Mammoth Book of Shark Attacks, The

by Alex MacCormick

The biggest-ever selection of first-hand accounts and news reports of shark attacks, both recent and historical, shows how sharks are masters of the ocean and how we enter their domain at our own risk. Think you're safe in the Med? Read about the Great Whites that thrive near holiday beaches. Think you're safe in large groups? Read about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in 1945 when hundreds of sailors floated for days in shark-infested waters, being picked off one-by-one. Think you're safe at home? Read about the 69-year-old man, taking his regular evening swim, jumping off his backyard dock straight into the mouth of a bull shark. Many more extraordinary and gruesome accounts, including the shark-boat skipper who slit open the belly of a 360-kg tiger shark only to have a human head, pelvis, and arm come tumbling out, provide horrific and moving tales of shark encounters. The courage of survivors and those who have risked their lives to save shark attack victims is truly inspirational. Where can you find sharks? Features on different shark species with illustrations, fact boxes and maps show where they lurk around the world. Also included are a selection of full-colour photographs and special sections on the life cycle of a shark, how to avoid a shark attack and how to survive one.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals

513 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 7, 2013

Reviews

[chucklesthescot · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have two earlier volumes of this book by the author, each volume expanding on what appears in the previous one. This book has finally become sensible enough to actually put the reports on the shark attacks into an order by date, making it so much easier to go straight to the new material that has been added for this edition. It also looks neater having all the attacks for each decade in a chapter, with year by year sub headings for the attacks listed. It sounds a bit twisted of me to say that I enjoyed the book-it is after all, a book filled with attacks and mutilations-but my fascination for sharks has been there since I was first scared by Jaws as a kid and I have a morbid interest in shark attack stories. I will look forward to getting any future volumes of this book in the future.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is exactly what it claims to be. A large collection of attacks in order by decades. The location, the date, what happened, repeat. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that a large portion is 1990s and after. Being a native Floridian. Surfer. Fisherman. Kayaker. I kept up on shark attacks. So I was already familiar with quite a few of these more recent attacks. Older attacks I had not heard of would have been more interesting to me. One thing you should know, if JAWS scared you, this book won't help. It may make some people avoid the ocean for good. There's a lot of terrible ways to die, but it's hard to think of something worse than being eaten alive by a monster fish. If you choose to enter their environment, you may not be asking for it, but you're putting yourself in that possibility. Don't blame the fish for doing what the fish does. If'n you like reading about our tortured natural world getting a little payback, this book will do you right.

PS: The line used to tie a surfboard to a surfer is called a LEASH. Not a "leg rope".

[Steve Parcell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a truly fascinating book about one of my favourite animals and the dangers it poses to humans, albeit still very rare.

If Jaws doesnt put you off swimming in the sea I guarantee this will. The book gives vivid and sometimes gruesome details of shark attacks from the 1600s onwards.

It also gives details of each type of shark and its habitat. Plus its danger to man and also whether or not it is in danger of extinction.

Well set out and well written, it is a fascinating and sometimes horrifying read.

[jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I chose 5stars because I truly enjoyed reading this book. I enjoy books with small stories in it. As well this book is full of useful information and could actually help people to earn a respect for these creatures. Although these are stories that are graphic and a lot sad I like that the majority of attack victims don't blame the sharks. We as the human race have to understand that we are entering their world when we step into the ocean. The majority of attacks are simply a case of mistaken identity. But by reading this book you can learn to understand what to and what not to do when you see a shark or have the unfortunate event of being attacked. I consider this a must read.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent read it has data on various attacks over the years up to 2013.It's informative and reminds us each time we step into the water that its their world not ours and we should respect that.