books. I need to own this book, however, to remind myself of the beauty that can be created with mere letters, words, and phrases. Diane Ackerman's facility with language, with description, with detail is so amazing that I would forget that I was learning about bats, alligators, whales, and penguins. I was, instead, falling in love with the animals and the worlds they inhabit.

Loved the book and all the things I learned from reading it. So many interesting things about whales I particularly enjoyed

Great Ackerman coverage that draws the reader close to unfamiliar kin from other species.

Perfect to while away a lazy afternoon