Press for Superpowers on the Shore
Press Reviews for Superpowers on the Shore
In all, Superpowers... has around 25 press mentions, and universally positive reviews. I am grateful and delighted. These are just some of those in a list.
“How often would you come across references to pop culture, children’s literature, comic books, and even Sridevi and Bollywood in a book about the environment? Our answer would be none. Presented in a quirky and engaging style, the book will intrigue
even those readers who might not typically be drawn towards learning about nature around us, let alone India’s marine life, and the cool, really important roles that sea creatures play in this ecosystem.”
Mid-Day, Fiona Fernandes
Science abhors emotion, but by dint of objective observation, scientists find out stories about creatures that can titillate the imagination, if told in a lively manner. I appreciated the emotional way in which the observations of scientists, familiar to me as a specialist, are related to an audience of interested onlookers. It’s like making bland western food into chatpata chaat. The Bollywood song-and-dance interjections are incorporated here as well. For me, the book is very feminine, very Indian, in a very appealing manner.
India Today, Victor Smetacek
– Author Ranjit Lal, Open Magazine
Through experiences from her travels, interviews with experts, research findings, and
pop-culture references, the book shapes an introduction to weird and wonderful marine
creatures, and the beautiful moments and deadly battles that play out in the intertidal
zone.
– Conde Nast Traveller India
What Super Powers On The Shore does is make you think about the resilience of
creatures that otherwise do not get enough attention. Her writing in the book is an
engaging mix of pop culture, science and keen observations. It is a style of writing that
also makes the book easy to understand, even for casual readers who might not be that
interested in the environment and conservation.
– Nitin Shreedhar, Mint Lounge
Superpowers on the Shore explores unusual life in intertidal pools. It’s a pop-science
work for adults, kept relatable and fun. It is an unusual approach, even for a work on
pop science. But it succeeds in making this almost alien world accessible to the reader.
– Hindustan Times, Natasha Rego
In the chapter called ‘Walking – an exercise in seeing’ from a book on the creatures that
populate India’s intertidal zone, the author ruminates on the things an individual can
learn about herself and the world during a walk on the beach.
Hindustan Times, listing
If you have the faintest interest in life forms other than human, or if, like me, you’re a
beach freak, this is a read you shouldn’t miss.
– Deccan Chronicle
Sejal Mehta, in her book, outlines the rich diversity that stands toe-to-toe with the rich
wildlife of the rainforests and ones that have given birth to countless works of fantasy
and fiction.
- The Daily Star
This is an unusual book in that the author seems to be rebelling against usual tomes of
science writing, which are usually bone dry and superior sounding. Wonder and
humility seem to be Mehta’s weapons of choice that arbitrate between the mundane and
exciting aspects of a coastline (and broadly, of life).
-Neha Sinha, author
Sejal Mehta wandered around India’s intertidal zones and has written a lovely book
about odd and adorable marine creatures. I urge you to please read it.
- Bahar Dutt, journalist and author
By virtue of traversing both land and sea, the life forms found in the intertidal zone are
blessed with features that are otherworldly.
– Preetha Banerjee, Down to Earth
Sejal Mehta takes us on a journey into the world of marine life, educating us on the
fascinating and terrifying creatures that lurk beneath the waves. They survive with
interesting abilities like regeneration, defence mechanisms, and sonic skills. It is a
fascinating and enthralling book that can aid in the study and knowledge of the species
that live in our environment. This great novel should be read and marvelled at.
– Frontlist
This book made my eyes go wide; right there virtually underfoot was an astonishing,
kaleidoscopic world crammed with the most amazing life and I had missed it all.
– Indian Express
The book is about us and the animals, and the lessons their powers teach us, about our
own arsenals, our lives and the strengths we possess. And what the tide, with its daily
journey back and forth can remind us about ourselves.
– Indiatimes
This book about a parallel universe that hides in plain sight, right at the shore, has a
secret message: Everybody can be a scientist or an explorer
– Roundglass Sustain
Press Reviews for Superpowers on the Shore
In all, Superpowers… has around 25 press mentions, and universally positive reviews. I am grateful and delighted. These are just some of those in a list.
