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Library Journal Review

This comes very soon after Axel Madsen's Cousteau ( LJ 12/15/86), and both cover much the same ground, although the tone of the two books differs greatly. Madsen, writing with the cooperation of Cousteau's family, provided a friendly yet frank portrait of the complex Cousteau. In contrast, Munson claims Cousteau's lawyers tried to block publication of his book, which is written in expose style and tries to show Cousteau as a showman and a man remiss in protecting the environment. Munson is very critical of what he feels are deceptive, staged filming techniques used in Cousteau's movies, yet he gets his information from Cousteau's own books, hardly the place Cousteau would put the information if he wished to conceal it. Madsen's book portrays the man behind the myth more evenhandedly and is better documented.-- Susan Klimley, Columbia Univ. Libs., N.Y. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publishers Weekly Review

Known best for his books, television specials and enviromental activism, Jacques Cousteau is also co-inventor of scuba-diving equipment, underwater vehicles and artificial islands. Yet at 79, he remains an elusive figure to the public. Munson ( America's Cup 1987 ) avers that Cousteau has rested on his laurels in recent years, drowning in his own legend, accepting compromises in the quality of his productions. While the films and books have increased the public's knowledge of the underseas world and the threats to it, neither Cousteau nor the Cousteau Society, according to Munson, has delivered on promises to protect the environment. The arguments presented cause the reader to conclude that although Cousteau is a man of great charm, a talented filmmaker and superb showman, he is not a scientist and less sensitive to environmental concerns than his public persona suggests. Photos not seen by PW. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Booklist Review

Munson's unauthorized biography of a well-known and admired underwater explorer features detailed discussion of Cousteau's work and inventions, placed in perspective with the achievements of his peers and predecessors. From childhood Cousteau was fascinated by the sea, but it was an auto injury suffered on the brink of World War II that turned him to swimming as physical therapy and eventually drew him into subterranean intelligence activities for the Allies. Munson offers fascinating observation of Cousteau's progress in developing new underwater exploratory techniques and in sharing his exploits with a world audience. He also describes the Cousteau business empire, giving full credit to Cousteau's oldest son, Jean-Michel, for his management abilities, while at the same time doubting whether he has the charisma and drive to keep the enterprise intact. --Denise Perry Donavin