What do you think?
Rate this book
Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks
A group of traders huddles around a pile of dried shark fins on a gleaming white floor in Hong Kong. A Papua New Guinean elder shoves off in his hand-carved canoe, ready to summon a shark with ancient magic. A scientist finds a rare shark in Indonesia and forges a deal with villagers so it and other species can survive.
In this eye-opening adventure that spans the globe, Juliet Eilperin investigates the fascinating ways different individuals and cultures relate to the ocean’s top predator. Along the way, she reminds us why, after millions of years, sharks remain among nature’s most awe-inspiring creatures.
From Belize to South Africa, from Shanghai to Bimini, we see that sharks are still the object of an obsession that may eventually lead to their extinction. This is why movie stars and professional athletes go shark hunting in Miami and why shark’s fin soup remains a coveted status symbol in China. Yet we also see glimpses of how people and sharks can exist alongside one surfers tolerating their presence off Cape Town and ecotourists swimming with sharks that locals in the Yucatán no longer have to hunt.
With a reporter’s instinct for a good story and a scientist’s curiosity, Eilperin offers us an up-close understanding of these extraordinary, mysterious creatures in the most entertaining and illuminating shark encounter you’re likely to find outside a steel cage.
In this eye-opening adventure that spans the globe, Juliet Eilperin investigates the fascinating ways different individuals and cultures relate to the ocean’s top predator. Along the way, she reminds us why, after millions of years, sharks remain among nature’s most awe-inspiring creatures.
From Belize to South Africa, from Shanghai to Bimini, we see that sharks are still the object of an obsession that may eventually lead to their extinction. This is why movie stars and professional athletes go shark hunting in Miami and why shark’s fin soup remains a coveted status symbol in China. Yet we also see glimpses of how people and sharks can exist alongside one surfers tolerating their presence off Cape Town and ecotourists swimming with sharks that locals in the Yucatán no longer have to hunt.
With a reporter’s instinct for a good story and a scientist’s curiosity, Eilperin offers us an up-close understanding of these extraordinary, mysterious creatures in the most entertaining and illuminating shark encounter you’re likely to find outside a steel cage.
295 pages, Hardcover
First published June 14, 2011
47 people are currently reading
2323 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Eilperin
3 books8 followersJuliet Eilperin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the Deputy Climate and Environment Editor at The Washington Post. She has been with The Post since 1998, covering a range of topics, including national affairs, the White House, the environment, and Congress.
Eilperin holds a BA in Politics, magna cum laude, from Princeton University, with a Certificate in Latin American Studies. She has authored two books: Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks, an exploration of sharks and their relationship with humans, and Fight Club Politics: How Partisanship is Poisoning the House of Representatives, which examines political polarization in Congress.
Her journalism has earned numerous accolades, including the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting and multiple awards from the Society of Environmental Journalists. In 2011, she received the Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Media. Eilperin also speaks some Spanish.
Eilperin holds a BA in Politics, magna cum laude, from Princeton University, with a Certificate in Latin American Studies. She has authored two books: Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks, an exploration of sharks and their relationship with humans, and Fight Club Politics: How Partisanship is Poisoning the House of Representatives, which examines political polarization in Congress.
Her journalism has earned numerous accolades, including the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting and multiple awards from the Society of Environmental Journalists. In 2011, she received the Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Media. Eilperin also speaks some Spanish.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
July 15, 2021
SHARK WEEK FLOAT! from a couple of shark weeks ago but still so sharky!
oh my god i just saw this on the teevee tonight, so i am adding it to the review and you should all watch this clip because it is hilarious! to me. also terrifying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9Fc-T...
SHARK WEEK SHARK WEEK SHARK WEEK!!
today is the start of shark week, so get ready. i have been ready for a week now. last week, i watched the best of shark week on demand, i watched jaws for the very first time, and i read this book. i also commanded my father to buy me some goldfish crackers so i could pretend to be a shark while i watch some shark week on the teevee.
no one is more ready than i am.
this book is great. it explores the shark's meaning across different cultures, but only pretty superficially, and more as a springboard to her real point, which is the rapidly decreasing number of sharks we have to play with. between mainland china's increasing prosperity and the higher demand for celebratory and status-proving shark's fin soup, which has led to fisherman "finning" the fish and tossing then rest of its body back into the sea,(and everyone agrees the fin adds nothing to the soup, it doesn't even really taste good, and is purely for status. can't you people just buy an escalade and be done with it?) and sporting tourism groups that allow regular folk to go out into the ocean and land themselves a giant hammerhead (seriously - what are you going to do with a hammerhead?? go pineapple picking instead)and of course the accidental capture/killing of sharks by tuna fishermen and the fences meant to keep sharks from getting too close to oceans where people swim.
but, man... it doesn't look good. sharks have been around since before dinosaurs and even though we know a lot about them, mostly through watching shark week (that is where marine biologists get most of their data, i am sure), no one seems to know how many are left, despite valiant efforts to track them. the ocean - she is too large!
but it is pretty clear that they are struggling and their numbers are dwindling. and it is not getting a lot of press, because it is hard to make people give money to save the shark because this
makes a less adorable t-shirt than this:
although i love the chubby shark on the cover of this book. awwww
but people are afraid of sharks. and it's true, if a shark goes for your leg, it's gonna hurt, no lie. but the chances of that happening are pretty small. i hate the beach/ocean for a number of reasons (because it is a fish-toilet, because of the idea of swimwear on me and on others, because of pointy things and weird green slimy things and sand in my parts) but shark attacks are not really a worry for me. want some stats i learned from this book??
on average, more than forty times as many americans seek hospital treatment for accidents involving christmas tree ornaments than incidents involving sharks
look out!!
...652 people died in chair-related incidents in a single year compared with the 4 killed by sharks
dorks.
so don't be afraid of the sharks!! they mostly just hang out, looking for real food. we don't taste good - too bony. we require too much effort to eat. however, swimming with dogs increases your chances of getting shark-attacked, because of the erratic movements and rapid dog-heartbeats. it appears to the shark from afar that a fish is in distress. and when it gets close enough, it is too late.
i am giving a lot of practical advice here.
this book is good stuff - it talks about the dwindling fish situation, and what happens when the apex predators are removed from the equation (basically, jellyfish take over) and how it will affect humans. because it will. make no mistake.
and yet i have to admit - it made me crave fish - i am part of the problem, i know, because i want to make sure i get enough fried clams in me before the ocean runs out of all life and i am stuck eating jellyfish pie, like in America Pacifica, a book which did not make me hungry.
dunno.
i think sharks are fascinating, i loved this book, and i suggest you go watch some shark week and then read this book when the week is over and you go into shark-information-withdrawal.
come to my blog!
oh my god i just saw this on the teevee tonight, so i am adding it to the review and you should all watch this clip because it is hilarious! to me. also terrifying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9Fc-T...
SHARK WEEK SHARK WEEK SHARK WEEK!!
today is the start of shark week, so get ready. i have been ready for a week now. last week, i watched the best of shark week on demand, i watched jaws for the very first time, and i read this book. i also commanded my father to buy me some goldfish crackers so i could pretend to be a shark while i watch some shark week on the teevee.
no one is more ready than i am.
this book is great. it explores the shark's meaning across different cultures, but only pretty superficially, and more as a springboard to her real point, which is the rapidly decreasing number of sharks we have to play with. between mainland china's increasing prosperity and the higher demand for celebratory and status-proving shark's fin soup, which has led to fisherman "finning" the fish and tossing then rest of its body back into the sea,(and everyone agrees the fin adds nothing to the soup, it doesn't even really taste good, and is purely for status. can't you people just buy an escalade and be done with it?) and sporting tourism groups that allow regular folk to go out into the ocean and land themselves a giant hammerhead (seriously - what are you going to do with a hammerhead?? go pineapple picking instead)and of course the accidental capture/killing of sharks by tuna fishermen and the fences meant to keep sharks from getting too close to oceans where people swim.
but, man... it doesn't look good. sharks have been around since before dinosaurs and even though we know a lot about them, mostly through watching shark week (that is where marine biologists get most of their data, i am sure), no one seems to know how many are left, despite valiant efforts to track them. the ocean - she is too large!
but it is pretty clear that they are struggling and their numbers are dwindling. and it is not getting a lot of press, because it is hard to make people give money to save the shark because this
makes a less adorable t-shirt than this:
although i love the chubby shark on the cover of this book. awwww
but people are afraid of sharks. and it's true, if a shark goes for your leg, it's gonna hurt, no lie. but the chances of that happening are pretty small. i hate the beach/ocean for a number of reasons (because it is a fish-toilet, because of the idea of swimwear on me and on others, because of pointy things and weird green slimy things and sand in my parts) but shark attacks are not really a worry for me. want some stats i learned from this book??
on average, more than forty times as many americans seek hospital treatment for accidents involving christmas tree ornaments than incidents involving sharks
look out!!
