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Shark Life: True Stories About Sharks & the Sea
From the bestselling author of Jaws comes a firsthand guide to one of the most feared—and often misunderstood— sharks!
In direct and accessible prose, Peter Benchley sets the record straight about the many types of sharks (including the ones that pose a genuine threat to us), the behavior of sharks and other sea creatures we fear, the odds against an attack, and how to improve them even further. He also teaches us how to swim safely in the ocean by reading the tides and currents and respecting all the inhabitants. Here are the lessons Peter has learned, the mistakes he has made, the danger he has faced—and the spectacular sights he has seen in the world’s largest environment. The book includes 16 pages of black-and-white photographs.
In direct and accessible prose, Peter Benchley sets the record straight about the many types of sharks (including the ones that pose a genuine threat to us), the behavior of sharks and other sea creatures we fear, the odds against an attack, and how to improve them even further. He also teaches us how to swim safely in the ocean by reading the tides and currents and respecting all the inhabitants. Here are the lessons Peter has learned, the mistakes he has made, the danger he has faced—and the spectacular sights he has seen in the world’s largest environment. The book includes 16 pages of black-and-white photographs.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
About the author
Peter Benchley
65 books1,215 followersPeter Bradford Benchley was an American author best known for writing the novel Jaws and co-writing the screenplay for its highly successful film adaptation. The success of the book led to many publishers commissioning books about mutant rats, rabid dogs and the like threatening communities. The subsequent film directed by Steven Spielberg and co-written by Benchley is generally acknowledged as the first summer blockbuster. Benchley also wrote The Deep and The Island which were also adapted into films.
Benchley was from a literary family. He was the son of author Nathaniel Benchley and grandson of Algonquin Round Table founder Robert Benchley. His younger brother, Nat Benchley, is a writer and actor. Peter Benchley was an alumnus of Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard University.
After graduating from college, he worked for The Washington Post, then as an editor at Newsweek and a speechwriter in the White House. He developed the idea of a man-eating shark terrorising a community after reading of a fisherman Frank Mundus catching a 4,550 pound great white shark off the coast of Long Island in 1964. He also drew some material from the tragic Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916.
His reasonably successful second novel, The Deep, is about a honeymooning couple discovering two sunken treasures on the Bermuda reefs—17th century Spanish gold and a fortune in World War Two-era morphine—who are subsequently targeted by a drug syndicate. This 1976 novel is based on Benchley's chance meeting in Bermuda with diver Teddy Tucker while writing a story for National Geographic. Benchley co-wrote the screenplay for the 1977 film release, along with Tracy Keenan Wynn and an uncredited Tom Mankiewicz. Directed by Peter Yates and starring Robert Shaw, Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset, The Deep was the second-highest grossing release of 1977 after Star Wars, although its box office tally fell well short of Jaws.
The Island, published in 1979, was a story of descendants of 17th century pirates who terrorize pleasure craft in the Caribbean, leading to the Bermuda Triangle mystery. Benchley again wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation. But the movie version of The Island, starring Michael Caine and David Warner, failed at the box office when released in 1980.
During the 1980s, Benchley wrote three novels that did not sell as well as his previous works. However, Girl of the Sea of Cortez, a beguiling John Steinbeck-type fable about man's complicated relationship with the sea, was far and away his best reviewed book and has attracted a considerable cult following since its publication. Sea of Cortez signposted Benchley's growing interest in ecological issues and anticipated his future role as an impassioned and intelligent defender of the importance of redressing the current imbalance between human activities and the marine environment. Q Clearance published in 1986 was written from his experience as a staffer in the Johnson White House. Rummies (aka Lush), which appeared in 1989, is a semi-autobiographical work, loosely inspired by the Benchley family's history of alcohol abuse. While the first half of the novel is a relatively straightforward (and harrowing) account of a suburbanite's descent into alcoholic hell, the second part—which takes place at a New Mexico substance abuse clinic—veers off into wildly improbable thriller-type territory.
