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Shark Attacks: Myths, Misunderstandings and Human Fear
Humans spend more time in or on the water than ever before. We love the beach. But for many people, getting in the water provokes a moment’s hesitation. Shark attacks are big news events and although the risk of shark attack on humans is incredibly low, the fact remains that human lives are lost to sharks every year.
Shark Attacks explores the tension between risk to humans and the need to conserve sharks and protect the important ecological roles they play in our marine environments. Marine biologist Blake Chapman presents scientific information about shark biology, movement patterns and feeding behaviour. She discusses the role of fear in the way we think about sharks and the influence of the media on public perceptions. Moving first-hand accounts describe the deep and polarising psychological impacts of shark attacks from a range of perspectives.
This book is an education in thinking through these emotive events and will help readers to navigate the controversial issues around mitigating shark attacks while conserving the sharks themselves.
Shark Attacks explores the tension between risk to humans and the need to conserve sharks and protect the important ecological roles they play in our marine environments. Marine biologist Blake Chapman presents scientific information about shark biology, movement patterns and feeding behaviour. She discusses the role of fear in the way we think about sharks and the influence of the media on public perceptions. Moving first-hand accounts describe the deep and polarising psychological impacts of shark attacks from a range of perspectives.
This book is an education in thinking through these emotive events and will help readers to navigate the controversial issues around mitigating shark attacks while conserving the sharks themselves.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2017
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77 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 18, 2025
One of the better non-fiction shark books I have read. For a while, I was even saying to myself that it was the very best, because despite its academic style of writing, it threw in with the established facts any shark enthusiast already knows about, a bunch of fascinating discoveries, observations and insights regarding shark physiology, behaviour and hunting techniques that I hadn't known before.
Also, at the risk of sounding like a vulture for the grim and grotesque, I just loved the detailed recount given of a shark survivor's ordeal with the fish, retold with such vividness. I was put under the false impression that these would continue - which, it's fair to say, the title of the book does not discourage. But for the most part, these regular insets usually were just extended quotes from certain people either speaking for their government's policies, or their activism strategies.
I would have liked much more of the shark attack stories - first-hand recounts, which means I'm not saying I needed them to be ones that resulted in the victim's death - and less of those mentioned above. I also didn't care nearly as much for the many pages devoted to shark mitigation practices and policies. It's all important, of course, but it wasn't what I came here for. Similar (if very different) to how one always has to push through all the delicate "not all terrorists" stuff if they want to read a book about Islam targeted at non-Muslims. "I know, I get it - let's just get on to the real stuff".
But here I am sounding negative and bitchy. The book was a wonderful experience - informative, balanced, recent-research-based, and an optimistic nudge in the right direction concerning the discourse over these vital, fascinating creatures and our need to peacefully coexist with them*.
* Of course, I don't meant to suggest that it would be some meet-each-other halfway kind of thing. We're the ones who have to do the heavy lifting. I don't buy that nonsense about mistaken identity - that sharks think we're seals or turtles and might well never take a bite out of our bottom half if only they realised - yet I adore the creatures, with the healthy, fearful respect they demand. The best mitigation is learning to avoid those situations where we are more likely to encounter one and have what this book diplomatically calls a "negative experience". Unfortunately, there will always be times when our sharing the waters with them will result in their natural, predatory instincts kicking in, and some poor soul losing their life in a way that will never not seem terribly, if fascinatingly, primal and gruesome. I try not to think about the footage of Vladimir Popov crying for his papa as a tiger shark thrashes him around, the boys death screams becoming more warped and strange as the bottom of his face is bitten off. Nor Simon Nellis's limbless torso bobbing naked in the water as shocked fisherman stand by on the rocks. These, and many others, are too haunting, and I cannot imagine a more terrifying way to meet your end. But it is their domain, and contrarty to any jackass who says we have it coming just by daring to enter the water, I like to think most people understand that it's a risk they're willing to take. In the unlikely but possible consequence of an attack, it is a horrible tragedy, but it does mean the shark itself has done anything nature does not intend for it do.
All of this must sound incredibly condescending because as far as I see it, this is the overwhelming position most thinking people. But I purposely try to avoid the online comment sections whenever something of the sort occurs, because you're always going to be reminded just how sick and mean and stupid many people are - so I wouldn't know.
