Rating: 
Summary: It's about fish explorers, not the fish
Review: Samantha Weinberg has chosen to make the people who discovered the coelacanth predominate over the story of this unusual fish itself. She provides meaningless information and inconsequential dialogue. The pictures are worth the price of the book however. The importance of this fish, which has been used to date rock strata as recent as 70 million years ago, calls into question the whole uniformitarian theory of evolving life. Yet Weinberg completely misses its significance. If the coelacanth is used to date the rock strata, and the rock strata used to date the fish, just how old is the coelacanth? If the coelacanth lived at the same time as man, then did the dinosaurs also coexist with man? Were those lobed fins the first evolving legs of an amphibian that made its way onto land to walk across sand and soil? There is conjecture, but no intermediate species to show this is true. Yet, pictures in the book leave the false impression this is so. But, like most scientists, Weinberg the author skips past the facts to fill in the blanks with fiction. If you like reading such a mixture, the book might be worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: An Exciting Story of Discovery
Review: Samantha Weinberg has told the remarkable story of the discovery of the fish that first caught my attention as a child. The story of the living coelacanth's discovery is nearly as facinating as the fish itself. I was ignorant of the body of knowledge that has been collected on this animal and was happy to learn that research and conservation efforts are ongoing.The author's discussions of evolutionary theory were inadequate and the accompanying cartoons were inappropriate (and in some aspects wrong). The superficial treatment of this subject was disappointing in a book relating a story of scientific discovery.
Rating: 
Summary: A Fish Caught In Time
Review: Samantha Weinberg has written a wonderful book outlining the history of the coelacanth. This "living fossil" fish, which predates the dinosaurs, was believed to have been extinct for millions of years until one was pulled from the sea in 1938. This incredible discovery has been referred to as the "number one zoological find of the twentieth century." The coelacanth, with it's primitive limbs, is a fascinating member of our evolutionary past. Much more than just a fish story, A FISH CAUGHT IN TIME tells an exciting tale of the many individuals involved in expanding our knowledge of the coelacanth--and hopefully preventing it's extinction as we enter the twenty-first century. This is one of those special books that was hard to put down and ended far too soon!
Rating:
Summary: A Fish Caught In Time
Review: Samantha Weinberg has written a wonderful book outlining the history of the coelacanth. This "living fossil" fish, which predates the dinosaurs, was believed to have been extinct for millions of years until one was pulled from the sea in 1938. This incredible discovery has been referred to as the "number one zoological find of the twentieth century." The coelacanth, with it's primitive limbs, is a fascinating member of our evolutionary past. Much more than just a fish story, A FISH CAUGHT IN TIME tells an exciting tale of the many individuals involved in expanding our knowledge of the coelacanth--and hopefully preventing it's extinction as we enter the twenty-first century. This is one of those special books that was hard to put down and ended far too soon!
Rating:
Summary: A Fish Called Coelacanth
Review: The coelacanth, previously known only by fossil evidence and thought to be extinct for at least 50,000,000 years, has somehow bridged the chasm of time and wound up in the net of a South African Fisherman in 1938. Therein lies a tale. A tale where new arrivals on the scene-the young, dedicated museum curator who at once knows this is no ordinary fish; the intense, egotistical, single-minded professor of chemistry who recognizes coelacanth for what it is; and a world on the brink of war where the discovery of a living fossil ignites a storm of publicity leading to national scientific rivalries as prolonged as they are petty. Samantha Weinberg's engrossing story focuses more upon the people who attend this discovery, both in 1938 and today, than the coelacanth itself. As a snapshot of how science is done in the wild, where passion, jealousy and competition among individuals, institutions and shifting national jurisdictions prevail, A Fish Caught in Time provides a fascinating glimpse into the behavior of two species, each distinctly elusive. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful read; even for a non-ichthyologist
Review: The subject of this story is pretty far removed from my usual reading material. After reading it, I was not disappointed that I broadened my horizons.
Samantha Weinberg is a terrific writer who effectively conveyed to me the passion and excitement of science. For anyone who thinks scientists are dull and boring (especially ichthyologists, I mean, come on...!), read this book, you will have a much beter understanding of what makes them tick.
I was particularly taken with the idea that the true unexplored frontier is not outer space, but the vast oceans of this planet. The potential for discovery seem endless.
This book also was very encouraging. Just think, in spite of humankind's seemingly best efforts to pollute and exploit the oceans, a life form stretching back 400 million years could survive. We really aren't in charge here are we?
All in all, a very engaging story.
Rating:
Summary: A superb book
Review: This book is an utterly fascinating account of a search for a fish that was thought to be extinct for eons. Sound arcane? It's not. The writing is outstanding and the storytelling superb. One of the finest books I have had the pleasure of reading. A true story that you will not be able to put down.
Rating:
Summary: A well-written tale of discovery.
Review: This is a superbly researched and written history of the coelacanth and the people who have pursued it. Less technical than Keith Thomson's equally valuable book on the topic, this volume is filled with details about the effect this unique fish has had on those caught in its prehistoric aura. Weinberg includes a thorough account of the discovery of the second population in Indonesia, along with evidence for other populations. A must read for all who are interested in marine discovery and conservation. Matt Bille Author, Rumors of Existence
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book
Review: This is a wonderfully written book, which blends science with excellent character development and story telling. If you enjoy books that teach you about science, but read like a good novel, then this is a perfect book for you. It is the story of a serendipitous discovery, and how the passion and perseverance of a few overcame politics, personal egos, and various challenges to preserve a fish. Weinberg wrote a wonderful book; I learned a great deal, and I cannot wait to read her next book.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful read
Review: This is one of those books that you will read in one, or at most two, sittings. The story is told more or less chronologically, from the time the fish was first found in 1938 up to 1999, when the book was first published. It is a gripping detective story, and manages to educate along the way. Weinberg seems most interested in JLB Smith and his obsessive 14-year-long search for the second coelacanth, but the whole story is told in a lively and engaging fashion. One thing that she does not reveal is how to pronounce the name of the fish. I read the first half of the book saying "kay-la-kanth" to myself, and then learned that the correct pronunciation is "see-la-kanth". The secret to the coelacanth's longevity is obviously that it was unknown to the Western world until 1938. Now that it has been "discovered" and has become a celebrity item, it is under more risk of extermination than any time in the past 400 million years. It is to be hoped that the increased interest that the present book will bring to bear on the fish will strengthen the emerging "save the coelacanth" movement. May it endure in the depths of the seas for another 400 million years, long after we have laid waste to the surface of the planet!
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