He returned to nautical themes in 1991's Beast written about a giant squid threatening Bermuda. Beast was brought to the small screen as a made-for-TV movie in 1996, under the slightly altered title The Beast. His next novel, White Shark, was published in 1994. The story of a Nazi-created genetically engineered shark/human hybrid failed to achieve popular or critical success.
Benchley was from a literary family. He was the son of author Nathaniel Benchley and grandson of Algonquin Round Table founder Robert Benchley. His younger brother, Nat Benchley, is a writer and actor. Peter Benchley was an alumnus of Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard University.
After graduating from college, he worked for The Washington Post, then as an editor at Newsweek and a speechwriter in the White House. He developed the idea of a man-eating shark terrorising a community after reading of a fisherman Frank Mundus catching a 4,550 pound great white shark off the coast of Long Island in 1964. He also drew some material from the tragic Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916.
His reasonably successful second novel, The Deep, is about a honeymooning couple discovering two sunken treasures on the Bermuda reefs—17th century Spanish gold and a fortune in World War Two-era morphine—who are subsequently targeted by a drug syndicate. This 1976 novel is based on Benchley's chance meeting in Bermuda with diver Teddy Tucker while writing a story for National Geographic. Benchley co-wrote the screenplay for the 1977 film release, along with Tracy Keenan Wynn and an uncredited Tom Mankiewicz. Directed by Peter Yates and starring Robert Shaw, Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset, The Deep was the second-highest grossing release of 1977 after Star Wars, although its box office tally fell well short of Jaws.
The Island, published in 1979, was a story of descendants of 17th century pirates who terrorize pleasure craft in the Caribbean, leading to the Bermuda Triangle mystery. Benchley again wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation. But the movie version of The Island, starring Michael Caine and David Warner, failed at the box office when released in 1980.
During the 1980s, Benchley wrote three novels that did not sell as well as his previous works. However, Girl of the Sea of Cortez, a beguiling John Steinbeck-type fable about man's complicated relationship with the sea, was far and away his best reviewed book and has attracted a considerable cult following since its publication. Sea of Cortez signposted Benchley's growing interest in ecological issues and anticipated his future role as an impassioned and intelligent defender of the importance of redressing the current imbalance between human activities and the marine environment. Q Clearance published in 1986 was written from his experience as a staffer in the Johnson White House. Rummies (aka Lush), which appeared in 1989, is a semi-autobiographical work, loosely inspired by the Benchley family's history of alcohol abuse. While the first half of the novel is a relatively straightforward (and harrowing) account of a suburbanite's descent into alcoholic hell, the second part—which takes place at a New Mexico substance abuse clinic—veers off into wildly improbable thriller-type territory.
He returned to nautical themes in 1991's Beast written about a giant squid threatening Bermuda. Beast was brought to the small screen as a made-for-TV movie in 1996, under the slightly altered title The Beast. His next novel, White Shark, was published in 1994. The story of a Nazi-created genetically engineered shark/human hybrid failed to achieve popular or critical success.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
January 1, 2020
An outstanding nonfiction book about sharks and other undersea creatures encountered by the author of Jaws over many years of undersea adventures.
Rating: 5 stars
January 1 2020
Rating: 5 stars
January 1 2020
June 11, 2020
This book was different than what I had expected it to be. It's full of many fascinating stories of true encounters with various sea creatures including sharks. If one can believe the author, sharks may be very different than the image he painted in Jaws. Sharks may not be as bloodthirsty for humans as we think they are. Instead they may simply be curious and sometimes they make mistakes...but those mistakes can be deadly to humans. Of course one should always be cautious.
The first person accounts were interesting but I admit I didn't always know what some of these creatures looked like, like the barracuda. I had to go look it up online. Since this edition of the book is supposed to be the juvenile one, a drawing maybe would have been nice.
I found the opening scenes of this book, the cage dive with great white sharks, scary. And one of the stories at the end, with the charging dolphin, startling. I guess many of these animals can be very unpredictable. And sometimes they can be dangerous but not in the way one might think. Who would ever think of a rope getting caught in the shark's teeth?
Other stories were sad and touching, like with the eels. There are countless stories in here of meetings with many different species on different dives.