...652 people died in chair-related incidents in a single year compared with the 4 killed by sharks
dorks.
so don't be afraid of the sharks!! they mostly just hang out, looking for real food. we don't taste good - too bony. we require too much effort to eat. however, swimming with dogs increases your chances of getting shark-attacked, because of the erratic movements and rapid dog-heartbeats. it appears to the shark from afar that a fish is in distress. and when it gets close enough, it is too late.
i am giving a lot of practical advice here.
this book is good stuff - it talks about the dwindling fish situation, and what happens when the apex predators are removed from the equation (basically, jellyfish take over) and how it will affect humans. because it will. make no mistake.
and yet i have to admit - it made me crave fish - i am part of the problem, i know, because i want to make sure i get enough fried clams in me before the ocean runs out of all life and i am stuck eating jellyfish pie, like in America Pacifica, a book which did not make me hungry.
dunno.
i think sharks are fascinating, i loved this book, and i suggest you go watch some shark week and then read this book when the week is over and you go into shark-information-withdrawal.
come to my blog!
June 7, 2012
Sharks are not the best ambassadors for their own survival. The original sea monsters of yore, they are not cute and cuddly, warm and fuzzy. And while they may be photogenic, it's not in an “Aww” kind of way. It's more akin to an “Aaah!" So while other animals imperiled by man's actions, such as the playful otter and friendly dolphin, the majestic whale and the placid turtle, endear themselves to humans and thus find themselves saved from utter destruction, it wasn't until recently that anyone started giving a damn about the horrible, deadly, sinister, man-eating shark and the fact that we've been killing them off indiscriminately since we discovered their existence a few hundred years ago. Many cultures, both today and in the past, might say the only good shark is a dead shark. Well, as some individuals and countries are coming to find out, that statement is the biggest piece of dumb-ass logic anyone has ever thought up.
We've so impacted the shark's environment, with our industries, our pollution, our fishing, that not only have several species of shark declined in population by anywhere from 90 to 99%, those sharks being caught today are smaller than their counterparts of even just a hundred years ago. Sharks do not rebound quickly; though some species give birth to large litters, many species take years to mature and only reproduce a limited number of times in their life--most of the time the litters they produce are small, with only one or two pups per birth. While we've begun to--finally--set aside protected waters, those areas cover only a fraction of the shark's territory and even then, some of the protections contain loopholes which still allow sharks to be fished. The truth is, we still know very little about these creatures, who've managed to stick around this planet for nearly 425 million years. That's 425 million years . These creatures, who've evolved into some of the most perfectly, if occasionally oddly, designed animals on the planet, have been around since before the dinosaurs and have even contributed to our own evolution (the bones of our inner ear, the way we swallow and talk due to muscles and cranial nerves which are the same as those which move a shark's gills), are still decried as man-eating monsters who deserve no pity. Yet these monsters are being systematically wiped out by us, humans, a predator more devastating, more mercenary, more cruel than any shark on this planet.
Juliet Eilperin's book is a well-researched investigation of the different ways in which we've poached, killed, decimated and otherwise pillaged the world's oceans of this apex predator, and the repercussions various governments and peoples have reaped as a result, in the form of depleted fish stocks, depressed economies, not to mention lost tribal traditions and vanishing cultural heritages. From the travails of Mark “the Shark” Quaratiano, who runs a fishing charter in Miami and complains that instead of sticking his hand in the water and pulling out a shark from the infested waters, he now has to work for several hours before he's able to catch a single shark for his macho-men, testosterone-boosting weenie clients (aww, poor baby), to the shark callers of Papua New Guinea, who are losing their faith-based tradition, which has sustained their native culture through colonization and Christian missionary proselytizing, due to the simple fact that the sharks of their islands have disappeared due to overfishing. Not the overfishing of prey fish, although that's played a part; no, overfishing of the sharks themselves. Which brings us to the most horrendous activity responsible for the decline of the shark: Finning. The practice of hauling a shark on board, slicing the pectoral and dorsal fins off the animal and tossing it, often while still alive, back in the water, to drown as it sinks to the ocean floor. Millions of sharks each year are killed in this manner, to supply one industry, shark's fin soup. And yet, as an ingredient, shark's fin adds nothing to the soup; it's a thin, noodle-like ribbon of cartilage which adds no flavor, only prestige to a dish which was once served only to a select few but now, with the rise of the Chinese middle class, is consumed at any and every occasion where such prestige is desired. Eilperin follows the trail of this world-wide trade, from the poor fishermen who are simply following the money even as they realize how the sharks have disappeared from their fishing grounds, to the secretive auction houses, where fins are sorted and sold with a minimum of words and a maximum of dollars and yen exchanged. The author details her travels around the world, to the different hotspots of shark fishing as well as shark protection and education, in a vivid, yet rational voice; her book is a clear-eyed dissection of our legacy towards the elasmobranch family (that's the shark, skate and ray family for those who are not selachophiles [shark lovers, a word I just made up]), backed up by sound scientific data and in-depth research. Part travelogue, part scientific journal, this book is a lively and fascinating look at how various cultures relate to this ocean predator, often in a surprising and (despite how I might've made it sound) sometimes positive way.
I've been a shark lover for as long as I can remember. It's been a love tempered by an equal measure of fear; because I know some sharks like shallow, murky water, growing up in Florida, I never went past my ankles (if I could help it) whenever we spent a day at the beach. I'd love to go cage diving in South Africa and see a great white up close; even though I know it creates a Pavlovian response, I'd still like to visit a shark feeding operation in Bimini, wear a mesh suit and sit in the middle of a feeding frenzy. Yet, when I was younger, I was scared of even swimming in the pool by myself, because of the fear of what might come up from the bottom of the deep end. (Yes, I realize I was swimming in a chlorinated pool and that there was no creature, of any sort, waiting in the deep end; psychological fears are hard to overcome, no matter what kind of logic you throw at them.) I still enjoy Jaws, even though I scream at the TV screen in frustration for the erroneous stereotype it puts forth; I've watched The Discovery Channel's annual Shark Week festival since it's inception, even though, as the years went on, I got bored with many of the programs as they didn't teach me anything I didn't already know. So, as you might've guessed, this book appealed to me at a basic level. However, if you've never given sharks a second thought; if you've seen Jaws and shuddered but never really desired to know any more about those creatures than what was portrayed in the movie; even if you think sharks are evil incarnate and deserve to be killed, I urge each and every one of you to pick up this book and read it. Sharks may not be endearing to the masses, but upon completing Demon Fish I dare you not to feel some sympathy and distress over how we've treated a creature who, quite frankly, is just trying to live on this planet, the same as us. The story of sharks is a story about us, in the long run, and how we choose to interact with the creatures who share our space.
We've so impacted the shark's environment, with our industries, our pollution, our fishing, that not only have several species of shark declined in population by anywhere from 90 to 99%, those sharks being caught today are smaller than their counterparts of even just a hundred years ago. Sharks do not rebound quickly; though some species give birth to large litters, many species take years to mature and only reproduce a limited number of times in their life--most of the time the litters they produce are small, with only one or two pups per birth. While we've begun to--finally--set aside protected waters, those areas cover only a fraction of the shark's territory and even then, some of the protections contain loopholes which still allow sharks to be fished. The truth is, we still know very little about these creatures, who've managed to stick around this planet for nearly 425 million years. That's 425 million years . These creatures, who've evolved into some of the most perfectly, if occasionally oddly, designed animals on the planet, have been around since before the dinosaurs and have even contributed to our own evolution (the bones of our inner ear, the way we swallow and talk due to muscles and cranial nerves which are the same as those which move a shark's gills), are still decried as man-eating monsters who deserve no pity. Yet these monsters are being systematically wiped out by us, humans, a predator more devastating, more mercenary, more cruel than any shark on this planet.
Juliet Eilperin's book is a well-researched investigation of the different ways in which we've poached, killed, decimated and otherwise pillaged the world's oceans of this apex predator, and the repercussions various governments and peoples have reaped as a result, in the form of depleted fish stocks, depressed economies, not to mention lost tribal traditions and vanishing cultural heritages. From the travails of Mark “the Shark” Quaratiano, who runs a fishing charter in Miami and complains that instead of sticking his hand in the water and pulling out a shark from the infested waters, he now has to work for several hours before he's able to catch a single shark for his macho-men, testosterone-boosting weenie clients (aww, poor baby), to the shark callers of Papua New Guinea, who are losing their faith-based tradition, which has sustained their native culture through colonization and Christian missionary proselytizing, due to the simple fact that the sharks of their islands have disappeared due to overfishing. Not the overfishing of prey fish, although that's played a part; no, overfishing of the sharks themselves. Which brings us to the most horrendous activity responsible for the decline of the shark: Finning. The practice of hauling a shark on board, slicing the pectoral and dorsal fins off the animal and tossing it, often while still alive, back in the water, to drown as it sinks to the ocean floor. Millions of sharks each year are killed in this manner, to supply one industry, shark's fin soup. And yet, as an ingredient, shark's fin adds nothing to the soup; it's a thin, noodle-like ribbon of cartilage which adds no flavor, only prestige to a dish which was once served only to a select few but now, with the rise of the Chinese middle class, is consumed at any and every occasion where such prestige is desired. Eilperin follows the trail of this world-wide trade, from the poor fishermen who are simply following the money even as they realize how the sharks have disappeared from their fishing grounds, to the secretive auction houses, where fins are sorted and sold with a minimum of words and a maximum of dollars and yen exchanged. The author details her travels around the world, to the different hotspots of shark fishing as well as shark protection and education, in a vivid, yet rational voice; her book is a clear-eyed dissection of our legacy towards the elasmobranch family (that's the shark, skate and ray family for those who are not selachophiles [shark lovers, a word I just made up]), backed up by sound scientific data and in-depth research. Part travelogue, part scientific journal, this book is a lively and fascinating look at how various cultures relate to this ocean predator, often in a surprising and (despite how I might've made it sound) sometimes positive way.
