The Shark Almanac: A Fully Illustrated Natural History of Sharks, Skates, and Rays

by Thomas B. Allen

Sharks have a reputation of being the most feared creatures of the sea, and in this fantastic book, we learn the myths and facts of these fascinating animals--and that they aren't as deadly as they seem. Of the more than 850 shark species, 80 percent either would not hurt people, or would rarely encounter them.
Sharks and their kin--skates and rays--have remained essentially unchanged for hundreds of millions of years, and their very existence is now threatened by man and his fears. Thomas Allen takes us through the evolution of the shark, its folklore, its commercial uses, and gives us a detailed look at shark attacks--where they happen, why, and how to protect yourself from them. He describes over one hundred shark species--their behavior, appearance, size, and distribution--and provides helpful scientific illustrations. He offers current information on scientific research (including the recent studies on shark cartilage in cancer research), current population findings, and continuing conservation efforts.
With over twenty-five color photographs of familiar and unusual sharks, interesting and fact-filled sidebars, and useful appendices, THE SHARK ALMANAC is a comprehensive overview and the perfect book for anyone interested in these amazing creatures.

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Thomas B. Allen's writings range from articles for National Geographic Magazine to books on espionage and military history.
He is the father of Roger MacBride Allen.

Reviews

[Loren · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was outdated for 1999, and the tone was condescending towards modern scientists/taxonomists. It is barely 'fully illustrated.' Allen also word-for-word copied many passages from his and William's 1963 book "Shadows in the Sea" also about sharks. The content wasn't even slightly paraphrased to be updated for readers, and didn't lend itself to the 'almanac' intention of the book. NOT a good shark book and disappointing to read after "Shadows in the Sea" and other shark books written before the turn of the century.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Shark Almanac: A Fully Illustrated Natural History of Sharks, Skates, and Rays" is by far the best reference book I have come across on Sharks.

[☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only got through about half of this. I liked learning about different sharks, but I wish it had more color photos. And I didn't really like the tone of the opening chapters -- even though the author paid a lot of lip service to the idea that sharks aren't monsters, he kept using language and examples that portrayed them as such. Like he'd talk about the strength of a certain shark's jaws in terms of how easily it could rip apart a human, even if that particular kind of shark had never even attacked a human.

Still, this has motivated me to find a better, more photo-filled book on sharks.