• Eat Like a Fish

  • My Adventures as a Fisherman Turned Restorative Ocean Farmer
  • By: Bren Smith
  • Narrated by: Bren Smith
  • Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (304 ratings)

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Eat Like a Fish  By  cover art

Eat Like a Fish

By: Bren Smith
Narrated by: Bren Smith
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Publisher's summary

Part memoir, part manifesto, in Eat Like a Fish Bren Smith - a former commercial fisherman turned restorative ocean farmer - shares a bold new vision for the future of food: seaweed.

Through tales that span from his childhood in Newfoundland to his early years on the high seas aboard commercial fishing trawlers, from pioneering new forms of ocean farming to surfing the frontiers of the food movement, Smith introduces the world of sea-based agriculture and advocates getting ocean vegetables onto American plates (there are thousands of edible varieties in the sea!).

Here he shows how we can transform our food system while enjoying delicious, nutritious, locally grown food and how restorative ocean farming has the potential to create millions of new jobs and protect our planet in the face of climate change, rising populations, and finite food resources. Also included are recipes from acclaimed chefs Brooks Headley and David Santos.

Written with the humor and swagger of a fisherman telling a late-night tale, this is a monumental work of deeply personal food policy that will profoundly change the way we think about what we eat.

Includes a PDF of sea greens recipes by chefs Brooks Headley and David Santos.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Bren Smith (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Bren Smith is a hero of ours - not just for his ingenious vertical farming of kelp and shellfish in the Thimble Islands, but for facing squarely the root causes of one crisis with many symptoms: climate change, desertification, obesity and hunger. This book shows us new ways to grow food and make a living that can both heal the planet and make life more satisfying.” (Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia)

“What a remarkable book! Bren Smith has a (wild) life story to recount, a novel food-growing technique to describe, and a planet to help save. He’s a deft enough writer to pull it all off, with a wry joy that left me (more than usually) hopeful about our future.”(Bill McKibben, New York Times best-selling author of Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet and Radio Free Vermont)

“Part memoir, part treatise on the life of a professional fisherman, part manual for the future of eating worldwide, this unique book cannot help but make readers think long and hard about the fate of the earth as it faces the challenges of global warming and the outlook for feeding the planet.... Smith has now become a visionary leader in cultivating what may turn out to be a primary source of the world’s food. This is a book about a man as well as a book about an idea.... Readers will learn more about ocean farming here than they learned about whaling from Moby Dick, and will walk away with a handful of practical, tasty seaweed recipes to boot.” (Booklist, starred review)

Featured Article: Dig Into Some Food for Thought with These Climate-Conscious, Cruelty-Free Listens

Whatever your reason for seeking out a shift (or some encouragement and tasty recipes if you've already made the leap), this list includes everything from nonfiction exploring factory farming, animal rights, and our wider global ecosystem, to how-to guides for shifting to a vegetarian or vegan diet, to tales from the animal world that might help you see things from their perspective. After all, there's no better way to celebrate Earth Day than by getting to know our neighbors—and creating a home that serves each and every one of us.

What listeners say about Eat Like a Fish

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The excitement of the tale

Very good and interesting… the story was excellent and the speaker was really good as well

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Inspirational journey

Hope in a time of climate peril is imparted in a way that gives promise to rethinking our relationship with sustainable practices.
$20K and a boat… rethinking my retirement options❤️🌎

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The development of ocean farming and foods

A personal journey in finding a purpose to match a passion for the ocean and a solution to some of the climate crisis problems. Includes the history of aquaculture and challenges that evolved, as well as technical advise and resources.

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Inspired visionary

I am a food lover who failed my knots badge in Scouts. And yet, Bren's way words had me believing, "I could be a kelp farmer" Half way through the book.
It's not all dreamy, he lays out what takes and the difference it makes.
I love this book.

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In extraterrestrial land…

Thanks for sharing your story Bren. I recommend individuals to read it. This book let you know what’s happening in the ocean, and the life in the ocean too. I learn about sharks, you know! “the human sharks”. Crazy!… How can we get rid of them? Seriously! Build smaller, sustainable for the community is a biomimicry way of doing. And please don’t expect money, expect connection 🙏🏽

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Everything i wanted in a memoir

Loved this guy’s stories. Bought it because i heard an interview with the author. I didn’t think fishing or seaweed or food production could be a topic that would be interesting to me at all, but man how he weaved this into an entertaining and fun read!

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  • TJ
  • 10-07-21

Life changing

This book is a must read for anyone who lives on this planet and eats food. It’s a Ray of hope that intentional people can learn to live in balance with our environment and create an economic model that supports our communities and the good people who feed us. Bren Smith lays out a clear vision of change, actions for individuals to take and an opportunity to share and expand the good work he has started.

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Impressed and hopeful

Bren Smith has written a great book that is part memoir, resource, and very functional philosophy. I've been inspired to learn more about 3D ocean farming since Permaculture magazine ran an article several years ago, this book gave me a context for all I have learned. I truly believe small scale restorative ocean holdings will be a huge part of how we feed the ourselves in a warmer, less predictable world.

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highly recommended!

From someone who didn't know a lot about aquaculture and ocean farming, I feel like I can now have a conversation about it and not feel dumb! Bren is a down to earth, relatable guy and breaths reality into a subject that often seems like a pie in the sky dream- sustainable food sources. The book was enjoyable, educational, and had my mouth watering to boot! I tried buying some seaweed pasta at one of the in-store locations that carried the product according to the website, but they didn't have it :-( I'll keep trying!

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Love this book!

It is rare to find a book that is so raw, honest and yet chock full of valuable information for which I was not aware. I might just start our own oven farm! Bren Smith is just that inspiring! He has motivated me to continue finding as much information about sustainable ocean farming as I can. BRAVO!!

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