I've been a shark lover for as long as I can remember. It's been a love tempered by an equal measure of fear; because I know some sharks like shallow, murky water, growing up in Florida, I never went past my ankles (if I could help it) whenever we spent a day at the beach. I'd love to go cage diving in South Africa and see a great white up close; even though I know it creates a Pavlovian response, I'd still like to visit a shark feeding operation in Bimini, wear a mesh suit and sit in the middle of a feeding frenzy. Yet, when I was younger, I was scared of even swimming in the pool by myself, because of the fear of what might come up from the bottom of the deep end. (Yes, I realize I was swimming in a chlorinated pool and that there was no creature, of any sort, waiting in the deep end; psychological fears are hard to overcome, no matter what kind of logic you throw at them.) I still enjoy Jaws, even though I scream at the TV screen in frustration for the erroneous stereotype it puts forth; I've watched The Discovery Channel's annual Shark Week festival since it's inception, even though, as the years went on, I got bored with many of the programs as they didn't teach me anything I didn't already know. So, as you might've guessed, this book appealed to me at a basic level. However, if you've never given sharks a second thought; if you've seen Jaws and shuddered but never really desired to know any more about those creatures than what was portrayed in the movie; even if you think sharks are evil incarnate and deserve to be killed, I urge each and every one of you to pick up this book and read it. Sharks may not be endearing to the masses, but upon completing Demon Fish I dare you not to feel some sympathy and distress over how we've treated a creature who, quite frankly, is just trying to live on this planet, the same as us. The story of sharks is a story about us, in the long run, and how we choose to interact with the creatures who share our space.
June 9, 2011
To start off with, I've been a fan of sharks since well before "Jaws" was released back in the 1970s. I recall trolling new and used books stores for any book that had anything to do with sharks or the sea, but especially sharks. And that interest has never died for me, so I grabbed a copy of "Demon Fish" by Juliet Eilperin when I saw it.
This is not your typical book on the natural history of sharks. While most books on sharks will focus on one of a couple of things, i.e., the diversity and biology of sharks, or the risk to or from sharks, this book is a bit different.
Eilperin starts out on an atypical tack. Her first topic is historical, mythical, and spritiual connections between humans and sharks. She visits "Shark Callers" of Papua New Guinea, explores their mystical connection with sharks, and that status the being a "shark caller" brings to people who do this. She also looks into connections between sharks and people throughout the rest of the Indo-Pacific Region as well as in the Americas and other areas of the world. This section was particularly interesting to me since most of my background with sharks is in the areas of their biology, ecology, and environmental connections related to shark-finning and other examples of over-exploitation or sensationalism surrounding sharks.
The author then takes us with her as she learns about people's general perceptions of sharks, and, the culinary connections between us and them. She pays particular attention to the topic of shark finning and the shark fin trade that supplies the growing shark fin soup industry that has existed in Asia for years, but that has recently escalated since the newly more affluent Chinese person is buying into the general expecation that sahrk fin soup must be part of any respectable wedding celebration, as well as other celebrations to boot. This means that offering shark fin soup to your guests is more about tradition and saving face than it is about taste. Sheesh!
I was surprised to read that when the author and others looked into what shark fin soup actually is, they found that a bowl of shark fin soup qualifies if it has even a small stringly piece of shark fin in it, and that the shark fin ingredient is actually quite tasteless. It's all about keeping up with the Joneses, er, Changs, and not wanting to lose face. That's what's driving the whole shark finning industry. Of course some people and cultures use the meat from the body as well, but shark fins are what make the intenational and local shark fishing industries go round.
Later on in the book Eilperin provides a respectable introduction to conservation issues and challenges associated with today's global shark community, and provides a good explanation about why maintaining a high pressure shark fishery has led to declines in the stocks of many shark species so that they now have as little as 1% of the original popuation remaining, AND why fishng nations are so reluctant to engage in setting meaningful quotas, or setting useful protection limits for these important top predators.
Only a few shark species actually have widespread (international) protection - Whale Sharks, Basking Sharks, and White Sharks. You can read why these were highlighted in these protections.
All in all I found this book to be engaging, insightful, and useful.
The reason I awarded only 4 stars is that, at least for me, the beginning had a tendency to drag. But, overall the messages of the importance of these ecologically important animals is stated clearly.
4 strong stars - enjoy!
This is not your typical book on the natural history of sharks. While most books on sharks will focus on one of a couple of things, i.e., the diversity and biology of sharks, or the risk to or from sharks, this book is a bit different.
Eilperin starts out on an atypical tack. Her first topic is historical, mythical, and spritiual connections between humans and sharks. She visits "Shark Callers" of Papua New Guinea, explores their mystical connection with sharks, and that status the being a "shark caller" brings to people who do this. She also looks into connections between sharks and people throughout the rest of the Indo-Pacific Region as well as in the Americas and other areas of the world. This section was particularly interesting to me since most of my background with sharks is in the areas of their biology, ecology, and environmental connections related to shark-finning and other examples of over-exploitation or sensationalism surrounding sharks.
The author then takes us with her as she learns about people's general perceptions of sharks, and, the culinary connections between us and them. She pays particular attention to the topic of shark finning and the shark fin trade that supplies the growing shark fin soup industry that has existed in Asia for years, but that has recently escalated since the newly more affluent Chinese person is buying into the general expecation that sahrk fin soup must be part of any respectable wedding celebration, as well as other celebrations to boot. This means that offering shark fin soup to your guests is more about tradition and saving face than it is about taste. Sheesh!
I was surprised to read that when the author and others looked into what shark fin soup actually is, they found that a bowl of shark fin soup qualifies if it has even a small stringly piece of shark fin in it, and that the shark fin ingredient is actually quite tasteless. It's all about keeping up with the Joneses, er, Changs, and not wanting to lose face. That's what's driving the whole shark finning industry. Of course some people and cultures use the meat from the body as well, but shark fins are what make the intenational and local shark fishing industries go round.
Later on in the book Eilperin provides a respectable introduction to conservation issues and challenges associated with today's global shark community, and provides a good explanation about why maintaining a high pressure shark fishery has led to declines in the stocks of many shark species so that they now have as little as 1% of the original popuation remaining, AND why fishng nations are so reluctant to engage in setting meaningful quotas, or setting useful protection limits for these important top predators.
Only a few shark species actually have widespread (international) protection - Whale Sharks, Basking Sharks, and White Sharks. You can read why these were highlighted in these protections.
All in all I found this book to be engaging, insightful, and useful.
The reason I awarded only 4 stars is that, at least for me, the beginning had a tendency to drag. But, overall the messages of the importance of these ecologically important animals is stated clearly.
4 strong stars - enjoy!
July 21, 2011
I'm a total armchair marine biologist. I will eat up book after book about any aquatic creature. But this in particular caught my attention, because, well, SHARKS!
I had a lot of trouble with sticking with it, though. Part of the problem is being in a library every day, surrounded by lots of books I haven't read, that I would be allowed to just take home. As if I didn't have any other books to read. Part of it is just the writing and pacing -- it's no The Secret Life of Lobsters, that's for sure. But I'm glad I kept at it because man, did I learn a lot.
Like, please get me started about shark mating because I could go for hours. Specifically on how some female sharks actually get pregnant by several male sharks, but then their offspring duke it out in the womb, until one male's offspring eats all of the other males' offspring. IN THE WOMB.
My notes actually read "shark babies are monsters."
And I didn't know that Jaws was based on actual events that happened in New Jersey. Or that you shouldn't wear black or blue swimwear, because that makes you look like a seal pup. Or that you definitely shouldn't swim near dogs, whose paddling can easily be mistaken for a floundering fish. Or how hard it is to determine the particular type of shark you've caught through one means or another -- DNA testing or X-rays are usually used. And shark fin soup is total bullshit currently being used to emphasis the growing middle class in China. It doesn't add any nutritional value or taste to the soup and causes the price of fins to soar but then like fishermen just throw the rest of the carcass into the sea which is a total waste.
Seriously guys. I can go on for hours.
I don't think this book is instantly going to change our perception of sharks overnight, although it does point out that faulty toasters often cause more deaths per year than shark attack. But the bottom line is that we don't know fuck all about sharks, so if we keep killing them, not only is it terrible for the environment but we'll never get to answer all of those questions we have. And I have like, so many. Plus, I've totally added cage diving with great white sharks to my Mighty List.
