SeaVoice Magazine's Top 5 Ocean Reads

Curated by SeaVoice Magazine, this selection reflects our deep connection to the ocean and its powerful influence on humanity. These books explore the sea from diverse perspectives—its beauty, its challenges, and its impact on our minds and cultures—echoing SeaVoice’s mission to elevate the unheard voices of the ocean, and to celebrate and honour humankind’s central role in its protection.

For those who would like to dive deeper, we’ve paired our favourite books with some of our most influential articles, from Indigenous Pilipino ocean activists fighting for their ancestral waters, to scientists surfing the Celtic seas to learn about how we can ‘Blue’ our minds. Whether you are a full-time ocean pro or you'd just like to dip your toe, this list offers something to inspire and inform every ocean lover.

1. "Dismantling Green Colonialism" by Hamza Hamouchene and Katie Sandwell

This critical exploration delves into the complex intersections of environmentalism and neocolonialism, revealing how global conservation efforts can exploit vulnerable communities, including those near coastlines and oceans. Hamouchene and Sandwell challenge mainstream green policies, highlighting the need for justice in how we protect marine environments. The article "To Speak as We Are One: Building Relationships in Marine Conservation" by Clint Bryan Gallaron and Emma Segarino echoes this message from the perspective of indigenous Pilipino ocean advocates, emphasizing the importance of building relationships and advocating for local communities in conservation efforts.

Hamza Hamouchene will be joining us for a panel on green colonialism and resisting false solutions to the climate crisis at this year's Edinburgh Radical Book Fair. Info and tickets HERE.

2. "Salt on Your Tongue: Women and the Sea" by Charlotte Runcie

A lyrical exploration of the deep emotional bond between women and the sea, Salt on Your Tongue blends personal reflection, history, and mythology. Runcie’s prose flows like the ocean itself, touching on themes of motherhood, loss, and the eternal pull of the sea. Similarly, the SeaVoice Magazine article "The Role of NGOs in Coastal Communities: A Latin American Viewpoint" by ocean environmentalist Katherine Arroyo-Arce tells the story of coastal women in Latin America creating piel marina (leather made from fish skin). This ancient craft showcases their deep connection to the sea, as well as their creativity and resilience—beautifully mirroring Runcie’s exploration of the generational wisdom that flows through communities bound to the ocean.

3. " Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do" by Wallace J. Nichols

In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols explores the profound psychological and emotional benefits of being close to water, supported by neuroscience and personal stories. This book aligns beautifully with SeaVoice Magazine’s article "Finding Our Inner Ebb and Flow" written by professional surfer and scientist Dr. Easkey Britton, which reflects on how the ocean helps us reconnect with ourselves, finding balance and calm through our connection to the water.

4. "The Outlaw Ocean: Journeys Across the Last Untamed Frontier" by Ian Urbina

This gripping investigative work takes readers into the dark, lawless world of the high seas, where crimes like human trafficking and illegal fishing flourish. Urbina’s powerful reporting reveals the harsh realities of maritime law and exploitation, much like the SeaVoice Magazine article "Silenced SeaVoices: The Stolen, Looted, and Hidden Histories of Our Oceans", written by Maritime Archaeologist Dr. Arturo Rey da Silva, which shines a light on the marginalized voices and hidden histories of the oceans, exposing the exploitative forces that continue to shape maritime life today.

5. "The Sea Around Us" by Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson’s groundbreaking work is a masterful blend of science and poetic reflection, chronicling the life and rhythms of the ocean. The Sea Around Us was instrumental in awakening public consciousness about marine ecology and the need for ocean conservation. SeaVoice Magazine echoes this blend of science and emotion in the article "Thinking with Water" written by poet and environmental humanities scholar Prof. Claudia Egerer, encouraging readers to reflect on how water shapes our lives and worldviews, much as Carson did through her pioneering work.

At SeaVoice Magazine, we believe that the ocean holds countless stories—of beauty, struggle, history, and survival. Through our articles, interviews, and events, we aim to bring attention to the voices of the ocean that often go unheard—whether they be those of marginalized communities, endangered ecosystems, or forgotten maritime histories.

With a commitment to blending storytelling with advocacy, SeaVoice Magazine explores humanity’s ongoing relationship with the sea, encouraging our readers to engage with the ocean’s past as much as its future. Explore our work at online or in print to dive deeper into the world's waters with us.