How to Speak Whale

‘Fascinating’ Greta Thunberg ‘Extraordinary’ Merlin Sheldrake ‘A must-read’ New Scientist ‘Enthralling’ George Monbiot ‘Brilliant’ Philip Hoare As a biologist and nature filmmaker, Tom Mustill had always liked whales. But when one landed on his kayak, nearly killing him, the video clip of the event going viral, he became obsessed. This book traces an extraordinary investigation into the deep ocean and today’s cutting-edge science. Using ‘underwater ears,’ robotic fish, big data and machine intelligence, leading scientists and tech-entrepreneurs across the world are working to turn the fantasy of Dr Dolittle into a reality, upending much of what we know about these mysterious creatures. But what would it mean if we were to make contact? Can we hope to one day understand animals? Are we ready for what they might say? Enormously original and hugely entertaining, How to Speak Whale is an unforgettable look at how close we truly are to communicating with another species – and how doing so might change our world beyond recognition.

‘A rich exploration of some of the world's most astonishing creatures … Mustill weaves a narrative that will expand your concept of language and deepen your understanding of the many ways there are to be alive. This is an extraordinary book that left me inspired’ Merlin Sheldrake, author of Entangled Life ‘A must-read… a hugely engaging personal story of a journey into the future of human-animal communication facilitated by delving into its past’ New Scientist ‘[An] extensively researched and energetic book… it is via the informed, far-reaching empathy of intermediaries such as Mustill that we stand our best chance of seeing into the non-human depths’ New Statesman ‘First-class … Reasoned, entertaining, and fact-filled’ Forbes ‘Fascinating and deeply humane’ Greta Thunberg ‘A rich, enthralling, brilliant book that opens our eyes and ears to worlds we can scarcely imagine’George Monbiot, Sunday Times bestselling author of Regenesis ‘Tantalizing … Think how transformative it would be if we could chat with whales about their love lives or their sorrows or their thoughts on the philosophy of language’ Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker ‘Mind-blowing … You will never feel closer to the magnificence of whales’Lucy Jones, author of Losing Eden ‘A scary, important and brilliant book … If we do get to translate ‘whale’, will we like what they’ve got to say?’Philip Hoare, author of Leviathan ‘Mustill takes us farther, much farther, than Dr. Dolittle ever imagined’ Carl Safina ‘Riveting … One of the most exciting and hopeful books I have read in ages’ Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus ‘Mustill conveys the richness of whale song and communication’ Frans de Waal ‘Lively and informative’ Jonathan Slaght, author of Owls of the Eastern Ice ‘Extraordinary’ Christiana Figueres

Tom Mustill is a biologist turned filmmaker and writer, specializing in stories where people and nature meet. His film collaborations, many with Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough, have received numerous international awards, including two Webbys, a BAFTA, and an Emmy nomination. They have been played at the UN and COP 26, and been shared by heads of state, the World Health Organization, and Guns N’ Roses. He lives in London with his wife Annie, daughter Stella and the inhabitants of his small but surprisingly deep pond. www.grippingfilms.com Instagram @tommustill Twitter @tommustill