Waves and Beaches

by Willard Bascom

Book Overview

In this revised and updated edition of his best-selling classic, Willard Bascom describes how waves and beaches behave under all kinds of conditions. He explains why ships sink, how "rogue" waves -... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385148445
• ISBN13: 9780385148443
• Release Date: December 1979
• Publisher: Anchor Books
• Length: 366 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Useful, interesting, well-written, a gem

I just have to concur with the other reviews - as a kayaker and a lover of the oceans I have read and re-read this book many times, and I always learn more. The book is a classic, if they'd re-issue it in hardback I'd buy it in a second! Although Willard Bascom died in 2000 his work lives on as a testament to him. Get this book, it's a great read.

Waves and Beaches: a thrilling & informative read

Waves and Beaches is an informative and even thrilling read for anyone interested in knowing how these things work. It is highly readable and fascinating. Many interesting photos and diagrams. It is a book that should be reissued. A great pleasure to know this book! It's a mainstay of each vacation to the shore and sea.

A must-have book for beach lovers.

I re-read this book every summer for for years, and it still goes with me to the beach for consultation. My enjoyment of being at the shore has been enormously improved by what I learned from Bascom. I see much more: I understand the changing slope of the beach, how to identify the rip tide locations, and why the ocean changes the way it does day by day. A fascinating and worthwhile book. I wish they'd re-release it.

This is the best book in the world on waves & beaches.

Bascom is concise, accurate, humorous, amazing. He knows his subject of waves and beaches. The book clearly depicts how waves work at sea and on beaches. It contains great photos and a funny description of surfer talk. A must get for all surfers, kayakers, and amateur oceanographers.

Every surfer should own this book

This book is an essential read for anyone who surfs, or is just an avid beach-goer. The author is an absolute master of the subject,and has included a wealth of information, based on theory, statistics, and anecdotal observation . With regard to surfers specifically, Dr. Bascom provides clear and concise information as to why waves form, and why they act the way they do. Being a surfer for 35 years myself, I find it amazing how many others of my ilk do not understand the physics of waves.This book makes it all clear. I truly lament the fact that is out of print.