Secrets of the Whales

In these arresting pages, award-winning National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry offers bold new insight into the lives of whales and the world’s largest mammals' complex societies. Skerry reveals that whales—especially the sperm and humpback species—share an amazing ability to learn and adapt to opportunities, from specialized feeding strategies to migration techniques. There is also evidence of deeper, cultural elements of whale identity, from unique dialects to matriarchal societies to organized social customs like singing contests. Here, these alluring creatures are revealed in in all their glory: a potent symbol of how these majestic creatures can teach us about ourselves—and our planet.