The book contains a section on water safety. I suppose that would be useful if one goes swimming but again I think a drawing or a diagram would have been helpful to explain these different types of currents, undertows, etc to a nonswimmer. I've never heard of drown proofing before.. would these techniques work in fresh water too?
Not all of the stories were interesting, like the autopsy on a shark. I did find parts of the book a tad dull.. also as someone who doesn't swim I kind of find the section on water safety sort of useless. Not everyone who reads about sharks actually goes swimming...or lives near salt water. There's no sharks in the Great Lakes. Looking at the lake and taking photos is as close as I like to get.
There is a short story by the author in here called "The Day All of the Sharks Died". This tale explains in a very easy to understand way how the ocean food chain works and what happens if it's interrupted. The results are awful! Everyone should read this! It's very eye opening. How one thing is balancing and depending on another.
But sharks are not monsters. The ocean needs sharks, as the above story shows. They are the garbage man who controls the population of other sea creatures.. remove them and the whole population can get out of whack.
The center of the book contains black and white photos.
The first person accounts were interesting but I admit I didn't always know what some of these creatures looked like, like the barracuda. I had to go look it up online. Since this edition of the book is supposed to be the juvenile one, a drawing maybe would have been nice.
I found the opening scenes of this book, the cage dive with great white sharks, scary. And one of the stories at the end, with the charging dolphin, startling. I guess many of these animals can be very unpredictable. And sometimes they can be dangerous but not in the way one might think. Who would ever think of a rope getting caught in the shark's teeth?
Other stories were sad and touching, like with the eels. There are countless stories in here of meetings with many different species on different dives.
The book contains a section on water safety. I suppose that would be useful if one goes swimming but again I think a drawing or a diagram would have been helpful to explain these different types of currents, undertows, etc to a nonswimmer. I've never heard of drown proofing before.. would these techniques work in fresh water too?
Not all of the stories were interesting, like the autopsy on a shark. I did find parts of the book a tad dull.. also as someone who doesn't swim I kind of find the section on water safety sort of useless. Not everyone who reads about sharks actually goes swimming...or lives near salt water. There's no sharks in the Great Lakes. Looking at the lake and taking photos is as close as I like to get.
There is a short story by the author in here called "The Day All of the Sharks Died". This tale explains in a very easy to understand way how the ocean food chain works and what happens if it's interrupted. The results are awful! Everyone should read this! It's very eye opening. How one thing is balancing and depending on another.
But sharks are not monsters. The ocean needs sharks, as the above story shows. They are the garbage man who controls the population of other sea creatures.. remove them and the whole population can get out of whack.
The center of the book contains black and white photos.
March 27, 2015
I can't believe this booktalk staple isn't in my Goodreads! It's so fun to read about the Jaws author's adventures as a beginning diver and growing shark expert. I like to read aloud his first dive on p. 10, with the caveat about shark fin soup on p. 3.
July 7, 2015
I haven't read Jaws, and I don't have plans to in any foreseeable future. I love the movie so much that it seems impossible that I would enjoy the book near half as much. However, after reading this book, I'm more inclined to add it to my TBR. Peter Benchley writes with enthusiasm and wonder about marine life. Obviously this is post-Jaws, and there is a heavy dose of guilt present in many of the ways the facts are presented and argued. I think that enhances the reading experience. Benchley seems to feel somewhat responsible for the negative views on sharks and earnestly lays out an effective argument for respect and preservation of the marine world. There are lots of interesting tidbits about different types of sharks and other ocean-based animals. But the thing that makes this book truly unique and charming are the stories Benchley tells of his own experiences with these creatures, and his love of the sea.
January 21, 2018
this is a tame version of the last book
i'm glad i did not read this before tgotsoc
p239: we'd filmed exotic critters like red-lipped batfish, which looked like a medical experiment gone wrong, as if the body of a frog had been grafted onto the mouth of mick jagger.
i'm glad i did not read this before tgotsoc
p239: we'd filmed exotic critters like red-lipped batfish, which looked like a medical experiment gone wrong, as if the body of a frog had been grafted onto the mouth of mick jagger.
