Fascinating as the 1,300-odd species of sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras are, they are still unfortunately among the most popularly misunderstood creatures on the planet. Television and movies, far from harnessing those powerful media’s immense communicative power to help alleviate this problem generally only make it worse.
Which is why it’s a very good thing indeed that a handful of knowledgable authors take the time to share their understanding of sharks and their allies through well-researched as well as well-written books. From what I’ve read thus far in Gene Helfman’s and George H. Burgess’ new book Sharks: The Animal Answer Guide, I have every confidence that it will do much to help its readers clear away from their minds all the tawdry rubbish they may have previously heard about sharks and replace it will shiny and bright facts that are as interesting as they are conducive to a better understanding of these remarkable creatures.
Look for a complete review to be published here in The Well-read Naturalist in early August of 2014; the 10th of that month perhaps.
