In a lifetime of reading I can honestly say that only three books have had a profound impact on the way I look at the world. They are 'The True Believer' by Eric Hoffer, '1984' by George Orwell, and 'The Last Of The Blue Water Hunters' by Carlos Eyles. My view of the natrul world and man's place in it has been enriched by Mr Eyles' work. Though this may sound like hyperboly, it is not. While I could not say that he is a great writer in the sense of a Joe Conrad or Charles Dickens, he is a more than competent journalist who is able to tell the stories of the early days of spearfishing in an engaging and informative way. The strength of this book lies not in it's style, but in its content. On one level, it is a series of entertaining fishing stories. On another level, it is a view of nature through the eyes of a hunter.
Dont be put off by this. The very word 'hunter' has acquired a negitive connotation over the past half centuary and I must confess that in some sense I too had begun to internalize this bias. Mr. Eyles is not an apologist for what some may view as a bloodsport, he is a writer and natrualist who communicates the beauty of the natrual world and preindustrial man's place in it.
I keep a copy of this book on my nightstand and read from it at least three times a month. I can open it up to any page and escape the worries of the day. It is especially nice to read when work keeps me from the ocean for long weeks at a time. I would (and have) recomend this book to everyone, diver and non-diver alike. No one has been disappointed.