Thank you for sharing this book with me.
I appreciate the opportunity to read Chasing Giants and share it with my followers.

I used to love the show River monsters with Zeb Hogan and couldn’t wait to read this book chasing Giants written by Zeb Hogan and Stefen Lovgren End it did not disappoint from his studies in Thailand as a young college student to his day is on the show with his good body Brant Allen it’s all here and his search to find the biggest freshwater catfish, something that continues to this day. He even talks about his days in Cambodia his heart for stingrays and much more I truly enjoyed this book and hardly recommend it if you’re a fan of adventure in those living life the Rhône original way then you’ll definitely love this book I certainly did and highly recommend it. I want to thank the publisher and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This begins with the author wondering what the world's largest freshwater fish is......& then the book follows his quest to search out that answer. He actually makes a great career out of it, does a lot of traveling & has lots of adventures. He really put together a very readable book, even to a person who isn't into fishing! I learned a lot about freshwater fish....all over the world....paddlefish, rays, gar, sturgeon, eels, catfish & others, about different countries & their landscapes, conservation, about habitat loss, overfishing, the effect of dams & pollution, & sadly....extinction. It's quite an interesting look into that career/vocation/science. I learned a lot, & could recommend it to anyone!
I received an e-ARC from publisher University of Nevada Press via NetGalley, & offer this ....my own fair & honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t quite what I expected, but I liked the different threads that Hogan includes, such as his own research work, trying to find the world’s largest fresh water fish, conservation efforts, history, and ichthyology. My favorite parts were the descriptions of rivers and dams, something I knew nothing about before this book, and the history of various fishes, especially the ancient and weird fish. The voice of the narrative is very lively, and I found the whole book engaging, whether I was reading about Hogan’s adventures in Cambodia and Mongolia or about Hogan’s childhood. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to people who like fish, weird things, conservation, and rivers.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free digital copy of this book for an honest review.

The topic is an interesting one as there is so much fresh water on the earth and so little is known about the fish that inhabit the rivers and lakes. Hogan gives us an interesting adventure, providing readers with information about fresh water fish. We are taken along on his travels so we learn some about the areas as well. In that respect, this is part memoir and part scientific investigation with personal reflection added.

This is a good book for anyone interested in learning about the environment and habits of fresh water fish. While the age suggestion for this book begins with elementary age, I do not think Hogan's writing style is suitable for young readers. It is a good read for those who have long dreamed of catching that big one as well as those interested in fresh water studies.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Non-fiction that seeks to answer the question: What is the world’s largest freshwater fish? Author Zeb Hogan is a research biologist at the University of Nevada, Reno, and host of National Geographic’s show <i>Monster Fish.</i> Hogan has traveled the world for twenty years searching for and studying rare, large freshwater fish species. This book documents his travels to places such as Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Brazil, Guyana, Australia, Russia, and more. In addition to the search for the largest freshwater fish, he informs the reader of the role these species play in the ecosystem. He relates the environmental consequences of human actions such as overfishing, dam building, and pollution.

One of the aspects of this book I most enjoyed was the way Hogan engages the local inhabitants of the regions he visits. Many of the people who guide him are those who fish as a way of life. Readers learn about the culture and history of these regions in addition to specifics on the types of fish that live in their waterways. Examples of “Monster Fish” include paddlefish, sawfish, sturgeon, catfish, and rays. I was astounded that fish weighing hundreds of pounds live in these rivers! I learned a lot from this book. Recommended to those who enjoy learning more about and preserving our natural world.

Chasing Giants: In Search of the World's Largest Freshwater Fish by Zeb Hogan and Stefan Lovgren

Chasing Giants: In Search of the World's Largest Freshwater Fish is a captivating book that takes you on a journey with Zeb Hogan, a biologist and host of the National Geographic television show Monster Fish. The book, told from Hogan's perspective, is co-written by Stefan Lovgren a journalist and filmmaker. Together, they explore the fascinating and endangered world of "megafish" - the giant freshwater species that can grow to enormous sizes.

The book is based on Hogan's 20 year quest to find out which megafish is the largest in the world, a question that was sparked by a photo of a 646-pound Mekong giant catfish caught by a Thai fisherman in 2005.

