Average Customer Review: ( 22 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 24 found the following review helpful:
A Great Book on the Great White Jan 16, 2005
By Jeffery Steele
One of the most refreshing things about this wonderful book on great white sharks is its unfashionable lack of sentimentality. Ever since the popularity of the movie "Jaws," shark experts have felt obligated to point out to the general public that great whites do not prey on people with any frequency, and that sharks have far more to fear from people than people do from sharks. There are perhaps only a hundred shark attacks on humans recorded every year, with just thirty of those fatal. What's more, these same experts often also claim that many shark attacks may be just a case of mistaken identity -- the shark presumably ripping into what it thinks is a seal or turtle only to discover a foul-tasting diver or surfer, and letting go. There is just enough evidence to make this theory plausible.
Both Richard Ellis and John McCosker are clearly sympathetic to sharks, and they do not sensationalize their subject. But they are also dedicated scientists who want to introduce what is known about the shark to the general public; they realize that the allure and interest surrounding the largest and most famous shark of all - the great white -- is precisely because it is dangerous. There are bigger sharks (whale shark, basking shark). There are bigger predators (sperm whale, killer whale). But there are no larger predators known to initiate unprovoked attacks on humans. Killer whales have never been known to attack humans in the wild. Sperm whales only attack men if they are attacked first. But a handful of species of sharks - the most infamous of which is the great white - will attack and, on rare occasions, eat people. This capability inspires both man's fear and interest in the creature
An incident in Australia (and described in this book) illustrates the potential horror of such attacks. In 1985, in southern Australia, a 33-year-old mother of four, Shirley Durdin, was snorkeling in seven feet of water with two companions, one of whom was her husband. They had been diving in the bay for scallops, when they decided to head to shore. At that moment, a 20-foot white pointer (the great white shark's name in Australia) suddenly attacked Durdin and, in a vicious froth of blood and foam, she was bitten in half. By the time the boats from shore were launched by fishermen trying to rescue her, all they could see was her headless torso, which the shark came back up to snatch and make off with as they watched. It was first confirmed attack in Australia where the great white actually could be seen eating its victim.
This is not just a book about great white shark attacks (although those attacks are comprehensively covered in a very long chapter). Anything you could possibly want to know about the great white is here - morphology, biology, its known habitat, prey, fishing for great whites, the great white in captivity, and its place in literature and cinema. As a result, interesting details abound on all facets of the shark. The largest great white shark ever caught, for example, is probably no longer than 23 feet and most likely no longer than 21 feet. Numerous accounts to the contrary -- including one great white reported to be 36 feet long -- are almost certainly exaggerated accounts, mistaken measurements, or complete fiction. Some researchers believe the great white is oophagous, meaning that baby great whites in the mother's uterus eat each other until only the stronger survive. When born, they measure an astounding four feet long. When fully grown, female great whites sharks are larger than males. More great white shark attacks have been recorded in the central California section between Monterey Bay and just north of San Francisco than anywhere else in the world, including Australia. Great whites can be found in nearly all types of coastal waters, except extreme tropical and extreme artic seas. Finally, they are the only sharks known to attack boats.
Like all of Ellis's work, this is a very well-written book. Just as Ellis is likely to refer to "Moby Dick", when writing about sperm whales, and "Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea", when writing about giant squids, so he discusses American artist John Singleton Copley's "Watson and the Shark" and Winslow Homer's "Gulf Stream" when writing about the great white shark. (Ellis's says that the shark in Copley's painting is definitely not a great white.) He also goes over the plot in "Jaws", pointing out that while the plot is exciting, the science in the story is lacking and the resulting popularity of the film was devastating for the shark. This detailed look at the most fascinating of predators makes for a marvelous book, the best of the nearly dozen on sharks I've read.
15 of 16 found the following review helpful:
Comprehensive work on a beautiful, misunderstood predator May 17, 2001
By David J. Koukol
Richard Ellis does a wonderful job treating his subject with respect, revealing the Great White Shark as a predator whose reputation is largely undeserved. The book reveals many facets to a powerful animal that can be extremely dangerous to people who intrude upon its domain. But there is no malice toward humans on the shark's behalf, and the book tells it like it is with text that is comprehensive and fun to read. Great White Shark biology is featured in detail, and shark attacks and the reasons behind them (they aren't what most people would think!) are researched with great attention to detail.The photographs and paintings (done by the author) are superb. Two of the most fascinating sections of the book feature the study of the extinct Charcaradon Megalodon (a massive relative to the Great White whose only earthly remains are fossilized teeth) and the thus-far unsuccessful attempts to keep Great Whites in captivity. The story of "Sandy," a female Great White who was released following an ill-fated tenure in a public aquarium, is actually very touching. It shows how many in the public wished to see the shark's best interests served, while others spoke out against it, seeing only an evil monster. A wonderful volume on one of nature's most beautiful and infamous creatures.
9 of 10 found the following review helpful:
A great Great White book! Feb 09, 2000
By Christian Marrione
This is the pefect book if you have an avid interest in the magnificent animal known as the Great White and want a little more to nibble on than what the Discovery Channel provides. The book gives an in depth view of every aspect of the Great White's life, from birth, reproduction, feeding, size, and interactions with humans. It is written on a level which can be enjoyed by the casual reader or devoured by an informed student. The book is full of impressive photos and interesting sidebars. I cannot recomend this book enough. Pick it up, and dive right in!
7 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Great Great White Book Jan 25, 2000
By mstlau
Ellis, McCosker, and Giddings have produced an informative and entertaining book on the Great White shark. While the book does provide scientific information it does not require that you hold a degree in marine biology or physiology to comprehend the information being presented. Adding to the text are an abundance of quality photographs. I read this book several years ago, but still open it up again and again to re-read passages and look at the photographs. One of the best shark books I have ever read.
5 of 6 found the following review helpful:
A EXCELLENT BOOK FOR SHARK FANS. Dec 06, 1998
I found GREAT WHITE SHARK BY RICHARD ELLIS to be one of the best shark books I have ever read. It's imformative and interesting there's soo much information about GREAT WHITES that you don't want to put the book down. I never knew all that much about GREAT WHITE SHARKS, but after I read this book I felt that I could understand them a lot more and ther'e not what the movies make them out to be. This book is a must read for shark lovers don't miss it!!
See all 22 customer reviews on Amazon.com
|
based on 22 reviews