July 18, 2021
Peter Benchely passò l'ultima parte della sua vita a cercare di "redimersi" dall'isteria collettiva sugli squali causata dal suo libro Lo squalo e dal film omonimo diretto da Spielberg.
Era un amante del mare, sia nei suoi aspetti positivi e negativi: nel romanzo stesso, lo squalo non è malvagio, è anzi menzionato che quel particolare animale è un'anomalia, come un uragano può essere un'anomalia meteorologica.
Questo libro è un saggio per ragazzi, che ho apprezzato anche perché non troppo semplificato (o Benchley aveva un'alta opinione delle capacità linguistiche dei ragazzi, o gli standard all'epoca erano diversi, comunque se volete fare pratica con l'inglese direi che questo è un buon libro). L'autore fa qualche accenno autobiografico alle sue immersioni con squali, murene e altre tenere&dolci simili creature, spiega come non annegare se venite trascinati via dalla corrente mentre nuotate (direi utilissimo anche a chi non si immerge con gli squali) e tocca, sebbene brevemente, argomenti come il turismo e le sue ripercussioni sulla fauna (è un bene abituare delle murene ad essere nutrite dall'uomo per fare colpo sui turisti?).
Mi sono piaciuti anche gli aneddoti su animali da noi sempre considerati positivamente, come i delfini, dove Benchley ci ricorda che anche loro possono tecnicamente ucciderci, e non è detto che non lo facciano solo perché noi pensiamo di essere "loro amici".
Molti sono problemi ancora attuali, anzi attualissimi: alle persone piace essere "immerse nella natura" oggi più di ieri tra safari, immersioni e visiti ai parchi faunistici si tenta di educare il pubblico e raccogliere fondi per la conservazione della fauna e il sostegno di mercati locali, ma a volte in buona fede si incoraggiano contatti che potrebbero danneggiare gli animali stessi.
Letto per le sfide
1. Babele 2021: modalità difficile (11/15)
2. C'era una volta: modalità media (3/12)
Era un amante del mare, sia nei suoi aspetti positivi e negativi: nel romanzo stesso, lo squalo non è malvagio, è anzi menzionato che quel particolare animale è un'anomalia, come un uragano può essere un'anomalia meteorologica.
Questo libro è un saggio per ragazzi, che ho apprezzato anche perché non troppo semplificato (o Benchley aveva un'alta opinione delle capacità linguistiche dei ragazzi, o gli standard all'epoca erano diversi, comunque se volete fare pratica con l'inglese direi che questo è un buon libro). L'autore fa qualche accenno autobiografico alle sue immersioni con squali, murene e altre tenere&dolci simili creature, spiega come non annegare se venite trascinati via dalla corrente mentre nuotate (direi utilissimo anche a chi non si immerge con gli squali) e tocca, sebbene brevemente, argomenti come il turismo e le sue ripercussioni sulla fauna (è un bene abituare delle murene ad essere nutrite dall'uomo per fare colpo sui turisti?).
Mi sono piaciuti anche gli aneddoti su animali da noi sempre considerati positivamente, come i delfini, dove Benchley ci ricorda che anche loro possono tecnicamente ucciderci, e non è detto che non lo facciano solo perché noi pensiamo di essere "loro amici".
Molti sono problemi ancora attuali, anzi attualissimi: alle persone piace essere "immerse nella natura" oggi più di ieri tra safari, immersioni e visiti ai parchi faunistici si tenta di educare il pubblico e raccogliere fondi per la conservazione della fauna e il sostegno di mercati locali, ma a volte in buona fede si incoraggiano contatti che potrebbero danneggiare gli animali stessi.
Letto per le sfide
1. Babele 2021: modalità difficile (11/15)
2. C'era una volta: modalità media (3/12)
November 26, 2016
I'm already fascinated by great whites, so this book was interesting, with it's personal encounters with sharks.
However, there was a comment at the end: "There is no public outcry to get rid of any animal because it is dangerous to humans. Australians have learned to coexist in relative peace with nearly everything. When occasionally a human life is lost to an animal, the public's reaction is usually thoughtful and rational." THIS IS COMPLETE BS. Australians are just like any other human population on earth, there are those that understand the nature of wild animals and those that want the government to continue it's horrendous shark cull.
