Into Great Silence: A Memoir of Discovery and Loss among Vanishing Orcas

I work in Alaska and was recommended this book written by Eva, who has since passed. There are still a few males left from this Orca pod that will go extinct in my lifetime. It is such a heart breaking story...but also a story about growing up, nature, and very enlightening tale about how field work is done to study the impacts of such horrific events (in this case, an oil spill that should never be forgotten), and also the impacts of the environmental clean up and mitigation. A budding young scientist narrates this story, so you also get a first hand glance at a wide-eyed optimistic person continuing to pursue research under such difficult circumstances, and see how passion can make a career. Lovely book, albeit sad as hell.

Eva Saulitis' Into Great Silence is a beautifully written book. If you're an orca fan or want to know about orcas, don't pass this book by. It's not just scholarly, it's written with a sense of love, respect, and wonder.Saulitis spent many summers in Alaskan waters studying whales: photographing them, listening to them, and recording every detail. This may sound boring, but it absolutely is riveting. Readers come to know the whales, their personalities and their habits. And one comes to know Eva Saulitis as she grows from being a neophyte observer to a highly-skilled, seasoned observer.Saulitis' willingness to live in a tent in generally unpleasant weather for months at a time is in itself stunning. It takes not just dedication, but love for what one is doing. We all like to think of the wilderness in positive, glowing terms, but the reality is Alaskan spring and summer months can be cold, rainy, windy, and tough. (I lived in S. E. Alaska for two years. One year we had summer all in one day.) Even more inspiring, though, were the hours upon hours that the author and various companions who worked with her spent in a small craft filming, photographing, cataloging and listening to transient orcas.The book is tinged with sadness, however. As one gets to know the whales and reads of Saulitis' travails, the death of a large number of orcas due to the Exxon Valdez oil spill is hard to bear. I was aware of the spill when it happened, but after reading Saulitis' account of the devastation and death of so many marine animals, it is clear that the real truth of the matter was never really revealed. The clean-up was almost as bad as the spill.Watching the growth and transformation of Eva Saulitis due to her dedication and love of her project, pulls one in. Her observations are not just professional but also personal. Her writing feels almost poetic at times. Eva discovers things about herself, and readers are likely to discover things about themselves reading this book.Wonderful, tragic, hopeful, heart-breaking.

A beautifully written memoir about researching transient orcas in the Pacific Northwest. I could not put down this book. Having visited that area once, so many parts of it transported me back there, to the pristine beauty of those places. There is lots of information about orcas that Mrs. Saulitis captured as a part of her research, and this information is "packaged" in a beautiful book that reads almost like poetry. If you ever see this review, Mrs Saulitis, THANK YOU so much for sharing your knowledge and your thoughts with us and for writing this gorgeous book!

Eva thanks tons for sharing this memoir of your experience in Prince William Sound and the Exxon Valdez oil spill impacts on a majestic species and an incredible environment. It gives a great feel for field work and a sweet view of PWS that few have the chance to experience. The observations are well mixed with feeling, poetry and attention to scientific detail. The experiences shared in the extra snippets chapter are worth the price of the book alone. I hope many people have a chance to read this as I think it will enrich their understanding of that period and place immensely as it did mine. Looking forward to sharing this great find with friends.

A fascinating read about a tragic situation that is ongoing. I had no idea of the extent of this cruelty. SeaWorld should be ashamed and yet they continue on -- it is a money making deal for them at the expense of the whales. I've never wanted to go to their shows. My husband went as a child and did not enjoy it.They are breaking up families - Their pools are no way large enough for these creatures. Filled with fascinating facts and events about this business and the impact it has been having on the orcas.Highly recommended!

In Into Great Silence: A Memoir of Discovery and Loss Among Vanishing Orcas, Eva Saulitis charts the lives of a single extended family of orcas in Prince William Sound, a family so devasted by the oil spill and subsequent changes that they are now on the verge of extinction. With scientific clarity and poetic intimacy, Saulitis describes her research and first-hand experiences with these whales. It is, truly, "a moving portrait of the interconnectedness of humans with animals and place-and of the responsibility we have to protect them." Lovely and heartbreaking, this book cuts to the core--which is exactly where, at this time of mass extinction and global warming--we need to be.

This book moved me to tears. Saulitis is a jewel and her invaluable work and voice desperately needed. The silence she refers to is extinction and her ability to combine hard science and years of study with a personal narrative and journaling permits any reader to understand and experience the emotions of following this pod of orcas into their dark future. I hope the long excruciating, horrific, history of dividing science from the heart is over - Eva Saulitis is truly to be commended for her talent, insight and courage - this is a marvelous book and so is her "Leaving Resurrection."

This audiobook was one of the best I've ever purchased. It really made me want to rewind my life and become an orca researcher. Love the heart and soul poured into this book and the love of these animals. A must read for any orca lover.

A very well written book and as someone who also studies marine animals I found the day to day routine interesting and frustrating and enjoyable. Having had similar personal experiences to Eva in health and politics I completely sympathised with her. This will go down as an iconic book to be read not just by animal enthusiasts but also those who enjoy a good read

Fabulous memoirs .. wonderful writer!