Customer Reviews

Great Shark Writings

5 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

One of the worst books on sharks I've ever seen. Time was when the Taylors were at the top of the tree and we all loved them but in this very tired effort they seem to have scraped the barrel for stories and even mixed up fact with fiction. Gives an impression of what can they scrape together without much bother.

Having reviewed over 2,000 books, for anyone to suggest I have done this without reading this particular product is being wholly malicious. In addition, unlike the numerous `armchair' experts who always criticise `those who do,' I have also dived with Sharks and other fearsome creatures. Indeed, one of my photographs of a Killer Whale graced a National Geographic video box cover. As for my book reviews, I make the following points: I came to reviewing as an experienced scuba diver because there were far too many instances of absolute garbage being published about the underwater environment - often hidden being some excellent underwater photographs. With accuracy being most important to me, I decided to confine my reviews to subjects I know well. I am ALWAYS prepared to reconsider any review - and have done so SEVERAL times for this particular title.

That said, my reviews are only an OPINION with which others have a right to disagree. They should do so, however, without the hatred, spite, malevolence and vindictiveness to which I have been subjected over a considerable time. So much so, in fact, I have had to delete and resubmit my review of this work several times - just to delete certain unfortunate comments.

I am saddened the Taylors' have produced such a confusing book as this. The inclusion of extracts from `Jaws,' the Bible (Jonah and the Whale) and Hemingway's `The Old Man and the Sea' amongst serious contributions by eminent shark experts reduces this work (IN MY OPINION) to something very ordinary, run-of-the-mill and, as I say, confusing. Another unfortunate fact is that there are no photographs at all - except for the front cover.

Ron and Valerie Taylor came to prominence through their underwater photography and a series of television appearances many years ago. In those days they were good and very interesting. Between then and now, however, they seem to have become Valerie and Ron Taylor, a switch designed to put the female half of the partnership first in a bid to promote what has become an ailing appeal. I have a number of books about sharks and shark attacks and there are plenty more on the market both old and new. There are no lessons to be learned from this book, I could find no original material and with the theme of fiction continually re-emerging, I found I was not able to trust anything written here.

Another lingering impression - created by this work, is the more I read about the Taylors exploits with sharks the more I am convinced they have done far more harm than good to this magnificent creature - made even worse by their being convinced otherwise. As I said about another book in which their work appears; "Today, all species of Shark are becoming increasingly endangered - some critically so. I wonder how much Ron and Valerie Taylor (Whoops, sorry should have said Valerie and Ron!) have contributed to the overall decline of this creature in general and the Great White in particular. Perhaps they haven't - but I suspect they have and, if so, that is not something for which they can be proud." As a further example of this, on page 78 Valerie Taylor writes "Poor little babies, all they wanted was to be left in peace." Fat chance!

So, if you do pick up this book and read about some pretty gruesome attack, just remember, like Jaws, it might not have happened quite as told here. In short you will have to Google the author of that particular chapter and then decide for yourself whether they are known for fact or fiction.

Altogether this book is best described as a succession of lost opportunities. Fact is not clearly defined from fiction, the omission of photographs also creates a lack-lustre appeal and there is no index.

As I said at the beginning of this piece, I am always prepared to reconsider any of my reviews and, on reflection, my former grading of 2 Stars was far too generous.

NM