I really liked this part: "Nature is very careful with her apex predators. They were not made with humans in mind. Remember, they've been present on earth, more or less exactly as they are today, for tens of millions of years. They cannot survive interference, accidental or intentional, from us."
However, there was a comment at the end: "There is no public outcry to get rid of any animal because it is dangerous to humans. Australians have learned to coexist in relative peace with nearly everything. When occasionally a human life is lost to an animal, the public's reaction is usually thoughtful and rational." THIS IS COMPLETE BS. Australians are just like any other human population on earth, there are those that understand the nature of wild animals and those that want the government to continue it's horrendous shark cull.
I really liked this part: "Nature is very careful with her apex predators. They were not made with humans in mind. Remember, they've been present on earth, more or less exactly as they are today, for tens of millions of years. They cannot survive interference, accidental or intentional, from us."
October 9, 2019
Personally I really enjoyed this book. I loved how the author added his own personal experiences to enhance the story. One of the times it was seeing his first Great White Shark, it said how he was running away on the inside and not on the outside, so he wouldn't get eaten alive. If you are a non-fiction reader I would recommend this because it has a ton of steps to help you and your family not get eaten by sharks.
December 17, 2012
As a very water oriented family that feels they could recount many underwater thrilling experiences, Peter Benchley continues to surprise us in what are sometimes funny and sometimes harrowing personal encounters under the water. I've given this book as a gift many times!
May 20, 2021
I read this under the title SHARK! A collection of Peter Benchley's diving adventures, especially those concerned with Sharks. He also explains things like what to do in an undertow and why you should never swim when there's chum in the water. He's right about the eyes of Makos, by the way.
September 6, 2019
We read this for our BYL Shark Unit study and we all thoroughly enjoyed this book and the whole unit study and highly recommend it!
October 13, 2022
This novel is entitled “Shark Life” by Peter Benchley. Throughout the book the lives of the deep sea creatures are looked at through perspectives from ordinary people and the author. Peter tells the audience and sets things straight with the many types of sharks and the ones that show a threat to humans. Throughout his life he has made many encounters on purpose but even sometimes by accident with these marine animals. Peters family has shown support and been there to help out with study and transformation of the animals. With studies, Peter supports the fact that there are many odds against an attack. He says people fear sharks because they are portrayed as frightful and they do not truly understand them. Peter teaches the reader about safe swim techniques as well as how to read currents and tides in the ocean.
Peter has had some frightening experiences from great white sharks to poisonous snakes. His experiences have led him to making some great safety points in the novel. He explains how to look out for sharks and not to enter water when bleeding. Swimming alone and moving ocean water is something he describes as being very frowned upon.
Overall I thought this novel was very interesting. I liked the author's perspective and the tips he hinted at. The study of marine life fascinates me so this book was a good match for me. I think Peter did a great job at describing the life of the sea and how humans interacted with it. I was not really a fan of all the personal stories shared in the novel but they were acceptable. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in marine biology or just even my friends who like sharks. I would say that some of the points made in the book should be shared in schools because it is important that people know about marine safety and the underwater world. Having more knowledge from this book is beneficial to me and it gives the reader more to know. In this novel Peter seems to give good in depth information on what he is studying and learning. I do believe that this book is very educational to almost everyone interested in the topic. This novel was very beneficial to me and my knowledge on sharks and marine biology. The author was very good at getting the reader's attention and keeping the reader interested. I think Peter grabbed the reader's attention by putting “the author of Jaws” on the cover of the novel.
Questions
How has studying marine science impacted your knowledge on being safe in the ocean?
Does the book change your view on your personal fear of sharks?
How has the author's tone changed the look upon the book?
Peter has had some frightening experiences from great white sharks to poisonous snakes. His experiences have led him to making some great safety points in the novel. He explains how to look out for sharks and not to enter water when bleeding. Swimming alone and moving ocean water is something he describes as being very frowned upon.
