Everyone has a dream, a fairy tales in childhood. But how many people will keep believing it when grown-up.
Do believe, and chasing your dream, you will know all. The giants does exist, keep slient and watch out this world.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher University of Nevada Press for an advance copy of this book on the freshwater life that is found all over the planet, and how little we still don't know about them.

About 71 percent of the planet is covered in water, and yet in many ways all that water is still a mystery, a final frontier in a way. The seas and oceans teem with life, as does every waterway stream, lake and rivers. What lives there is still being discovered even now. Though our conservancy leaves much to be desired. The news is filled with stories about poisoned waters making it hard to towns and cities to even get clean drinking water. What this is doing to the creatures that live in these waters is anyone's guess. Many mysteries will probably be unsolved or in many cases undiscovered, as is pointed out in the following book there wasn't even a consensus on what the largest freshwater fish is. Which makes the work of educators and media personalities so important in pointing out the mysteries not only of the deep sea, but what lives near our homes, and what many people gather to provide food for their families. Zeb Hogan, host of the National Geographic television show Monster Fish and writer journalist Stefan Lovgren have written Chasing Giants: In Search of the World's Largest Freshwater Fish, a book about their travels discovering fish, and what lessons they have learned and shared along the way.

The book begins with a Thai fisherman hoping for a good catch that will provide for his family. The fisherman offers a tribute to the spirits for a catfish, a large one, but one that has become rare in his area. Something much have worked for soon the fisherman and his companions were pulling a huge catfish to shore. One that weighed almost 650 pounds, and was over nine feet long. This was thought to be one of the largest freshwater fish, but as Zeb Hogan knew, no one could really be sure. No one was really keeping track, or knew for sure what different varieties of fish could grow to, or if there could be larger. Many fishermen who fish for their families survival might be far out of contact with authorities to share information. Hogan had set up hot lines and dealt with fisherman on rare fishes before, and thought that this would be a good project to get behind. Soon Hogan and his team were traveling the world finding sting rays, fish in the Amazon and even France, learning about the culture of the people fishing, and the fish themselves. And how the world of the fishes were changing, sometimes not for the best.

The book is a bit of memoir, along with fish stories and conservation efforts dealing with fish and other animals. The writing is very good, very informative and interesting with a lot of fish stories, and again even more in trying to get information. Stories about driving through monsoon rains to get to where certain fish have been caught. Followed by stories of trying to release these large fish into the waters, tagged as part of tracking experiments. The biology is well explained and tells a lot about the fish, the people who count on the fish for life, and what is happening to them as the world changes. The details are informative and would be interest for young readers who like to read about the natural world.

Recommended for readers of both fishing stories and conservation efforts. Also for people who might like to get into marine biology, just to learn about the different aspects of study, and how one little question can lead a person around the world for the answers.

#NetGalley asked, "Do you want to read a book about the search for giant freshwater fishes?" I replied, "Heck, yeah!" This was not the most readable science book I've ever read and we seem to jump back and forth and to and fro amongst the author's many fishery projects so it's hard to keep them all straight. That said, the enthusiasm and passion the author has for this subject is clear and conveys itself on the page. I've never seen the National Geographic series that this author did on the same topic of monster-sized freshwater fish, but the book was fascinating. We get to travel the world with the author learning about river eco-systems and conservation all while hunting for the largest freshwater fish we can find. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!

Great insights into environmental issues facing freshwater ecosystems around the world and the amazing world of giant fish. I enjoyed traveling vicariously through the authors to Southeast Asia, the Amazon, Arizona, Mongolia, and more.

The book loosely follows Hogan’s quest to figure out what species is the largest freshwater fish in the world. I found the chronology a bit hard to follow in parts as the authors jump from place to place and topic to topic, but the book was full of fascinating stories that will appeal to readers no matter what their background in science.

While Zeb Hogan and Stefan Lövgren are co-authors, the book is written from Hogan’s perspective. While sometimes I found him a bit of a scattered storyteller, Hogan’s curiosity, empathy, experiences, and drive to protect the environment make him an able narrator.

Recommended for those interested in ecology and environmental issues, anglers and those who love fish, and those who are interested in what science research can look like around the world.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We all know the biggest land mammal and the largest sea creature but, what is the largest freshwater fish? No one knows for sure and Zeb Hogan has devoted his life to trying to find out. This volume is a mixture of memoir, travelogue and science book. Hogan tells readers a little about his background, but mostly all of his adventures studying fish all over the world. It is heartbreaking to learn how much these creatures have suffered as a consequence of industrialization. I never thought how dams have affected their lives, leading to the extinction of so many species that we’re not even aware of. To be honest, I read every book I can about animals but I’d only come across a few about fish, and most are about the ones who live in the sea. Hogan finds many cool species, from electric eels, rays, catfish and many other creatures that I’d never even heard of. The science bits were a little too technical, but it was mostly all the content devoted to fishing techniques that went over my head. I’m more into ethology so this book didn’t engross me as much as I expected, but if you’re looking to learn about the denizens of lakes and rivers, this is a great way to start.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#University of Nevada Press!

I was not the target audience and I had really hoped for pictures.
Nonfiction.
Who is the author? A research biologist at the University of Nevada, adventurer, conservationist, diver, photographer, videographer, educator, researcher.
What many of these enormous pisces face is extinction by greedy humans.
Where? Anywhere in this world where legends and rumor lead.
How? By travelling with a competent journalist to discover just what is happening in the world of fish.
Research includes local cultural anecdotes and scientific data.
I requested and received an EARC from University of Nevada Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

Review of eBook

Imagine a giant catfish caught in the Mekong River . . . almost nine feet from head to tail, weighing six hundred forty-six pounds. Is this the largest freshwater fish ever caught? Why did some fish grow so big?

And so begins The Megafishes Project.

Travel with the author as he searches for the leviathans of the river and seeks answers to their decreasing numbers. Can the giant fish be saved?


This fascinating look at leviathan freshwater fish is both informative and intriguing . . . travel with him to the Amazon in search of arapaima and piranha; search for alligator gar in Texas. Head to France to find wels catfish, to Cambodia in search of stingrays, and seek gnarled-toothed sawfish in Australia.

The only disappointment amid all these fascinating facts is the lack of pictures. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see a picture of these leviathans?

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from the University of Nevada Press and NetGalley
#ChasingGiants #NetGalley

Zeb Hogan does a phenomenal job educating his audience about monstrous sized fish. He really draws in the reader with his writing, and it's clear he did his research. What I love is that he explains everything in a way that is both interesting and informative, expanding what the world knows about these creatures.

If you got this hoping for pictures of giant fish, you will be disappointed. However, if you got this for the stories of learning more about giant freshwater fish, you will be thrilled! Zeb Hogan gives you the insider’s look at how he pursued the research and expanding the knowledge base of these monstrous sized fish. It is well founded and explained well (you don’t need to be brilliant or even science minded to understand it and appreciate it). It is informative and enjoyable as you travel through various regions in the world.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.