Emperors of the Deep by William McKeever

Emperors of the Deep

by William McKeever

Sharks are ruthlessly efficient predators, the apex of 450 million years of evolution. They are older than trees, have survived five extinction events and are essential to maintaining balanced ocean ecosystems, but how much do we really know about their lives?

The first book to reveal the hidden world of sharks, Emperors of the Deep draws upon the latest scientific research to examine four species in detail - mako, tiger, hammerhead and great white - as never before. An eye-opening tour of shark habitats ranges from the coral reefs of the Central Pacific where great whites mysteriously congregate every autumn in what researchers call a festival for sharks, to tropical mangrove forests where baby lemon sharks play in social groups and to the frigid waters of the North Atlantic, home to 400-year-old Greenland sharks, the world's longest-lived vertebrates. McKeever also traces the evolution of the myth of the 'man-eater' and exposes the devastating effects of the fishing industry on shark populations: In 2018 only four people died in shark attacks while we killed 100 million sharks.

At once a journey through the misunderstood world of sharks and an urgent call to protect them, Emperors of the Deep celebrates these iconic predators that continue to capture our imagination - and that desperately need our help to survive.

Reviewed by Beth C. on

5 of 5 stars

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This was an excellent book! Fascinating information on sharks, and some of the causes of their declining populations - from the finning we're aware of, to the slavery we're not. I intended this to be my "read until I'm sleepy" book at night, but I was enjoying it so much I just gave up on that plan.

If you LIKE sharks - read this book. If you TOLERATE sharks - read this book. If you FEAR sharks - DEFINITELY read this book!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 26 July, 2020: Finished reading
  • 26 July, 2020: Reviewed