Overall I thought this novel was very interesting. I liked the author's perspective and the tips he hinted at. The study of marine life fascinates me so this book was a good match for me. I think Peter did a great job at describing the life of the sea and how humans interacted with it. I was not really a fan of all the personal stories shared in the novel but they were acceptable. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in marine biology or just even my friends who like sharks. I would say that some of the points made in the book should be shared in schools because it is important that people know about marine safety and the underwater world. Having more knowledge from this book is beneficial to me and it gives the reader more to know. In this novel Peter seems to give good in depth information on what he is studying and learning. I do believe that this book is very educational to almost everyone interested in the topic. This novel was very beneficial to me and my knowledge on sharks and marine biology. The author was very good at getting the reader's attention and keeping the reader interested. I think Peter grabbed the reader's attention by putting “the author of Jaws” on the cover of the novel.
Questions
How has studying marine science impacted your knowledge on being safe in the ocean?
Does the book change your view on your personal fear of sharks?
How has the author's tone changed the look upon the book?
April 10, 2019
Peter Benchley is one of my favorite novelists. I love his tales of adventure, especially those that involve marine life. His narrative voice is very fluid and translates well to both his fiction and non-fiction works. This is the case with Shark Life, an informative book filled with personal anecdotes of Benchley's own encounters with sharks and other sea creatures. One of the lessons that he tries to impart through much of his book is the fact that we, as humans, are simply one cog in the wheel of the natural world. It is our duty to treat the earth and its lifeforms with respect, especially when we are entering territory as unfamiliar as the oceanic expanse. Multiple times Benchley mentions how we need to remember that nature contains order, and when we disrupt that order it sometimes can have devastating effects on the ecosystem and our communities. We oftentimes blame nature for its destructive capabilities without reflecting upon the hand we may have played in helping to create that destruction.
Of course, most of Benchley's proselytizing involves human beings ignorantly entering the water and being "attacked" by ocean predators. We truly cannot blame sea creatures for doing those things that they've been created to do: swim, eat, and breed. If we enter the water, we're the foreigners; therefore, we need to be cautious, intelligent, and respectful in our interactions with marine life. As Benchley reiterates several times throughout this book, as much as we want to anthropomorphize animals, especially those found in the ocean, they will forever remain wild animals.
Of course, most of Benchley's proselytizing involves human beings ignorantly entering the water and being "attacked" by ocean predators. We truly cannot blame sea creatures for doing those things that they've been created to do: swim, eat, and breed. If we enter the water, we're the foreigners; therefore, we need to be cautious, intelligent, and respectful in our interactions with marine life. As Benchley reiterates several times throughout this book, as much as we want to anthropomorphize animals, especially those found in the ocean, they will forever remain wild animals.
April 24, 2019
This was a really good and informative book written by the author who brought us the legendary story of Jaws. While Jaws may be fiction, this book is all fact about sharks and how to coexist with them. The author does a good job of explaining how to respect the ocean, sharks, and other sea life; all while also explaining how to avoid a shark attack, and why we should and should not be worried about being attacked. At the end, he also explains the importance of sharks in marine life which drives a very poignant point home. Peter Benchley does digress a bit with his own real life diving adventures and sometimes just general anecdotes about the sea, so I would say this book would not be a good one stop place to go to learn all you want to about sharks, but it definitely is an excellent start for those who pick up this book and previously didn’t know anything. It also is a quick and easy read, not dense as many biology related books can sometimes be. Over all. Had to give this one 5 stars for a simultaneously educational and enjoyable read.
August 25, 2020
Shark Life is a young adult nonfiction book written by Peter Benchley, the author of Jaws. It is a mix of descriptions of Benchley's encounters with sharks over his career of filming documentaries and television shows about sharks and other sea creatures, scientific information about sharks and other sea creatures, and tips on how to swim in the ocean safely (from avoiding shark bites and dealing with other dangers such as rip tides). While not much of the information as new to me (I took a class on sharks in college), it was very informative, especially for the young adult audience that gets all of its information from media accounts of shark attacks and movies such as Jaws, Sharknado or The Meg. Benchley does try to repair some of the reputation Jaws has done to sharks and talks a lot about how important sharks are to the world and how we are much more of a danger to them than they are to us. There were a couple of times that the 2004 publication date was evident (mentioning video rental stores for example).