Hogan's quest proves to not only provide a thrilling adventure story, but also a sobering reminder of the threats that these megafish face. Fresh water fish, and megafish especially, suffer from overfishing, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. Hogan and Lovgren make a compelling case for why we should care about these ancient leviathans of our lakes and rivers, and what we can do to protect them before they disappear forever.

Along the way, Hogan and Lovgren encounter amazing creatures such as arapaima and piranha in the Amazon, alligator gar in Texas, wels catfish in France, stingrays in Cambodia, and sawfish in Australia. They also learn about, and explain to us, the environmental threats and conservation challenges facing these ancient leviathans, and the complex cultures and places that depend on them.

Hogan's passion, curiosity, and empathy shine through as he relays his experiences as a scientist and adventurer. He gives us insights into the biology, ecology, and behavior of the megafish, as well as the history, myths, and legends surrounding them. The book is full of fascinating stories and anecdotes that will appeal to readers of all backgrounds and interests.

I enjoyed Chasing Giants. I learned about a hidden and mysterious world that I had known very little about before cracking open this book. I was impressed by the authors' dedication and courage to pursue their quest, and by their efforts to raise awareness and protect these magnificent creatures. The book is well-written, informative, and engaging, with vivid descriptions and anecdotes that bring the fish and their environments to life.

I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in fish, wildlife, nature, adventure, or science.

RATING: Four Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

NOTE: I read an advanced review copy of the book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher University of Nevada Press. The book was released to the public on Thursday, April 25, 2023.

Fisheries research biologist Dr. Zeb Hogan and science journalist Stefan Lovgren share fascinating stories about efforts to study and save the world’s largest freshwater fish. Dr. Hogan has spent the last 25 years trying to determine the largest freshwater fish species, a question that has been surprisingly difficult to answer. He has traveled all over the world studying fish populations, the threats to their health, and efforts to save them.

Part memoir and part scientific adventure, this is a well-written, exciting story for anyone interested in fish biology, field research, and conservation efforts. I discovered interesting new facts on almost every page. I was particularly happy to learn about how researchers are working with local villagers and fishermen to study and preserve these species.

I was provided an unproofed ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

I read about 25% of this ARC before it disappeared from my device and I was unable to download it again. I will write a review based on the 25% I was able to read.
This book is intelligently written and interesting. I have not watched the author's TV program or heard of him before. The topic intrigued me. I have a strong science background which is not necessarily required to enjoy this book. It seems to have been written for an educated reader or at least for someone with some general knowledge of science. The ARC I received does not contain photos, at least not in the section I accessed. It also does not include references, a bibliography, or appendices other than an index, which was inserted as a place holder in the ARC. In my opinion, photos would broaden the appeal of this book.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is one of those books that while you are reading, you keep showing the pictures nad articles to everyone in the room. Then you tell someone else about one of the stories, so you pull the book out to show them. This is repeated so often, you don't put the book away, you keep it handy so you can show and tell. Just be careful that no one "borrows" it. A great book full of information and amazing stories.

This book is a fascinating read! It's full of facts and information about monster fish. Great read!
I received a complimentary copy from University of Nevada Press via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Reading this book made me reflect on the plight of our waterways and fish. How did I not know about these giant fish? So much is happening beneath the surface in all of our fresh lakes and rivers. This book sheds a little light into those depths.

This book is an entertaining and informative amble through a career spent searching for, and appreciating, the giants of the freshwater deep.

If you weren’t already interested in fish, you will be after reading this book.

Spanning roughly 25 years of searching for the largest freshwater fish, Prof. Hogan’s stories of research, conservation and adventures are engaging. Freshwater fishes are often overlooked because they are not as exciting as their saltwater cousins. However, the story of freshwater fishes growing to giant proportions in environments not so far from home is engaging and keeps you turning pages.

As a fisheries and wildlife major myself, but one that doesn’t really fish, I found the story of Prof. Hogan’s journey through his PhD work into his career beyond really interesting and relatable. It also brought back great memories of my field tech years doing fisheries work. Too bad I was chasing minnows and not giants. Recommend for anyone interested in conservation, fisheries and river ecology. 4 stars.

Review based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by University of Nevada Press and NetGalley. Thank you!