I had a lot of trouble with sticking with it, though. Part of the problem is being in a library every day, surrounded by lots of books I haven't read, that I would be allowed to just take home. As if I didn't have any other books to read. Part of it is just the writing and pacing -- it's no The Secret Life of Lobsters, that's for sure. But I'm glad I kept at it because man, did I learn a lot.
Like, please get me started about shark mating because I could go for hours. Specifically on how some female sharks actually get pregnant by several male sharks, but then their offspring duke it out in the womb, until one male's offspring eats all of the other males' offspring. IN THE WOMB.
My notes actually read "shark babies are monsters."
And I didn't know that Jaws was based on actual events that happened in New Jersey. Or that you shouldn't wear black or blue swimwear, because that makes you look like a seal pup. Or that you definitely shouldn't swim near dogs, whose paddling can easily be mistaken for a floundering fish. Or how hard it is to determine the particular type of shark you've caught through one means or another -- DNA testing or X-rays are usually used. And shark fin soup is total bullshit currently being used to emphasis the growing middle class in China. It doesn't add any nutritional value or taste to the soup and causes the price of fins to soar but then like fishermen just throw the rest of the carcass into the sea which is a total waste.
Seriously guys. I can go on for hours.
I don't think this book is instantly going to change our perception of sharks overnight, although it does point out that faulty toasters often cause more deaths per year than shark attack. But the bottom line is that we don't know fuck all about sharks, so if we keep killing them, not only is it terrible for the environment but we'll never get to answer all of those questions we have. And I have like, so many. Plus, I've totally added cage diving with great white sharks to my Mighty List.
December 20, 2011
If you’re reading this, chances are you have some sort of fear of sharks . . . and maybe by discovering what Demon Fish is about, you will confront these fears, learn more about these incredible fish, and in turn come to respect them as the amazing creatures that they are. Well, if there was a book that could help you with that, Demon Fish is certainly it.
Juliet Eilperin works for the Washington Post. Her first book was on politics, Fight Club Politics: How Partisanship is Poisoning the House of Representatives, but in April of 2004 she covered the environment for the national desk, reporting on science, climate change, and the oceans. If there were a comprehensive biography of the ancient, long-lived fish known as the shark, Demon Fish would qualify. Eilperin begins with an introduction of her first meeting with these majestic yet powerful and terrifying creatures, and how she grew to appreciate them. She tells the story of the World-Famous Shark Callers found on the island of Papua New Guinea, who have been hunting these fish for centuries with a ritualistic method that involves calling the shark, then capturing it; once killed every part of the fish is used in some way. But Shark Calling is a dying art, especially when there are other companies that use more modern technology to deplete the nearby shark populations.
Eilperin’s chapter on “An Ancient Fish” presents a full history of the shark, starting long ago during the time of the dinosaurs when they were massive creatures feared by just about everything beneath the waves (and above no doubt), to the smaller but no less frightening versions of today. The shark is in fact one of the oldest, longest living creatures on the planet, and now has over four hundred species. Eilperin travels the world, visiting and working with different people who interact with sharks in different ways: whether it’s fishing for them, taking tourists out to see them and attempt to catch them, or tagging and conserving and protecting them however they can. She devotes a significant portion of the book to the shark fin industry, which is the biggest threat to this fish, as the restaurants of Asia (as well as many others around the world) continue to serve shark fin soup, even though it doesn’t taste of much – as Eilperin makes clear – but is a cultural expectation, not just in Asian restaurants but expected to be served at weddings as a sign of the bride’s family’s noble standing.
Demon Fish doesn’t attempt to convince or convert or proselytize on the threatened numbers and species of shark around the world; Eilperin just presents the facts and realities for what they are in many different places across the globe. It is clear that things are not fine with this ancient fish, and when the likes of Jaws and other similar stories continue to perpetuate this fear of a gravely misunderstood creature, Demon Fish does an excellent job of informing and educating, making one realize at the end that the shark is simply another one of the incredibly unique animals populating this planet and has just as much right to live and breed and exist as all the others do, including the many humans who fear it.
Originally written on September 23, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews and exclusive interviews, go to the BookBanter site.
Juliet Eilperin works for the Washington Post. Her first book was on politics, Fight Club Politics: How Partisanship is Poisoning the House of Representatives, but in April of 2004 she covered the environment for the national desk, reporting on science, climate change, and the oceans. If there were a comprehensive biography of the ancient, long-lived fish known as the shark, Demon Fish would qualify. Eilperin begins with an introduction of her first meeting with these majestic yet powerful and terrifying creatures, and how she grew to appreciate them. She tells the story of the World-Famous Shark Callers found on the island of Papua New Guinea, who have been hunting these fish for centuries with a ritualistic method that involves calling the shark, then capturing it; once killed every part of the fish is used in some way. But Shark Calling is a dying art, especially when there are other companies that use more modern technology to deplete the nearby shark populations.
Eilperin’s chapter on “An Ancient Fish” presents a full history of the shark, starting long ago during the time of the dinosaurs when they were massive creatures feared by just about everything beneath the waves (and above no doubt), to the smaller but no less frightening versions of today. The shark is in fact one of the oldest, longest living creatures on the planet, and now has over four hundred species. Eilperin travels the world, visiting and working with different people who interact with sharks in different ways: whether it’s fishing for them, taking tourists out to see them and attempt to catch them, or tagging and conserving and protecting them however they can. She devotes a significant portion of the book to the shark fin industry, which is the biggest threat to this fish, as the restaurants of Asia (as well as many others around the world) continue to serve shark fin soup, even though it doesn’t taste of much – as Eilperin makes clear – but is a cultural expectation, not just in Asian restaurants but expected to be served at weddings as a sign of the bride’s family’s noble standing.
Demon Fish doesn’t attempt to convince or convert or proselytize on the threatened numbers and species of shark around the world; Eilperin just presents the facts and realities for what they are in many different places across the globe. It is clear that things are not fine with this ancient fish, and when the likes of Jaws and other similar stories continue to perpetuate this fear of a gravely misunderstood creature, Demon Fish does an excellent job of informing and educating, making one realize at the end that the shark is simply another one of the incredibly unique animals populating this planet and has just as much right to live and breed and exist as all the others do, including the many humans who fear it.
Originally written on September 23, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews and exclusive interviews, go to the BookBanter site.
January 21, 2016
This book is not so much a natural history of sharks as it is a social history of human attitudes towards sharks, and it fills an important gap in writings about sharks and marine ecology. Juliet Eilperin writes with an easy style that doesn't become breezy or flippant and presents some bitter realities in a palatable way. Overall, the book has an optimistic tone, but Eilperin doesn't sugar coat or shy away from disconcerting truths.
When she presents portraits of people involved with sharks, either for their preservation or for the sale of their parts, Eilperin takes care not to paint with too broad of a brush. The subjects of her interviews each has a sympathetic quality that shows them to be individuals just doing the best they know how; the horror of the situation lies in the cumulative effect of seven billion well-intentioned humans.
The narrative of the book starts with ancient South Sea Island cultures' respect and worship of sharks and proceeds to follow an aspect of human/shark interaction throughout various cultures. We see the people involved in the shark fin trade, charter skippers for shark fishing outfits, activists, ecotourists, and so on and the effect that intense pressures have had on shark populations over the last twenty or thirty years. Eilperin ends the book on an upbeat note, giving some narrow room for guarded optimism.
Eilperin is at her weakest when discussing shark biology, but this is more annoying than misleading, given the cultural/social focus of the book. She seems to have her facts generally right, but there are some strange imprecise word choices that had me scratching my head. The instances of these aren't quite egregious and could have been due to edits subsequent to Eilperin's writing. At any rate, I knew what was meant each time one of these appeared and Eilperin had gained my trust as a reader enough that I could continue without seriously doubting her narration.
A must-read for shark nerds, but be prepared for the weak shark-biology sections.
When she presents portraits of people involved with sharks, either for their preservation or for the sale of their parts, Eilperin takes care not to paint with too broad of a brush. The subjects of her interviews each has a sympathetic quality that shows them to be individuals just doing the best they know how; the horror of the situation lies in the cumulative effect of seven billion well-intentioned humans.
The narrative of the book starts with ancient South Sea Island cultures' respect and worship of sharks and proceeds to follow an aspect of human/shark interaction throughout various cultures. We see the people involved in the shark fin trade, charter skippers for shark fishing outfits, activists, ecotourists, and so on and the effect that intense pressures have had on shark populations over the last twenty or thirty years. Eilperin ends the book on an upbeat note, giving some narrow room for guarded optimism.
Eilperin is at her weakest when discussing shark biology, but this is more annoying than misleading, given the cultural/social focus of the book. She seems to have her facts generally right, but there are some strange imprecise word choices that had me scratching my head. The instances of these aren't quite egregious and could have been due to edits subsequent to Eilperin's writing. At any rate, I knew what was meant each time one of these appeared and Eilperin had gained my trust as a reader enough that I could continue without seriously doubting her narration.
A must-read for shark nerds, but be prepared for the weak shark-biology sections.
July 9, 2011
Washington Post environmental reporter Juliet Eilperin, who in her dust jacket photo looks as exactly as "tote bag" as you expect her to, authored this book on sharks and people's adversarial relationship with them.
