I will be the first to admit that the science section of any bookstore can be a bit intimidating.

Most of the books there are by someone with "Ph.D." after their name and are written in a language that may as well be Greek to me. 

Luckily, Susan Casey writes in a language that I have no problem understanding. 

In The Wave, Casey (an author, journalist and former editor-in-chief of O, The Oprah Magazine), takes readers with her as she travels the globe trying to learn the dangerous secrets of the ocean and the elusive ship-swallowing, hundred foot wave.

Her book moves between the unbelievable world of professional surfers — who use experience, instinct, and lessons learned by ancient cultures in order to read the water — and the scientific world, that tries to predict the disturbing wave activity of our ailing planet, using equations and logic. 

Fascinating, terrifying, exciting, enlightening, and unbelievable — this read is a ride into a world that will give you a newfound respect for the people that are a part of it. 

Well worth venturing into the science section!