How do beaches function? Where do waves come from, and why are they always parallel to the shore, no matter which way the shore faces? Where does sand come from, and why are some beaches grey, some white, some beige? What plants and animals live there and how do they deal with this harsh, ever-changing environment? How do beaches protect themselves from storms, human encroachment and the effects of climate change? And what do beaches mean to humans? In this critically acclaimed, updated edition, award-winning author Silver Donald Cameron shows us that the beach forms an integrated, living entity in its own right, and a model for the unity of all things on Earth. More than a tour of the eastern and western shores of North America, Cameron's book leads his readers to an awakening of the processes of life around us. The author begins with the science of waves and sand, and gradually reveals the inter-relatedness of all the habitues of the beach. The final destination is an understanding of how all living things are woven together in the fabric of life and what that means for "the stewards of the Earth." Silver Donald Cameron is an acclaimed author, filmmaker, playwright, host and executive producer of TheGreenInterview.com. His work includes plays, films, radio and TV scripts, hundreds of magazine articles and seventeen books, including two novels. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. See more at www.silverdonaldcameron.ca"