This book and I got off on the wrong foot. The first chapter, about shark callers in Papua, New Guinea, was so long, earnest, and dull, and the author seemed so uncertain as to how much to insert herself into the narrative, that I quickly lost interest. Although there are some interesting and frustrating facts in here (Sharks kill, on average, about 6 people a year; people kill millions of sharks yearly, many for the flavorless status symbol that is shark fin soup.), it read as a collection of shark-themed magazine articles rather than a cohesive whole.
If I had heard any one of these stories on NPR (if I still listened to NPR--Sirius subscriber), I would have come home from work and told my husband, "I heard a cool story about sharks on 'All Things Considered' today," but as a book, I wound up skimming through the whole thing. A disappointment to read, but if anyone picks it up expecting grisly shark attack tales and is instead energized into pro-shark activism, I guess it's worth it.
This book and I got off on the wrong foot. The first chapter, about shark callers in Papua, New Guinea, was so long, earnest, and dull, and the author seemed so uncertain as to how much to insert herself into the narrative, that I quickly lost interest. Although there are some interesting and frustrating facts in here (Sharks kill, on average, about 6 people a year; people kill millions of sharks yearly, many for the flavorless status symbol that is shark fin soup.), it read as a collection of shark-themed magazine articles rather than a cohesive whole.
If I had heard any one of these stories on NPR (if I still listened to NPR--Sirius subscriber), I would have come home from work and told my husband, "I heard a cool story about sharks on 'All Things Considered' today," but as a book, I wound up skimming through the whole thing. A disappointment to read, but if anyone picks it up expecting grisly shark attack tales and is instead energized into pro-shark activism, I guess it's worth it.
April 24, 2017
This book is not "Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks". It is more "Travels Through All the Ways Humans are Trying to Kill Off Sharks". I'm not sure why Eilperin wrote this book other than to maybe cash in on Shark Week hoopla. Whatever the reason, I wish she hadn't written it and I wish I hadn't read it. I kept reading hoping she'd get to something that didn't make me want to throw the book across the room but it never happened. Just killing sharks and more killing sharks.
August 29, 2020
Eilperin conducts a range of competent investigations that span the planet. She checks out shark callers in New Ireland, the shark-fin soup markets of Hong Kong, the science of tracking sharks with electronic sensors, the evolution of shark folklore, the impact of shark decimation on the globe's food chain, and the rise of shark tourism operations, such as Kim Maclean's Shark Lady Adventures for viewing South Africa's great whites. It's always good, detail-oriented journalism, the kind of thing that can make a real difference in public opinion.
July 30, 2011
In Juliet Eilperin’s Demon Fish, however, it’s us humans who come off the most evil, rather than the sharks who share the Devil’s name. Eilperin, a national environmental reporter for The Washington Post, traces humankind’s history with the prehistoric critters and comes off proving that, other than the occasional attack or two, these beasts are really on the side of the angels.
Okay, so I exaggerate — some. Sharks are actually more submerged deity than winged angel, at least so far as the few remaining primitive peoples are concerned. Unfortunately, the West’s obsession with scaring the be-Jesus out of itself (cite Jaws) and the East’s taste for shark fin soup have rendered our sacred ex-friends something best dealt with dead. A certain Miamian named Mark the Shark hasn’t helped much either. But as all reasonable folks know, sharks are neither something to be feared nor feasted upon (let alone hunted for sport); they’re an intricate part of our oceans, and without them the balance will be no more.
Taken from
Bound: South of Purgatory
Three Evil Ways to While Away an Evening
SunPost Weekly July 28, 2011 | John Hood
http://bit.ly/oJ4IGk
Okay, so I exaggerate — some. Sharks are actually more submerged deity than winged angel, at least so far as the few remaining primitive peoples are concerned. Unfortunately, the West’s obsession with scaring the be-Jesus out of itself (cite Jaws) and the East’s taste for shark fin soup have rendered our sacred ex-friends something best dealt with dead. A certain Miamian named Mark the Shark hasn’t helped much either. But as all reasonable folks know, sharks are neither something to be feared nor feasted upon (let alone hunted for sport); they’re an intricate part of our oceans, and without them the balance will be no more.
Taken from
Bound: South of Purgatory
Three Evil Ways to While Away an Evening
SunPost Weekly July 28, 2011 | John Hood
http://bit.ly/oJ4IGk
May 15, 2011
This is a book about what people think about sharks and what people do to (and with) sharks. It also has the feel of a layperson's travelogue into a variety of shark-related hotspots, seasoned with interview summaries and the occasional personal reflection. Juliet Eilperin abruptly shifts from discussing early mythological depictions of sharks, to the controversies of shark fin soup, ecotourism, food chain hierarchies, sport fishing, marine biology, and the legacy of Peter Benchley. The end result is a pretty decent little book about sharks; it's also a book that is extremely discursive and curiously low on passion. There are a lot of facts packed into the pages (although none that are so complex or complete that they disturb the lightness of the prose), as well as compelling anecdotes and a sense of peril that is de rigueur in modern environmental writing. Ultimately, this is a satisfying but often bloodless whirlwind tour of the relationship between people, sharks, and the biosphere that we all share.
September 30, 2019
This is less a book about sharks than it is Eilperin's travels talking with shark experts and the occasional fisherman. The parts dealing more directly with the sharks are the parts I liked best, such as sharks in world mythology, shark sex, and other topics. Many of the activists and/or scientists she speaks with come across as dull and even nauseatingly self-righteous. When they did not it made for decent reading but I wanted to read more about sharks than people. Perhaps this though is less Eilperin's fault and more the publisher for false marketing.
I strongly agree with the message of shark conservation, but not the approach she used. If anything, I felt more sympathy for the fishermen somehow. Lastly, this book came out right before Progressives took a shrill and moralistic tone. As such, Demon Fish is a relic of the old Progressive appeal to reason, fairness, and sympathy. Considering how ineffective that was, is there any wonder they changed course around 2014?
I strongly agree with the message of shark conservation, but not the approach she used. If anything, I felt more sympathy for the fishermen somehow. Lastly, this book came out right before Progressives took a shrill and moralistic tone. As such, Demon Fish is a relic of the old Progressive appeal to reason, fairness, and sympathy. Considering how ineffective that was, is there any wonder they changed course around 2014?
January 6, 2016
An incredibly well-researched and informative global adventure about sharks and their interactions with human beings. A great read for any shark lover!
December 23, 2021
Fairly interesting. All of the books I read about ocean creatures are basically, "These things will all be extinct in a hot minute for like 30 different reasons and no one is willing to do anything about it except Japan — who are devoting a significant fraction of their GDP to making it happen as fast as possible." Quite depressing, but as a sideline you learn a bunch of interesting facts about sharks! Ha ha.
August 16, 2020
Way ahead of its time and super interesting. Bluntly stated the dire position sharks are currently in, which translates on to land as well.
November 3, 2016
"Sharks cannot be anthropomorphised the way other creatures have been. They are vastly different from humans in how they behave and won't ever warm the hearts of the public the way penguins can." A kind understatement from Juliet Eilperin, who goes to great lengths to explore the history, anatomy and behaviours of a creature so perfectly adapted to its environment, it has remained largely unchanged in evolutionary terms for 100 million years (pre-dating the dinosaurs!).
When it comes to sharks, the golden age of scientific discovery has just begun she implores, and it's very difficult to disagree with her; she employs a scholarly, well-balanced approach to the topics she discusses (shark fin soup, Mark the Shark and the marine equivalent of trophy hunting, the impacts of commercial fishing, etc) avoiding the cardinal sin of bias in a largely science-oriented publication. Though there is a lot of name-dropping, it is evident page to page that Eilperin has gone to pain-staking lengths to prove the credibility of her writing, and it pays off. This is not, however, to the detriment of the emotional weight her words carry; most shark species have declined by 90% since the beginning of the 20th century due to a calculated "witch-hunt" by people motivated by assumptions largely based on myth and media sensationalism. A South African newspaper put it best: "Even though sharks are a minor cause of mortality for humans, this phenomenon receives an inordinate amount of media coverage and interest, probably due to humans' psychological abhorrence at being eaten alive."
Even their Etymology is against them: "shark" has various definitions, all of them with negative connotations and is very similar (possibly stemming from) the German word "schurke" which roughly translates to "worthless rogue". Who knew? In fewer words, it seems sharks have had an uphill battle since their discovery and the likes of "Jaws" certainly didn't help their case. This is exactly the premise that Eilperin dismantles in "Shark", though refuses to shy away from the shadier behaviours - I personally was unaware of, er, "embryonic cannabilism" (ovophagy) but I have to say it's a rather fascinating aspect of their reproductive cycle (most of which we know very little about).
The book concludes with a very clear message: the only predator that poses any plausible threat to the safety of humanity, is humanity. Sharks kill, on average, 4 people a year. In contrast, 700 deaths a year are attributed to 'chair-related' incidents - why aren't we afraid of chairs? Carbon concentrations in the atmosphere are increasing at 100 times their historic rate, warming the sea temperature. According to data, the basis of the marine food chain, Phytoplankton, has experienced a 40% decline in population since 1950 - a trophic cascade right to the top is looking very likely. The future of sharks is uncertain, and the same can be said for much marine life. Unless the polluting, exploitative fishing and, most importantly, attitudes, change - where will the species be in 20 years? Said best in the book.. "If you want to see the ocean at its most vulnerable, go where the people are."