October 23, 2019
So one of the many things i like about this book, is it starts off with some real life facts with sharks. The author event retraces back to the 1990's when shark deaths were a higher rate then present day. A big portion of the book is about under water and sharks but that's not all its about, it also goes over some things on land such as driving vehicles and ect. Now if you're a sea critter lover or a shark lover in general, i'd recommend you read this. What i like about this book is that its a true story about sharks, and not a fairy tale such as flying or mutated sharks. By what i've read, the first chapter and a bit throughout the book, apparently when people are attacked by sharks, the news goes buck wilded about it. what i think and the author is trying to say, is that sharks are missed read for so they think they hate humans.
November 10, 2019
Shark Life by Peter Benchley (writer behind *Jaws* turned shark conservationist) chronicles his experience with diving and coming into contact with various types of sharks (as well as some other marine life). He lays out a beginners guide to the sea and shows the truth behind one of nature's most feared predator. Don't take that to mean this is a fear mongering book about ~evil man eaters~. Benchley was a vocal environmentalist and had some regrets about his part in the misconception that sharks gained due to his popular fiction works.
Overall, this book was interesting with fascinating first hand accounts of run ins with creatures most of us know nothing about as well as guides on how to interact with the ocean safely.
My only gripe would be some of the stylistic writing choices could be a bit awkward, strange since this is the mind behind well respected works, but overall a solid 4.25/5.
Overall, this book was interesting with fascinating first hand accounts of run ins with creatures most of us know nothing about as well as guides on how to interact with the ocean safely.
My only gripe would be some of the stylistic writing choices could be a bit awkward, strange since this is the mind behind well respected works, but overall a solid 4.25/5.
October 4, 2020
In this book, Jaws author Peter Benchley tries to redeem all the harm caused by the movie Jaws.
Peter recounts his encounters with sharks, his adventures diving, and his experiences swimming at beaches.
He shows us the beauty of the ocean and the magnificence of sharks and tries to dispel the myths of the man-eating fish of the sea.
I thought this was a decent book of Benchley sharing with us his experiences in the ocean. I enjoyed my time reading.
I've had this book sitting on my shelf for a very long time and was happy I finally read it. You can tell while reading this book that Benchley is trying to redeem all the harm he caused to sharks with his portrayal of Jaws, he likely didn't succeed but you can tell he has a lot of guilt about the way he portrayed sharks and what it lead to.
3 stars.
Peter recounts his encounters with sharks, his adventures diving, and his experiences swimming at beaches.
He shows us the beauty of the ocean and the magnificence of sharks and tries to dispel the myths of the man-eating fish of the sea.
I thought this was a decent book of Benchley sharing with us his experiences in the ocean. I enjoyed my time reading.
I've had this book sitting on my shelf for a very long time and was happy I finally read it. You can tell while reading this book that Benchley is trying to redeem all the harm he caused to sharks with his portrayal of Jaws, he likely didn't succeed but you can tell he has a lot of guilt about the way he portrayed sharks and what it lead to.
3 stars.
September 10, 2018
This book is such a great option for people who live near lots of water. (Especially Florida) Water can be an ocean, river, or lake. For people like me who live near lots of oceans, This book can be very helpful, illustrating the great Brett, mystery, and dangers of the ocean. It teaches you how to respect the ocean and its great power, and how to work with it, sot hart it will work with us. The reason my review is missing a star, is because I wish the author of the book would be more clear on giving us information on who the people are in the book. That’s really my only negative comment, but otherwise, I recommend this to almost anyone! (Except for Mrs. Hillmon, who has a fear of water.)
-Mariano Antolin
-Mariano Antolin
January 13, 2019
An informative and fascinating book about sharks and the sea
This book was a riveting read, even though it's presented in a factual straightforward manner. The book did a good job of detailing what different types of sharks are dangerous ( as well as other sea creatures). Also the author gave detailed good description of what threats are faced due to overfishing and other issues facing our oceans wellbeing, which has only become considerably worse since the book was published.
