Sharks: Silent Hunters of the Deep [Mass Market Paperback]

Ron and Valerie Taylor (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

Nearly 350 species of shark live in the world's oceans, ranging in size from the 150-millimetre dwarf shark to the 18-metre whale shark. Focusing on their lives and habits, the extent of their unusual senses, and their attacks on humans, this book describes and illustrates a world of savage beauty.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Readers Digest (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 086438047X
• ISBN-13: 978-0864380470
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,825,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I have problems with this one., May 16, 2007

By 

Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sharks: Silent Hunters of the Deep (Hardcover)

On the one hand, this is a very good book with much information for the reader. On the other, it's as though the book has been hijacked by Ron and Valerie Taylor. OK, so I never did like their gung-ho, macho style of attacking the Shark head-on for reasons of personal publicity, but let me make 2 points; Firstly, the book is billed as having an "Introduction by Ron & Valerie Taylor." Surely that means "they" didn't actually write it. Secondly, at the beginning we have a complete list of 8 contributors in addition to the Taylors'. OK, so they wrote part of it. There is a photograph of all but one of these contributors and, of course, the Taylors' just "had" to pose looking through the jaws of a Great White Shark which they are holding up for personal effect.

Elsewhere we find photographs of Valerie Taylor wearing a chain mail suit covered in Shark food trying to get a Shark to bite her arm - I always thought it a great pity she didn't try that stunt using a tin hat instead. But I have to ask; Is this a serious book or what? Judging by the qualifications of the contributors (some of which are very impressive - and none of which are held by the Taylors'!), I think it is. It would, however, have been much better with just the input from those other 8 people. Why? Because they are people I can take seriously. Put another way, with all reference to the Taylors' removed, this would easily have been a 5 Star publication.

Today, all species of Shark are becoming increasingly endangered - some critically so. I wonder how much Ron and Valerie Taylor 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.

The days of the great white safari to shoot wildlife in Africa and the Tiger in Bengal are long-gone. How long do we have to wait until the antics of those who persecute great creatures from the deep also come to an end?

NM

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for any shark enthusiasts, June 19, 2001

By 

Theresa Bath (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sharks: Silent Hunters of the Deep (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a fantastic book, and is surely a must-have for any shark enthusiasts, beginnners and experts alike. The bright graphics illuminate the book from cover to cover, with some awesome pictures of sharks from around the world. The comprehensive species index at the back not only helps the reader find their way around any technical jargon, but serves as a wonderful reference point. This book is packed full of detailed biological information, as well as fascinating stories to enthrall and amuse, contributed to by some of the World's leading shark experts.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great collection of information about sharks., February 16, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Sharks: Silent Hunters of the Deep (Mass Market Paperback)

Filled with many colorful pictures, this is a very crucial work in understanding sharks