When it comes to sharks, the golden age of scientific discovery has just begun she implores, and it's very difficult to disagree with her; she employs a scholarly, well-balanced approach to the topics she discusses (shark fin soup, Mark the Shark and the marine equivalent of trophy hunting, the impacts of commercial fishing, etc) avoiding the cardinal sin of bias in a largely science-oriented publication. Though there is a lot of name-dropping, it is evident page to page that Eilperin has gone to pain-staking lengths to prove the credibility of her writing, and it pays off. This is not, however, to the detriment of the emotional weight her words carry; most shark species have declined by 90% since the beginning of the 20th century due to a calculated "witch-hunt" by people motivated by assumptions largely based on myth and media sensationalism. A South African newspaper put it best: "Even though sharks are a minor cause of mortality for humans, this phenomenon receives an inordinate amount of media coverage and interest, probably due to humans' psychological abhorrence at being eaten alive."
Even their Etymology is against them: "shark" has various definitions, all of them with negative connotations and is very similar (possibly stemming from) the German word "schurke" which roughly translates to "worthless rogue". Who knew? In fewer words, it seems sharks have had an uphill battle since their discovery and the likes of "Jaws" certainly didn't help their case. This is exactly the premise that Eilperin dismantles in "Shark", though refuses to shy away from the shadier behaviours - I personally was unaware of, er, "embryonic cannabilism" (ovophagy) but I have to say it's a rather fascinating aspect of their reproductive cycle (most of which we know very little about).
The book concludes with a very clear message: the only predator that poses any plausible threat to the safety of humanity, is humanity. Sharks kill, on average, 4 people a year. In contrast, 700 deaths a year are attributed to 'chair-related' incidents - why aren't we afraid of chairs? Carbon concentrations in the atmosphere are increasing at 100 times their historic rate, warming the sea temperature. According to data, the basis of the marine food chain, Phytoplankton, has experienced a 40% decline in population since 1950 - a trophic cascade right to the top is looking very likely. The future of sharks is uncertain, and the same can be said for much marine life. Unless the polluting, exploitative fishing and, most importantly, attitudes, change - where will the species be in 20 years? Said best in the book.. "If you want to see the ocean at its most vulnerable, go where the people are."
June 12, 2011
I was drawn to this book by the subject matter, and the title, and the jacket art, which features a looming shark staring straight at the viewer from behind text that appears to be sliding out of gill slits.
The book itself falls into a category I have no name for, but that I describe as "stuff that makes me feel powerless." While there are some positive notes of potential recovery amid the warnings of shark extinctions, the frequent mention of China's obsession with the tasteless practice of "finning" sharks for a tasteless ingredient in soup made me mentally bid sharks--misunderstood in their terror and glory--a sad farewell.
Once more than a billion people decide they want something ...
Still, while reading this book, I simultaneously received an e-mail from the Monterey Bay Aquarium urging me to contact my elected leaders in California and ask them to vote for legislation that would ban the sale of shark fins in the state. I sent an e-mail of my own wording--the first time I've ever done such a thing. It's better than simply feeling powerless.
Juliet Eilperin is a talented writer and obviously thorough investigator and reporter. But while I wouldn't quite call her prose clinical, it doesn't have the richness I was hoping for in a book about the ocean's--maybe the world's--top predators. Tales of shark callers with stone statuettes should shine with an almost mystical glow--but that's my preference. Eilperin was not out to beatify sharks, nor romanticize the people who rely on them for traditional, cultural, or economic reasons. She simply visits various countries and continents in search of stories and experiences she puts on paper to educate her readers. It's a noble goal.
So while her passion lacks creative depth, it is evident, and her approach keeps the book from being moist-eyed and preachy despite its repetition of statistics and quotes from experts that point to a future without sharks. What little we know about the fish is still enough to indicate that their absence would transform our oceans in dire and drastically surprising ways.
I am convinced of sharks' importance, as well as the necessity of their preservation, but I was to begin with. Now if only Eilperin could convince a billion or so people not in the choir to read her book. Barring that, does anyone have the resources to mount an ad campaign in Beijing? Maybe large billboards and bus ads with movie stars saying in Mandarin: "Only men with embarrassingly small penises serve and eat shark fins."
The book itself falls into a category I have no name for, but that I describe as "stuff that makes me feel powerless." While there are some positive notes of potential recovery amid the warnings of shark extinctions, the frequent mention of China's obsession with the tasteless practice of "finning" sharks for a tasteless ingredient in soup made me mentally bid sharks--misunderstood in their terror and glory--a sad farewell.
Once more than a billion people decide they want something ...
Still, while reading this book, I simultaneously received an e-mail from the Monterey Bay Aquarium urging me to contact my elected leaders in California and ask them to vote for legislation that would ban the sale of shark fins in the state. I sent an e-mail of my own wording--the first time I've ever done such a thing. It's better than simply feeling powerless.
Juliet Eilperin is a talented writer and obviously thorough investigator and reporter. But while I wouldn't quite call her prose clinical, it doesn't have the richness I was hoping for in a book about the ocean's--maybe the world's--top predators. Tales of shark callers with stone statuettes should shine with an almost mystical glow--but that's my preference. Eilperin was not out to beatify sharks, nor romanticize the people who rely on them for traditional, cultural, or economic reasons. She simply visits various countries and continents in search of stories and experiences she puts on paper to educate her readers. It's a noble goal.
So while her passion lacks creative depth, it is evident, and her approach keeps the book from being moist-eyed and preachy despite its repetition of statistics and quotes from experts that point to a future without sharks. What little we know about the fish is still enough to indicate that their absence would transform our oceans in dire and drastically surprising ways.
I am convinced of sharks' importance, as well as the necessity of their preservation, but I was to begin with. Now if only Eilperin could convince a billion or so people not in the choir to read her book. Barring that, does anyone have the resources to mount an ad campaign in Beijing? Maybe large billboards and bus ads with movie stars saying in Mandarin: "Only men with embarrassingly small penises serve and eat shark fins."
August 4, 2011
“Demon Fish” by Juliet Eilperin, published by Pantheon Books.
Category – Animal/Nature
Most of us have a preconceived idea about sharks, this stems from the hit movie “Jaws” and the sensational articles that have been written about shark attacks. These two events, and there are others, have led to an unprecedented killing of sharks around the world.
Another major reason for the killing of sharks is the Asian desire for Shark’s Fin Soup. A soup, by the way, that most people find very bland and only palatable if other ingredients are added to it. The desire for this delicacy (not my words) has caused a overfishing for sharks for just the fins; most times the rest of the shark is just discarded. The desire for this soup and the decline of sharks has caused the price of shark fins to skyrocket.
The author brings out some little know facts concerning sharks. A study shows that only four or five people a year are killed due to a shark attack, that means that you would be more likely to die from lightning, a bee sting, or an elephant attack. It is also claimed that only 6% of the known shark species are known to attack humans. There are some areas that have been depleted, or becoming dangerously close to being depleted, of shark population that the ecosystem has been seriously threatened. The Mediterranean Sea is now devoid of sharks and it is believed that it will never be a habitat for sharks again. This is a sea that at one time was teeming in shark population.
Probably the most disturbing fact brought out regarding the decline in sharks is that they were able to keep other species in control. There are some areas where seals and other animals that were once food for sharks are increasing in numbers and upsetting the natural order of things.
There is an outstanding chapter that is devoted to the whale shark that gives rise to some hope for the future. It seems that instead of killing off this species, or any species for that matter, a better approach would be to cultivate tourism by running excursions to view these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.
A very well put together book that explores the world of sharks and man. The author details not only how we got to where we are today in this crisis but how we may find our way out of it.
Category – Animal/Nature
Most of us have a preconceived idea about sharks, this stems from the hit movie “Jaws” and the sensational articles that have been written about shark attacks. These two events, and there are others, have led to an unprecedented killing of sharks around the world.
Another major reason for the killing of sharks is the Asian desire for Shark’s Fin Soup. A soup, by the way, that most people find very bland and only palatable if other ingredients are added to it. The desire for this delicacy (not my words) has caused a overfishing for sharks for just the fins; most times the rest of the shark is just discarded. The desire for this soup and the decline of sharks has caused the price of shark fins to skyrocket.
The author brings out some little know facts concerning sharks. A study shows that only four or five people a year are killed due to a shark attack, that means that you would be more likely to die from lightning, a bee sting, or an elephant attack. It is also claimed that only 6% of the known shark species are known to attack humans. There are some areas that have been depleted, or becoming dangerously close to being depleted, of shark population that the ecosystem has been seriously threatened. The Mediterranean Sea is now devoid of sharks and it is believed that it will never be a habitat for sharks again. This is a sea that at one time was teeming in shark population.
