Eilperin goes around the world to see how people relate to sharks. From worship to fear, from food source to threat, from natural wonder to demon, people see sharks in many different ways. And many of those ways are threatening the continued existence of this great predator of the sea.
This is a good overview of shark lore and shark fact. Eilperin starts with human attitudes toward sharks and how they have changed, and some of the reasons why they have changed, over time. They went from being worshiped as gods to being mostly ignored to being the titular demon fish to being an endangered species many people are trying to save. You learn a lot about different kinds of sharks with out the book ever sounding like a text book. She tells you a lot of reasons why sharks are in danger today and why they are important and should be saved. And she also tells you why saving sharks is a complicated and difficult task. Eilperin is obviously pro shark, but she also presents the case of those who depend on shark fishing to feed themselves and their families. She just presents a stronger case for the sharks. She tells you all the reasons that saving the sharks is good for everyone (even the shark fishers) and explores ways that humans are trying to live along side the sharks. The book makes you think about how sharks are presented. Did you know that more people are killed by accidents with chairs than by sharks? Maybe sharks are not the blood thirsty monsters some people think they are (and the news makes them sound). There is a lot of information here but it keeps a good pace and never bogs down. There is also a lot to think about here. Eilperin makes a very good case for sharks. If you are on the fence about sharks I think this has a good chance to tip you to the shark's side and it may even make some shark haters stop and think. If you are interested in learning how sharks fit into our world, both above and below the waves, this is a good place to start.
No comments:
Post a Comment