Out of the number of biographies I’ve read, this one will definitely resonate with those with a passion for the environment. The biography begins with a day in the life of Howard Bennett, an English Teacher, and a surfing enthusiast by Santa Monica Bay. His trials and tribulations are written to be relived by readers. From denial of proposing new laws to the light shed on the toxic contaminants entering the ocean, the reader is shown how difficult it is to get people to listen to you. Yet, you’re shown how impactful and rewarding it is once you’re finally listened to. You’re brought through the process that must be taken to get your voice heard. Brian Sharpsteen writes this in a very informational format, using a third-person perspective to somehow immerse you into the path that Howard Bennett has had to take. While the read may get repetitive or lack some big plot twists, the information contained will definitely interest individuals interested in environmental impacts, such as pollution. When it came to the ocean specifically, the impacts of the toxins fascinated me. I found that you definitely weren’t on the edge of your seat, but instead, you were almost confused or puzzled about what was occurring. Especially as this occurred around the 1980s, some things didn’t add up the way that they might have if this occurred within our current society and technology. I was put in a trance while reading this book, although occasionally found myself looking up, waiting for my 20 minutes of reading that night to be over. It really depends on where you are in the book. It’s one of those books where at some points you can’t imagine your mom calling you down for dinner at this moment because you just have to figure out what happens, but at other times, you’re just reading to get to the next eventful moment. No worries though, the more“boring” parts are still engaging. If you’re ever interested in the process of trying to get your voice heard and passing laws/acts that you find will be impactful, this could be an interesting and helpful read.
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