BOOK REVIEWS
In Search of Ancient Tsunamis
‘‘…this book is a powerful exposition on the fallibilities of human nature in the face of inexerable natural phenomena.’’
GINA L. BARNES, FGS, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, DURHAM UNIVERSITY
“As an archaeologist, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book - a personalised adventure into the science of detecting tsunami deposits in the sedimentary record. This detective story begins with investigations into geological tsunami deposits, then turns to the human cost of those disasters. Without providing a spoiler, Forensic Archaeology is cited by Goff as the ultimate proxy for discovering unrecorded tsunami. You will be surprised at the specific archaeological finds that have gone unrecognised and unrelated to tsunami – till now. Moreover, he emphasises the landscape changes that happen off-site and must be taken into account, using both geomorphology and Landscape Archaeology. Then again, he takes in ‘negative evidence’ as well as positive, through a necessarily wide-lens regional view of the coast.”
“The heart of this work lies in the dedicated sense of purpose scientific investigation offers.”
DR SCOTT FISHER, HAWAII LAND TRUST
“This is not a book solely focused on disasters and their destructive impacts. Rather, it is a journey through the career of one tsunami researcher who is committed to better understanding the past in order to be prepared for the future. Over and over, while reading In Search of Ancient Tsunamis anʻōlelo noʻeau (Hawaiian proverb) kept ringing in my ear: “I ka wa mamua, ka wa mahope” or (roughly) “we look to the past in order to understand the future.” In Search of Ancient Tsunamis is a testament to the truth of this ʻōlelo noʻeau. As he notes, the goal of tsunami research is to save lives. Professor Goff demonstrates that, in doing so, one can fashion a fascinating career through service to community. Anyone who has conducted field research will immediately resonate with the camaraderie, physical demands and pure joy of scientific investigation. The heart of this work, however, lies in the dedicated sense of purpose scientific investigation offers, something Professor Goff masterfully describes in these pages.” [Read the full review here]
“The author knows the topic like no other and has a capturing way of writing about it.”
HERMANN FRITZ, GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
“The book is truly new and needed. It brings the perspective of a world traveled tsunami sedimentologist. The book transcends human history through geology allowing a ‘back to the future’ approach - looking at history and geologic history to forecast future tsunami mega-disasters. The author knows the topic like no other and has a capturing way of writing about it. The quality and scope of the book is excellent, capturing and unique.”
“This book is unique because it is a scientific book, but written from a very personal perspective.”
PEDRO J.M. COSTA, UNIVERSIDADE DE COIMBRA, PORTUGAL
“In my opinion, this is a well-timed book. It presents a personal perspective on tsunami deposits and the complexity of their identifiction. This book is unique becasue it is a scientific book but written from a very personal perspective. It is not a diary of field campaigns or a road book but somehow relates to it without losing any of its scientific accuracy.”
Tsunami: The World’s Greatest Waves
“Science? Absolutely. But pull up your armchair anyway, because Tsunami is gripping stuff.”
PROFESSOR JAMES TERRY, ZAYED UNIVERSITY
“Goff and Dudley’s Tsunami is immensely compelling. Drawing upon many branches of science, from history to geology and archaeology to oceanography, the authors present fascinating insights into this misunderstood and under-appreciated nemesis for coastal dwellers everywhere. Planet-tipping earthquakes, cataclysmic volcanic eruptions, plunging asteroids, colossal landslides, boiling geysers, the demise of dinosaurs and megalodons, ancestral migrations, conflict and warfare, fake news, the ‘first Brexit’, and captivating legends of water monsters echoing down to us from primeval times: all are featured herein. Science? Absolutely. But pull up your armchair anyway, because Tsunami is gripping stuff.”
“James Goff and Walter Dudley take us on an epic journey across the seven seas and the five continents to remind us of the destructive forces of nature.”
PROFESSOR PEDRO ANDRADE, UNIVERSIDAD DE CONCEPCIÓN
“James Goff and Walter Dudley take us on an epic journey across the seven seas and the five continents to remind us of the destructive forces of nature. Using oral traditions, historical records, and scientific data, the authors manage to convey in a familiar narrative the results of their amazing professional career. Tsunami will be of great importance for students and researchers in Earth sciences, anthropology, and archaeology, and should be a must-read for government officials associated with natural disaster prevention offices. Those of us who live in coastal areas should not be constantly terrified of them, but we must know their effects and be prepared since, as the authors mention: Sooner or later, they will happen again.”
“This is an original, authoritative, and highly readable account of tsunamis around the world, balancing clear and accessible explanations of tsunami science with personal accounts and meticulously researched historical detail.”
PROFESSOR ANDY CUNDY, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
“This is an original, authoritative, and highly readable account of tsunamis around the world, balancing clear and accessible explanations of tsunami science with personal accounts and meticulously researched historical detail. Based on their decades of research experience the authors take the reader on an historical journey through tsunamis and their impacts both on individuals and on entire societies, clearly highlighting that, in the words of their final quote, ‘Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.”