Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks Audiobook

" 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. "

" Intriguing subject, but it dragged for me in some places, so I skimmed a bit. A thought-provoking look at how human encroachment is changing the lives of sharks and our relationship of fear and fascination with one of the earth's oldest living great predators, Sharks are beautiful animals and mysterious animals that even 260 pages of research and commentary can't solve. "

" Interesting topic but not well organized. I started wondering why I really cared this much about sharks... basically the author lost my interest. "

" Insightful look at the human/ shark relationship. One can only hope that mankind can overcome the need to vilify anything mysterious and adopt a more world conscious view of the 'demon fish' "

" This book was well-researched and did give a good insight into sharks. I think I was looking for a bit more scary stuff, which this book did not really have - - besides scary figures about their decline and the impacts. But I do think it was well written and still interesting. "

" I had to read this book quickly for a book club. I learned a lot about sharks but didn't retain much else. "

" Finished this as Shark Week began on Discovery Channel-perfect! Interesting anecdotal asides, but mainly hammers home the dire position finning and overfishing has created and the impact on our oceans' ecosystems. Please read this and be aware of the necessity to maintain healthy shark populations on our planet. "

" I grew up in a small fishing town and during the summer the fishing boats would occasionally bring in sharks that had become entangled in their nets and their appearance would always cause quite a stir. Of course a bigger stir would occur if a live one appeared swimming around the wharf! "

" Non Fiction: A bunch of adventures of the author and sharks. This isn't about sharks munching on people. It is a scientific reporting on how sharks have affected and fascinated people around the world "

" Do you like Shark Week? This is like Shark Week, but in a book. "

" No real surprises in this one. It was also a bit too preachy. "

" From shark-fin soup chefs, to shark hunters, to tribal shark callers, "Demon Fish" takes you on a fascinating journey around the globe. Despite the sensationalist title, the book is not about shark horror stories. It's actually an interesting and educational read. "

" More about people, and our relationships with sharks, than about the sharks themselves. "

" Another book about how humans can really mess up nature. That said, it's fascinating. Sam told me it should be called "Holy Shit" because I kept saying, "Holy shit, did you know sharks can..." Yep. "

" Considering my unhealthy level of interest in sharks, this book should have been a slam dunk, but I thought it was pretty boring. Most of the book focuses on the human threats to shark populations, and that angle is just way too narrow to sustain 300 pages. Skip this. "

" Good book. Nothing really new on the animals for the shark enthusiast, but great stories on human interactions with sharks - both present & historical. Great discussion on local cultures & the impact on these top predators. "

" The good, the bad, the ugly of sharks and the people who deal with them. I'm still trying to figure out how to approach the issue with my company- I was served shark fin soup at a business lunch in Hong Kong and I don't think shark fin soup should be paid for with company money. "