Fire Under the Sea: The Discovery of the Most Extraordinary Environment on Earth, Volcanic Hot Springs on the Ocean Floor

I've read sections of this book out loud to students in a university oceanography course. The narratives about preparing for a dive and the thrill of being present at the discovery of a vent system provide insight into why science is interesting--a valuable lesson for those who consider chemistry and geology boring.

Cone has written a fascinating book for the general audience, not for specialists. He emphasizes the human element so that you come to know the people and personalities involved, a side of science I find revealing and interesting. Cone does an excellent job of covering many areas related to the exploration of hydrothermal vents, mixing personalized description with scientific explanation, never losing sight of the reality that science is the result of human interaction and response. He covers everything from the large overview of continental drift to the biology of the amazing tubeworms and discussions that these vents could be the original source for all life on earth. I thoroughly enjoyed the book from beginning to end.