Probably the most disturbing fact brought out regarding the decline in sharks is that they were able to keep other species in control. There are some areas where seals and other animals that were once food for sharks are increasing in numbers and upsetting the natural order of things.
There is an outstanding chapter that is devoted to the whale shark that gives rise to some hope for the future. It seems that instead of killing off this species, or any species for that matter, a better approach would be to cultivate tourism by running excursions to view these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.
A very well put together book that explores the world of sharks and man. The author details not only how we got to where we are today in this crisis but how we may find our way out of it.
March 18, 2015
Did you realize that the great culinary delicacy for which millions of sharks are killed each year, shark fin soup, only contains one tiny, tasteless strand from the shark's fin? I didn't until I read this book.
I expected the book to be more about the natural history of sharks-- their biology, behavior, habits, migration pattern, etc. Instead, it was a book about the relationship between sharks and humans. Author Juliet Eilperin travels worldwide, from Papua New Guinea to the fish markets of Hong Kong to Cape Town South Africa to tell her story.
I quickly got over my disappointment about the book being different than I expected as I became wrapped up in the story. Some of the people Ealperin meets realize the devastation that the fishing industry has on the population of sharks and are changing their practices accordingly. Others recognize the damage and realize that something has to be done, but they don't feel they can give up the way they have made their livelihood for thousands of years. And then there are those who out and out refuse to recognize the problem and persist in carrying on just as they are doing.
There are moments of humor, such as when Eilperin manages to elicit a pro-shark statement from John McCain when she is covering his presidential campaign. And there are moments of hope as governments, naturalist and non-profits work together with locals to try to save shark populations while at the same time finding a way to help the locals earn a living.
And there are enough details about the biology of sharks to satisfy those who want to know what makes them tick. The description of the shark's mating practices, for instance, was very interesting.
This is a good book for anyone who is concerned about the preservation of the earth's resources and for anyone who is a fan of sharks. It s very well written!
I expected the book to be more about the natural history of sharks-- their biology, behavior, habits, migration pattern, etc. Instead, it was a book about the relationship between sharks and humans. Author Juliet Eilperin travels worldwide, from Papua New Guinea to the fish markets of Hong Kong to Cape Town South Africa to tell her story.
I quickly got over my disappointment about the book being different than I expected as I became wrapped up in the story. Some of the people Ealperin meets realize the devastation that the fishing industry has on the population of sharks and are changing their practices accordingly. Others recognize the damage and realize that something has to be done, but they don't feel they can give up the way they have made their livelihood for thousands of years. And then there are those who out and out refuse to recognize the problem and persist in carrying on just as they are doing.
There are moments of humor, such as when Eilperin manages to elicit a pro-shark statement from John McCain when she is covering his presidential campaign. And there are moments of hope as governments, naturalist and non-profits work together with locals to try to save shark populations while at the same time finding a way to help the locals earn a living.
And there are enough details about the biology of sharks to satisfy those who want to know what makes them tick. The description of the shark's mating practices, for instance, was very interesting.
This is a good book for anyone who is concerned about the preservation of the earth's resources and for anyone who is a fan of sharks. It s very well written!
November 1, 2011
This had a slow start for me, and then it picked up. It bogged down again at one point about halfway through (political stuff) and if I hadn't been determined to finish it THIS WEEK (because I've been reading it since JUNE) I probably would have set it aside again.
There was a lot that was really interesting about sharks in this book that I did not know previously, and I feel I learned a lot. I didn't care so much for the overwhelming amount of text devoted to the political and activism sides of Saving Sharks. Not because I don't appreciate their efforts, but because that's just not interesting reading for me.
For more concision, I would have given it 4 stars.
There was a lot that was really interesting about sharks in this book that I did not know previously, and I feel I learned a lot. I didn't care so much for the overwhelming amount of text devoted to the political and activism sides of Saving Sharks. Not because I don't appreciate their efforts, but because that's just not interesting reading for me.
For more concision, I would have given it 4 stars.
February 7, 2012
As a die-hard "shark fan" I have to say that I was a little disappointed with this book. A lot of the facts continue to be a regurgitation of the same information that has been published through Shark Week. And despite many references about how "everything we know now about sharks is so different" there wasn't really enough evidential support of this rather broad statement. That being said, if you missed Shark Week the last few years, and you can't wait until August, then definitely pick this book up! The narrative is fairly entertaining, and historical and current information is nicely woven together to give a pretty thorough picture of the relationship between humanity and sharks.
July 31, 2011
I liked reading about different shark myths across cultures, as well as DNA origins, but this book didn't teach me much about sharks themselves. While I appreciate the conservation approach, I think Peter Benchley's SHARK TROUBLE does a better job explaining the importance of sharks to different ecosystems.
February 24, 2023
A wonderful overview of our often complicated history with Sharks. Many themes are woven together and current (well, currrnt at the time) issues in Elasmobranch conservation are discussed. Great for the layman.
February 22, 2023
Shark Week- made introspective and intellectual!
So, I listened to the audio book version of this, and there are portions that are just kind of dull, and long winded, but as if to make up for it, the last few chapters are some of the more engaging and interesting ones. The last couple of chapters made me forget the ongoing saga of Shark fin soup…
The author, who normally writes for the Washington Post at that time, creates a history of human interaction and reaction to sharks through “ the ages”. She writes in a very easy to absorb style, and is more a matter of fact describer of situations than an ardent advocate for sharks.
Overall, I enjoyed this book- it’s a solid read for people who have an interest in sharks, for those that don’t- I’m not sure why they might pick up the book! It gives just the right amount of information and the author also references several other sources - one of which I’ve already borrowed from the library.
I’m not giving it more stars because I just didn’t love it enough to run out an insist everyone read it, I didn’t even really feel like telling many people what I was reading while reading it. So, if you are interested in sharks, and the environment this is an enjoyable read, but not likely one that will change your entire world view. Beautiful color and, in general thoughtful writing addressing the challenges facing sharks in ur waters today and how we came to create such challenges.
So, I listened to the audio book version of this, and there are portions that are just kind of dull, and long winded, but as if to make up for it, the last few chapters are some of the more engaging and interesting ones. The last couple of chapters made me forget the ongoing saga of Shark fin soup…
The author, who normally writes for the Washington Post at that time, creates a history of human interaction and reaction to sharks through “ the ages”. She writes in a very easy to absorb style, and is more a matter of fact describer of situations than an ardent advocate for sharks.
Overall, I enjoyed this book- it’s a solid read for people who have an interest in sharks, for those that don’t- I’m not sure why they might pick up the book! It gives just the right amount of information and the author also references several other sources - one of which I’ve already borrowed from the library.
I’m not giving it more stars because I just didn’t love it enough to run out an insist everyone read it, I didn’t even really feel like telling many people what I was reading while reading it. So, if you are interested in sharks, and the environment this is an enjoyable read, but not likely one that will change your entire world view. Beautiful color and, in general thoughtful writing addressing the challenges facing sharks in ur waters today and how we came to create such challenges.
September 3, 2013
Demon Fish or Demon Man?
This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine program which included a free advance copy of the book.
Are sharks nothing but ruthless killers that deserve to be killed solely because the media machine is focused more on sensationalizing news and perpetuating basic fears than reporting simple truths? Has the blockbuster film "Jaws" created an unnecessary hysteria of hatred toward all sharks? Is man's craving for a particular delicacy reached a point where we are systematically exterminating the species for the dubious value of their fins alone? Juliet Eilperin thinks sharks have an unfair rap sheet and in her book DEMON FISH, she argues that unnecessary fear and commercial greed have led to the wanton killing of a species that, in reality, is not as evil as we think. While I liked the premise for Eilperin's book and found much of the book to be fascinating, I also felt it lacked continuity and at times, had too much political flavor.
Eilperin begins her book by informing the reader of an innocent and simple ritual practiced by a New Guinea tribe called "shark calling". "Shark calling" is a ceremonial event where a designated male in the tribe canoes into the ocean to lure a shark that will be sacrificed (by having its eyes jabbed and beaten to death with a ceremonial stick) to eventually provide food for the shark caller's village. The innocence in this ritual is that it is a tribal custom and it involves the individual killing of shark that results in feeding people. Eilperin then indicates that "shark calling" is losing its luster today as the western world has infiltrated the culture, bringing the lucrative practice of commercial fishing and along with it, greed. The huge hauls accumulated by commercial fishing have made it more and more difficult for the shark caller to find a single shark. With this chapter, the tone of the book is set, by contrasting what appears to be the author's opinion on how sharks should be treated (with reverence) versus how she feels they actually are being treated (commercially over-fished, fodder).
The second chapter of the book provided an excellent and profoundly interesting overview of the shark species' vast history ... including some of the more infamous shark attacks (including the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks and the sinking of the USS Indianapolis toward the end of World War II). I found this chapter intriguing because it also reflected the negative effect the movie "Jaws" had on sharks, as well as the media's tendency to create hysteria just for the sake of doing it (like in 2001, when several shark attacks propelled Time magazine to declare it "the Summer of the Shark"). While I preferred this chapter over all others, I found it interesting that the author selectively included commentary from only shark attack victims' that had no ill will toward the fish that almost killed them. Even "Jaws" author Peter Benchley is noted to have taken a sympathetic and defensive position on sharks following the universal hatred aimed toward the fish following the release of his bestseller book and the subsequent blockbuster movie. Actually, by the end of the chapter it is hard not to have a sympathetic view toward a fish killed strictly out of fear and while the author takes great steps to support this belief, I was left wondering if I was getting the complete perspective. I am virtually sure not all shark attack survivors are likely to be so empathetic toward their attackers, but we don't get to hear their side of the story.
