Michael Bright

This is not a literary classic, but it certainly is a comprehensive account of everything that ever dipped its toes into the sea. If Jaws gave you nightmares, don’t read the sections about the jellyfish with four human-like eyes, or the blobs of gigantic single cells at the very very bottom. The sex life of some of these things is even worse than their eating habits. So, why am I glad I read it? I write science fiction, and the seemingly infinite variety of these creatures, and the extreme show more habitats they live in, makes me more sure than ever that my cast of alien characters is perfectly plausible. show less

Sharks: Ocean Travellers by Michael Bright is a highly informative and engaging book that explores the fascinating world of sharks in a way that is both educational and enjoyable. The author provides readers with a deeper understanding of these remarkable ocean creatures, explaining their behaviors, habitats, migration journeys, and their important role in maintaining balance within marine ecosystems.

What makes this book especially appealing is its accessible writing style. Michael Bright show more presents scientific information in a clear and reader-friendly manner, making the book suitable for young readers, students, and adults interested in wildlife and marine life. The content is well-organized and filled with interesting facts that keep the reader engaged throughout.

The illustrations and photographs are another highlight of the book. They beautifully complement the text and help bring the underwater world to life. The visuals not only make the book attractive but also enhance the learning experience by giving readers a closer look at different shark species and their environments.

An important strength of the book is its positive approach toward shark conservation. Rather than portraying sharks as frightening predators, the author encourages readers to appreciate their importance in nature and understand the environmental threats they face today. This thoughtful message adds value to the overall reading experience.

Overall, Sharks: Ocean Travellers is an excellent addition to any wildlife or educational book collection. It is informative, visually appealing, and inspiring, making it a rewarding read for anyone interested in sharks, ocean life, and the natural world. show less

While probably written for middle schoolers, I borrowed this for my 6 year old friend who was asking "how did humans start?"
Great tracking of changes over the millenia in primates who figure as the beginning steps to our physical presence, starting in the Cretaceous period/Paleocene. Sorry to mislead you with those time designations, but fortunately (for me) they only show up in the sidebars about specific fossil discoveries. I had a hard time conceptualizing the enormous timeframe, and show more associated names, which have no meaning or association for me outside of fossils. Very useful was a chart at the end of the book placing each of the hominin fossils in 7 separate spans of 1 million years each. It also includes some developmental lines which died out, to show we weren't a predetermined end.
Some positives, from my perspective, were mention that Ardipithecus males must have helped care for children and were not aggressive, based on their teeth; that there must have been teamwork and care of sick and elderly (based on healed broken bones, worn teeth, & arthritis), inclusion of herbal medicine use and spiritual beliefs (obviously not in any detail, but based on what was included in graves),. Another positive is mention (after so many pages that make it seem like our current civilizations are a peak development) that we are not done evolving.
Negatives for me were the words "altering nature" and "control" as the purpose, or method, of domestication. There may have been more "working together' happening than we use now. The book also missed the boat in not recognizing that garlic, mustard, and onions had medicinal qualities and were not just present as spices since they "had little nutritional value." show less

This book has a lot of good information, but also a real problem: It just is not clear what the purpose of the book is.

For each animal (generally as mentioned in the KJV of the Bible) there is information on which Hebrew (and sometimes Greek words) are translated as that animal. There is information on the species at home in the Biblical area and other possible translations. Bright also includes any folklore about the animal (from anywhere in the world) and quotes from a 19th century show more naturalist.

One piece of misinformation: Bright claims (p243) that the translators would not have know that peacocks can be eaten. They were a favoured part of Henry VIII's feasts. Certainly that would still have been known at the time of James I, whether or not roast peacock was still a part of court feasts. show less