Shark Trouble: True Stories About Sharks and the Sea

This little treasure is part nature guide and part memoir. Peter Benchley talks about different kinds of sharks, what makes them special, and how they interact with their environments and ecosystems. He also talks about several different diving experiences in which he has encountered sharks. The educational bits about sharks are informative and even sad at times, but the writing is not dry (no pun intended). The memoir segments are everything from funny to scary, and I can see why Benchley is so loved as a writer; he certainly knows how to tell a story. That these stories are taken from his own life makes them that much more terrifying. I was deeply moved by one section in particular, when he was talking about a dive he’d made with show more this wife and son. When the sharks came, he and his wife tried to stay on either side of him, to put themselves between the child and the sharks. That was easily the scariest part of the whole book. Adventures aside, this book is a highly informative guide to sharks and their importance to our planet. If you think of sharks as monsters, then Benchley’s explanation of their necessity might cause you to reconsider. show less

A memoir with a bunch of science about sharks and other creatures of the deep thrown in. Some details are interesting, like the way the blood flowing from Benchley's ankle turns black as he is dragged further below the surface.

In an apparent attempt to make up for the popularity of Jaws, Benchley tries to dispel a few myths, but seems to add a few of his own.

Not a bad book, but not evidently a great writer, either.

I'm a shark junkie, not afraid to admit it. I LIVE for shark week! This was a great, informative book by the amazing Peter Benchley. He gives a wealth of information in a short, easy to read gem. He touches on a few specific sharks, gives good practical advice on how to avoid an attack, and describes other ocean dangers. Highly recommend for any avid ocean lover or shark enthusiast!

Very well written book of Benchley's life long study of sharks and sea diving in general. The tales are from his personal point of view and are always woven into his theme of respect and preservation for all marine Eco-systems. I was really surprised how informative the book was and how it seemed to be a natural extension from his extensive work with scientists and video-documentaries. The book begins with an examination of the shark hysteria, which arose from the media themselves says Benchley, of summer 2001.

Anyone who has enjoyed any of Benchleys numerous fictional novels will enjoy this fact filled book.

Although the title suggests the contents will just deal with sharks, all manner of dangerous marine life is explored and brought to life using the authors many many experiences and various pictures.

Also included are the encounters that inspired his best selling works and the authors reactions to the media and mans attitude to the planet.

The only reason i failed to give this book 5 stars is that after being told a few time that man is the biggest danger etc etc etc... it got slightly tiresome.

Written by Peter Benchley, the author of Jaws, this is a factual book, very interesting and it dispels a lot of the myths and legends of Sharks, lots of good stories, though I had wished that it went into more detail.

I reviewed this book on my blog:
The Real World According To Sam