The journey of a lifetime…or a lifetime journey. In Chasing Giants, Zeb Hogan invites us to join him on his lifelong journey to discover the world’s largest freshwater fish. And I have to admit, it’s an extremely interesting, informative, and entertaining journey. I have to admit even after all these years of watching shows like Zeb’s own Monster Fish or Jeremy Wade’s River Monsters I’m still amazed and fascinated by the incredible variety of aquatic life out there, and even more fascinated by the prospect of what has yet to be discovered.

Zeb’s is a fascinating story, and is written in a way that is both easy to read and understand. But it is also about more than just the almost too incredible to believe aquatic ‘monsters’ he is searching for. Zeb also explores their migration patterns, the importance of them, as well as man’s effect on their ecosystems/populations and the need for conservation. This is one fish story that’s definitely worth your time. I’d like to thank University of Nevada Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Chasing Giants.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R346AGC5FETXXA/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

As the author rightly points out, freshwater fish are somehow neglected animals. There are so many popular science books about birds, large predators, even insects - but I think this is the first I have read about the creatures that live in our lakes and rivers.

Zeb Hogan's quest to find the largest freshwater species is just a pretext for a compelling story of fish biology, evolution and ecology. The book combines scientific memoir, travelogue, popular science and behind-the-scenes details of how National Geographic TV shows are made. It is well written, full of adventure and curious details - my only complaint is that it can be a little chaotic as the author jumps between different topics in subsequent chapters.

I think it will be a pleasant read for anyone interested in biology and the realities of fieldwork in exotic parts of the world.

Thanks to the publisher, University of Nevada Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This is a great book, 5 stars for Fish lovers.
In this book the author details a search for the largest freshwater fish- explaining all the difficulties with ascertaining with certainty that we have globally found the penultimate largest fish- or if someone or someone’s are just telling “fish stories”! The narrative weaves skillfully between story telling- and educational fact regarding fish taxonomy, habitat, climate change and world politics. While the author is the “Star” of a very popular Nat. Geo series, which I’ve enjoyed in the past,-this in not simply an extension of the program. It is far more in depth, and nuanced, allowing the reader to understand the very complex, multifaceted issues and concerns facing fresh water fish across the world. Although not a main focus, I found author’s description of how he came to be one of the world’s foremost Freshwater fish experts - and the description of his career trajectory- to be very interesting, and I imagine it will also interest younger people interested in working in science but not inside of a lab.
There were some moments where I felt the information was possibly too dense, and it did take me a while to complete the book, but I suspect those with a slightly stronger interest will have no problem at all. I’m not 100% sure this book is for everyone, but I think it’s for many- and definitely belongs on school and public library shelves.

Chasing Giants

Yes, there are still monsters on earth! Giant size freshwater fish that is. Biologist Zeb Hogan has spent 25 years traveling the world studying these rare and unusual fish. Many of these creatures are in danger of extinction. The authors’ point out that once these creatures die out they are gone forever, and so is whatever knowledge might have been gained from them.

This is a fascinating look at some little known animals. There is a tie-in with a television program. Both teens and adults with an interest in nature would enjoy this book.

It took me a while to get into the book but I wound up enjoying it. It was interesting to learn that there are so many species of giant freshwater fish but at the same time it’s disheartening to read that so many are in danger of disappearing. But hopefully the research that the author and other scientists are undertaking to understand and save populations of these giants will help.

I read this on a kindle and the one thing that I wish had been set up differently was having all of the pictures in the center of the book. While it’s easy to flip back and forth in a print copy, I wasn’t able to see the fish the author was talking about until I reached that section and going back to take another look was difficult.

Have you watched the Nat Geo show "Monster Fish"? If you have, you know Zeb Hogan as the host. I have watched his show and loved the way he tells a story, so when I learned that he had written a book, I HAD to read it! This is the story of his search for the largest freshwater fish on the planet. Zeb has a way with words, and this book is like walking through this story with him sitting across the table from his as he shares one of the best fish stories ever!

2.5 stars

Chasing Giants is a treasure trove of fish factoids that satisfies the itch of the armchair traveler craving something exotic and aquatic. Although a great read for amateur ichthyologists, this book is not for everyone. If you yearn to learn about big fish around the world and how local communities react to their presence you will be well met. However, if you just like to see big creepy fish, I'd recommend you just watch River Monsters reruns.

Interesting and educational, albeit somewhat bland, Chasing Giants is a middling nonfic selection.