This book was a riveting read, even though it's presented in a factual straightforward manner. The book did a good job of detailing what different types of sharks are dangerous ( as well as other sea creatures). Also the author gave detailed good description of what threats are faced due to overfishing and other issues facing our oceans wellbeing, which has only become considerably worse since the book was published.
September 6, 2019
The book has a lout of facts and every details about Peter Benchley encounters with different species of sharks. In the book Peter Benchley talks about the book he called Jaws got a movie. The book talk about how Jaws was the second soul book right behind Water Shippe Down which also got a movie that soul all over the world. Peter Benchley talk about how in the cage when he encounter the great white he mentioned how the great white shark was taking test bites at the cage to see were the weak spot was at. In all i thought this was a great book.
August 26, 2021
This is a really informative, entertaining, and compassionate book for anyone interested in sharks, or just the ocean in general. Entertaining first hand accounts of close encounters with sharks and other sea creatures, folksy lessons on how the ocean works and how to be safe in it, and passionate depictions of the greater food chain, in which sharks play a crucial role, and the delicate but all important natural order hanging in the balance. Easy but compelling read, especially great beach read
February 6, 2023
Great book, makes me have an interest in underwater life when I never have before. The descriptive vocabulary really gives the reader a good image of the scene & situation in their mind. The suspense made me feel like i was almost a part of the story, not just reading it. I also enjoy how it educated me while allowing me to still take interest (It doesn't happen often in school anymore). I think this book opened doors for me to continue an interest in marine studies as well as continuing an interest in reading, another thing that i've never really had interest in.
May 9, 2023
Peter Benchley is a naturalist with an imagination and a gift for writing. Shark Life was an excellent book about sharks, rays, and other ocean life. The book demands that you see the ocean as a place belonging to wild creatures—not humanity's vacation playground. I learned so much about corals, dolphins, sharks, crocodiles, rays, currents, SCUBA, the list goes on. I wish I could find video footage of some of the stories he told. I had no idea the author of Jaws was so experienced and knowledgeable about the ocean.
September 16, 2018
It was interesting to read about all his adventures out on the ocean involving these heavily misunderstood creatures. Sharks are dangerous, but aren't the demons of the sea that they are often portrayed as. He teaches you a lot about them with several stories and tells a story that backs up how the are integral to the balance of nature in the ocean. If you like sharks and like Peter's work, it's a great read!
March 9, 2019
This book is not an in depth look at sharks despite the title, nor does it largely focus on the life of the author of Jaws. Its a random smattering of sea creatures humans fear, from orcas to jellyfish, mixed in with personal stories from post-Jaws fame filming TV shows about the ocean. Lack of cohesion, aside from the general ocean topic... What were the chapters about staying safe in currents in there for? Most non-biologists who are lovers of the sea will find it interesting enough anyway.
January 19, 2021
For being written in 2005 this book seems to hold up fairly well for the conservation of sharks! Peter Benchley is a wonderful author with a love and passion of the sea you can hear in his writings. I loved reading the stories and being told of how his love of the sea came to be and why he decided to take up conservation after the success of Jaws. Overall a wonderful book, I love reading all of his works.
September 14, 2018
This book in my opinion wasn’t really that detailed and they should have really added that in, and wasn’t very interesting. The book was about a man that went deeep sea diving and looked at mostly sharks. It started to get a little interesting but after a couple chapter you seem to get very bored of it pretty quick
December 25, 2018
Actually, I’d give this one a 5-star rating, but I am reserving that rating for my favorites. Excellent book. Easy to read, and it’s a nice introduction to both sharks and various other kinds of marine life. That’s what it is though... an introduction. Do not read this and expect to become an expert on sharks afterwards.
July 2, 2019
Gave this a quick reread after NK Jemisin's thread about Jaws yesterday. If you've ever read or watched Jaws - enjoyed it, been terrified by it, or thought it monstrously unfair to sharks (as I did) - you need to read Shark Life. I have the utmost respect for Peter Benchley and what he has done with his life post-Jaws.
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