The remaining chapters focus on a hodge-podge of topics that generally evolve around the tenuous coexistence between man and sharks, a world where sharks are sharks and man is sometimes good and sometimes evil (the shark caller might be considered "good" and the commercial fisherman might be "evil"). I had mixed feelings on these chapters in that I agreed with the author's viewpoints on several instances, such as the killing of sharks for the utterly stupid "delicacy" called shark-fin soup and the ignorant fear-induced violence exhibited toward the more docile types of sharks. But I wasn't sold on the author's claim that the overfishing and needless killing of sharks for whatever reason (fins, food, fear, etc.) was leading to their extinction. The reason for my skepticism is that early in the book, the author states that 90% of the ocean is unexplored. I find it difficult to support the belief that what man has done with 10% of the ocean's creatures accurately represent the remaining 90%, but the book tells us the shark population is dwindling and cites shark-finning and overfishing as likely culprits. Maybe their seeking refuge in the 90% of the ocean we haven't explored ... just a thought. The general theme of these subsequent chapters is dedicated to contrasting those trying to understand/save the sharks with those who hunt sharks for money or sport. I found some of the scientific research presented in these chapters quite fascinating. In particular, Eilperin discusses the findings of shark behavior associated with mating/reproduction which I found to be very educating. Additionally, there is substantial information provided on the Whale shark, the world's largest creature that, despite its size, is apparently rather difficult to track down and study.
While I believe DEMON FISH was an interesting read, I wasn't sold on the author's argument that all sharks are demonized and being killed to the point of becoming extinct. As an environmental activist, the author is effective with conveying her passion for sharks and their place on the planet and I wholeheartedly agree that sharks, in general, have been unjustly maligned over the years, for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, there was a little too much activism and not enough general information to educate the reader with a more balanced approach to her argument. While I liked much of the book's content, in the end, I felt it was less about traveling the hidden world of sharks than it was about exposing the dirty deeds of mankind.
This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine program which included a free advance copy of the book.
Are sharks nothing but ruthless killers that deserve to be killed solely because the media machine is focused more on sensationalizing news and perpetuating basic fears than reporting simple truths? Has the blockbuster film "Jaws" created an unnecessary hysteria of hatred toward all sharks? Is man's craving for a particular delicacy reached a point where we are systematically exterminating the species for the dubious value of their fins alone? Juliet Eilperin thinks sharks have an unfair rap sheet and in her book DEMON FISH, she argues that unnecessary fear and commercial greed have led to the wanton killing of a species that, in reality, is not as evil as we think. While I liked the premise for Eilperin's book and found much of the book to be fascinating, I also felt it lacked continuity and at times, had too much political flavor.
Eilperin begins her book by informing the reader of an innocent and simple ritual practiced by a New Guinea tribe called "shark calling". "Shark calling" is a ceremonial event where a designated male in the tribe canoes into the ocean to lure a shark that will be sacrificed (by having its eyes jabbed and beaten to death with a ceremonial stick) to eventually provide food for the shark caller's village. The innocence in this ritual is that it is a tribal custom and it involves the individual killing of shark that results in feeding people. Eilperin then indicates that "shark calling" is losing its luster today as the western world has infiltrated the culture, bringing the lucrative practice of commercial fishing and along with it, greed. The huge hauls accumulated by commercial fishing have made it more and more difficult for the shark caller to find a single shark. With this chapter, the tone of the book is set, by contrasting what appears to be the author's opinion on how sharks should be treated (with reverence) versus how she feels they actually are being treated (commercially over-fished, fodder).
The second chapter of the book provided an excellent and profoundly interesting overview of the shark species' vast history ... including some of the more infamous shark attacks (including the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks and the sinking of the USS Indianapolis toward the end of World War II). I found this chapter intriguing because it also reflected the negative effect the movie "Jaws" had on sharks, as well as the media's tendency to create hysteria just for the sake of doing it (like in 2001, when several shark attacks propelled Time magazine to declare it "the Summer of the Shark"). While I preferred this chapter over all others, I found it interesting that the author selectively included commentary from only shark attack victims' that had no ill will toward the fish that almost killed them. Even "Jaws" author Peter Benchley is noted to have taken a sympathetic and defensive position on sharks following the universal hatred aimed toward the fish following the release of his bestseller book and the subsequent blockbuster movie. Actually, by the end of the chapter it is hard not to have a sympathetic view toward a fish killed strictly out of fear and while the author takes great steps to support this belief, I was left wondering if I was getting the complete perspective. I am virtually sure not all shark attack survivors are likely to be so empathetic toward their attackers, but we don't get to hear their side of the story.
The remaining chapters focus on a hodge-podge of topics that generally evolve around the tenuous coexistence between man and sharks, a world where sharks are sharks and man is sometimes good and sometimes evil (the shark caller might be considered "good" and the commercial fisherman might be "evil"). I had mixed feelings on these chapters in that I agreed with the author's viewpoints on several instances, such as the killing of sharks for the utterly stupid "delicacy" called shark-fin soup and the ignorant fear-induced violence exhibited toward the more docile types of sharks. But I wasn't sold on the author's claim that the overfishing and needless killing of sharks for whatever reason (fins, food, fear, etc.) was leading to their extinction. The reason for my skepticism is that early in the book, the author states that 90% of the ocean is unexplored. I find it difficult to support the belief that what man has done with 10% of the ocean's creatures accurately represent the remaining 90%, but the book tells us the shark population is dwindling and cites shark-finning and overfishing as likely culprits. Maybe their seeking refuge in the 90% of the ocean we haven't explored ... just a thought. The general theme of these subsequent chapters is dedicated to contrasting those trying to understand/save the sharks with those who hunt sharks for money or sport. I found some of the scientific research presented in these chapters quite fascinating. In particular, Eilperin discusses the findings of shark behavior associated with mating/reproduction which I found to be very educating. Additionally, there is substantial information provided on the Whale shark, the world's largest creature that, despite its size, is apparently rather difficult to track down and study.
While I believe DEMON FISH was an interesting read, I wasn't sold on the author's argument that all sharks are demonized and being killed to the point of becoming extinct. As an environmental activist, the author is effective with conveying her passion for sharks and their place on the planet and I wholeheartedly agree that sharks, in general, have been unjustly maligned over the years, for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, there was a little too much activism and not enough general information to educate the reader with a more balanced approach to her argument. While I liked much of the book's content, in the end, I felt it was less about traveling the hidden world of sharks than it was about exposing the dirty deeds of mankind.
November 21, 2022
(Audiobook) A good account of human interactions with sharks. The shark is perhaps the most villainous fish humans have encountered, but there is so much we don’t know about the fish, and attitudes continue to evolve. The author takes the reader on a global tour, noting how South Pacific Islanders have interacted with sharks for centuries, to tourist trades that make their money either through fishing the shark or allowing people to swim with them. There are significant environmental vs. economic arguments here, and it is especially telling that the most overrated type of food out there is shark fin soup. A good read regardless of format.
August 11, 2023
This is definitely not a casual read about sharks. It had so much information about shark biology, sharks relationship to humans, marine conservation and so much research and recommendations for further reading. I picked at this book for a number of months due to it's heavy nature (both heavy in information and in mood, many of the segments on conservation are very upsetting).
While there is a lot of information in this book, naturally the author can only spend so time on certain species or topics, fortunately the bibliography is really good and you can take yourself on tangents.
While there is a lot of information in this book, naturally the author can only spend so time on certain species or topics, fortunately the bibliography is really good and you can take yourself on tangents.
September 30, 2021
I started and stopped this book half a dozen times. The transitions are confusing. There are way more characters than there need to be. And it’s just really slow reading. Hits you over the head with the fact that sharks are in danger. I really wanted to like this book, and I did learn a few things but this should’ve been a feature story and not a book.
chose-not-to-finish
August 2, 2023I was 5% in when this quote finished my reading experience:
"... [missionaries] are still ubiquitous in even the most isolated of Papua New Guinean villages. They often provide basic services, including schooling. And in exchange, they demand fealty to a Christian God."
I just wanted to have a good time reading about sharks.
"... [missionaries] are still ubiquitous in even the most isolated of Papua New Guinean villages. They often provide basic services, including schooling. And in exchange, they demand fealty to a Christian God."
I just wanted to have a good time reading about sharks.
October 6, 2023
This was all right. I do wish there were more about sharks themselves. There was so much more about the human threat to sharks than about shark evolution, behavior, anatomy, etc, but maybe that's my fault for forming an expectation, since I assumed based on the title that it would be primarily about sharks. While conservation discussion is absolutely important, it was 85% of the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews