A college-level introductory science textbook should have three purposes, two of which are often underserved. First, it should present large quantities of information, which results in a text that is bulky and expensive. Second, it should help students understand the nature and process of science, and allow them to practice scientific techniques such as critical thinking and inquiry-guided learning. Third, in the case of an oceanography text, it should help students understand the complex interdependence of humans and the ocean. The new text by Chamberlin and Dickey is the first I have seen that promotes all three purposes equally.

Cudaback, C. 2007. Review of Exploring the World Ocean, by W.S. Chamberlin and T.D. Dickey. Oceanography 20(4):174–175, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2007.23.

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