“How often would you come across references to pop culture, children’s literature,
comic books, and even Sridevi and Bollywood in a book about the environment? Our
answer would be none. Presented in a quirky and engaging style, the book will intrigue
even those readers who might not typically be drawn towards learning about nature
around us, let alone India’s marine life, and the cool, really important roles that sea
creatures play in this ecosystem.”
Mid-Day, Fiona Fernandes
Science abhors emotion, but by dint of objective observation, scientists find out stories about creatures that can titillate the imagination, if told in a lively manner. I appreciated the emotional way in which the observations of scientists, familiar to me as a specialist, are related to an audience of interested onlookers. It’s like making bland western food into chatpata chaat. The Bollywood song-and-dance interjections are incorporated here as well. For me, the book is very feminine, very Indian, in a very appealing manner.
read till I know it by heart. The back flap describes Mehta as a ‘journalist and editor’
who has worked for Lonely Planet, National Geographic Traveller India etc and has
written fiction for children. What it doesn’t mention is that she has an irrepressible,
incorrigible sense of humour that most lead-footed ‘science writers’ would be shocked
by. All our leaden, heavyweight deadly dull textbooks ought to be written this way
– Author Ranjit Lal, Open Magazine
Through experiences from her travels, interviews with experts, research findings, and
pop-culture references, the book shapes an introduction to weird and wonderful marine
creatures, and the beautiful moments and deadly battles that play out in the intertidal
zone.
– Conde Nast Traveller India
What Super Powers On The Shore does is make you think about the resilience of
creatures that otherwise do not get enough attention. Her writing in the book is an
engaging mix of pop culture, science and keen observations. It is a style of writing that
also makes the book easy to understand, even for casual readers who might not be that
interested in the environment and conservation.
– Nitin Shreedhar, Mint Lounge
Superpowers on the Shore explores unusual life in intertidal pools. It’s a pop-science
work for adults, kept relatable and fun. It is an unusual approach, even for a work on
pop science. But it succeeds in making this almost alien world accessible to the reader.
– Hindustan Times, Natasha Rego
In the chapter called ‘Walking – an exercise in seeing’ from a book on the creatures that
populate India’s intertidal zone, the author ruminates on the things an individual can
learn about herself and the world during a walk on the beach.
Hindustan Times, listing
If you have the faintest interest in life forms other than human, or if, like me, you’re a
beach freak, this is a read you shouldn’t miss.
– Deccan Chronicle
Sejal Mehta, in her book, outlines the rich diversity that stands toe-to-toe with the rich
wildlife of the rainforests and ones that have given birth to countless works of fantasy
and fiction.
– The Daily Star
This is an unusual book in that the author seems to be rebelling against usual tomes of
science writing, which are usually bone dry and superior sounding. Wonder and
humility seem to be Mehta’s weapons of choice that arbitrate between the mundane and
exciting aspects of a coastline (and broadly, of life).
-Neha Sinha, author
Sejal Mehta wandered around India’s intertidal zones and has written a lovely book
about odd and adorable marine creatures. I urge you to please read it.
– Bahar Dutt, journalist and author
By virtue of traversing both land and sea, the life forms found in the intertidal zone are
blessed with features that are otherworldly.
– Preetha Banerjee, Down to Earth
Sejal Mehta takes us on a journey into the world of marine life, educating us on the
fascinating and terrifying creatures that lurk beneath the waves. They survive with
interesting abilities like regeneration, defence mechanisms, and sonic skills. It is a
fascinating and enthralling book that can aid in the study and knowledge of the species
that live in our environment. This great novel should be read and marvelled at.
– Frontlist
This book made my eyes go wide; right there virtually underfoot was an astonishing,
kaleidoscopic world crammed with the most amazing life and I had missed it all.
– Indian Express
The book is about us and the animals, and the lessons their powers teach us, about our
own arsenals, our lives and the strengths we possess. And what the tide, with its daily
journey back and forth can remind us about ourselves.
– Indiatimes
This book about a parallel universe that hides in plain sight, right at the shore, has a
secret message: Everybody can be a scientist or an explorer
– Roundglass Sustain