Also, at the risk of sounding like a vulture for the grim and grotesque, I just loved the detailed recount given of a shark survivor's ordeal with the fish, retold with such vividness. I was put under the false impression that these would continue - which, it's fair to say, the title of the book does not discourage. But for the most part, these regular insets usually were just extended quotes from certain people either speaking for their government's policies, or their activism strategies.
I would have liked much more of the shark attack stories - first-hand recounts, which means I'm not saying I needed them to be ones that resulted in the victim's death - and less of those mentioned above. I also didn't care nearly as much for the many pages devoted to shark mitigation practices and policies. It's all important, of course, but it wasn't what I came here for. Similar (if very different) to how one always has to push through all the delicate "not all terrorists" stuff if they want to read a book about Islam targeted at non-Muslims. "I know, I get it - let's just get on to the real stuff".
But here I am sounding negative and bitchy. The book was a wonderful experience - informative, balanced, recent-research-based, and an optimistic nudge in the right direction concerning the discourse over these vital, fascinating creatures and our need to peacefully coexist with them*.
* Of course, I don't meant to suggest that it would be some meet-each-other halfway kind of thing. We're the ones who have to do the heavy lifting. I don't buy that nonsense about mistaken identity - that sharks think we're seals or turtles and might well never take a bite out of our bottom half if only they realised - yet I adore the creatures, with the healthy, fearful respect they demand. The best mitigation is learning to avoid those situations where we are more likely to encounter one and have what this book diplomatically calls a "negative experience". Unfortunately, there will always be times when our sharing the waters with them will result in their natural, predatory instincts kicking in, and some poor soul losing their life in a way that will never not seem terribly, if fascinatingly, primal and gruesome. I try not to think about the footage of Vladimir Popov crying for his papa as a tiger shark thrashes him around, the boys death screams becoming more warped and strange as the bottom of his face is bitten off. Nor Simon Nellis's limbless torso bobbing naked in the water as shocked fisherman stand by on the rocks. These, and many others, are too haunting, and I cannot imagine a more terrifying way to meet your end. But it is their domain, and contrarty to any jackass who says we have it coming just by daring to enter the water, I like to think most people understand that it's a risk they're willing to take. In the unlikely but possible consequence of an attack, it is a horrible tragedy, but it does mean the shark itself has done anything nature does not intend for it do.
All of this must sound incredibly condescending because as far as I see it, this is the overwhelming position most thinking people. But I purposely try to avoid the online comment sections whenever something of the sort occurs, because you're always going to be reminded just how sick and mean and stupid many people are - so I wouldn't know.
October 23, 2024
Tout le monde qui se baigne dans l’océan devrait lire ce livre!
December 17, 2024
Great book. Loved how it objectively talked about sharks and explained how and why incidents with humans happen. The point of the book is that the risk of being attacked by a shark is very small and when it does happen, it tends to involve minor injuries. Of course, serious bites do occur with severe consequences but those comprise a very small percentage of cases. Coverage by the media of these attacks and their cinematographic portrayal often taints our views of these misunderstood kings of the ocean. Overall, future understanding of shark biology and behaviour, better mitigation strategies in keeping with advancing technology and respecting the home of these extraordinary animals, will allow humans and sharks to coexist peacefully. Quoting one of the anecdotes in the book: "The ocean is just too much fun to worry about something like sharks."
November 4, 2018
Starts off slow and hard to follow, delving into great scientific detail about shark biology, etc. For someone without a science background I found it rather difficult. But once it got into shark attack theory and mitigation as well as media influence, it was an enjoyable and very educational read. Many of the segments really pique and shape your perception of your sharks and the best actions moving forward. Definitely worth a read, particular for those with a passion for sharks and advocates for shark mitigation solutions that don’t harm marine life
October 24, 2022
a little dense and hard to get into to start before Chapman gets comfortable in her voice, my only criticism other than that is that this book does feel a lot like a college thesis with just a little editing in style and structure. But if you can deal with that i really recommend it. Super interesting as someone who loves to be in the water and i really appreciated the stories from people with all kinds of experiences with sharks negative and positive.
July 27, 2020
Shark Attacks is a rational and level-headed look at this much-feared form of human-wildlife conflict. See my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2017...
November 2, 2023
This was a great read highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews