Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks by Juliet Eilperin

Oct 16, 2011 karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfictions, shaaaaarks

oh my god i just saw this on the teevee tonight, so i am adding it to the review and you should all watch this clip because it is hilarious! to me. also terrifying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9Fc-T...

SHARK WEEK SHARK WEEK SHARK WEEK

today is the start of shark week, so get ready. i have been ready for a week now. last week, i watched the best of shark week on demand, i watched jaws for the very first time, and i read this book. i also commanded my father to buy me some goldfish crackers so i...more

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Jun 06, 2012 Lolly's rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, amazon-vine

Sharks are not the best ambassadors for their own survival. The original sea monsters of yore, they are not cute and cuddly, warm and fuzzy. And while they may be photogenic, it's not in an “Aww” kind of way. It's more akin to an “Aaah!" So while other animals imperiled by man's actions, such as the playful otter and friendly dolphin, the majestic whale and the placid turtle, endear themselves to humans and thus find themselves saved from utter destruction, it wasn't until recently that anyone s...more Sharks are not the best ambassadors for their own survival. The original sea monsters of yore, they are not cute and cuddly, warm and fuzzy. And while they may be photogenic, it's not in an “Aww” kind of way. It's more akin to an “Aaah!" So while other animals imperiled by man's actions, such as the playful otter and friendly dolphin, the majestic whale and the placid turtle, endear themselves to humans and thus find themselves saved from utter destruction, it wasn't until recently that anyone started giving a damn about the horrible, deadly, sinister, man-eating shark and the fact that we've been killing them off indiscriminately since we discovered their existence a few hundred years ago. Many cultures, both today and in the past, might say the only good shark is a dead shark. Well, as some individuals and countries are coming to find out, that statement is the biggest piece of dumb-ass logic anyone has ever thought up.

We've so impacted the shark's environment, with our industries, our pollution, our fishing, that not only have several species of shark declined in population by anywhere from 90 to 99%, those sharks being caught today are smaller than their counterparts of even just a hundred years ago. Sharks do not rebound quickly; though some species give birth to large litters, many species take years to mature and only reproduce a limited number of times in their life--most of the time the litters they produce are small, with only one or two pups per birth. While we've begun to--finally--set aside protected waters, those areas cover only a fraction of the shark's territory and even then, some of the protections contain loopholes which still allow sharks to be fished. The truth is, we still know very little about these creatures, who've managed to stick around this planet for nearly 425 million years. That's 425 million years . These creatures, who've evolved into some of the most perfectly, if occasionally oddly, designed animals on the planet, have been around since before the dinosaurs and have even contributed to our own evolution (the bones of our inner ear, the way we swallow and talk due to muscles and cranial nerves which are the same as those which move a shark's gills), are still decried as man-eating monsters who deserve no pity. Yet these monsters are being systematically wiped out by us, humans, a predator more devastating, more mercenary, more cruel than any shark on this planet.

Juliet Eilperin's book is a well-researched investigation of the different ways in which we've poached, killed, decimated and otherwise pillaged the world's oceans of this apex predator, and the repercussions various governments and peoples have reaped as a result, in the form of depleted fish stocks, depressed economies, not to mention lost tribal traditions and vanishing cultural heritages. From the travails of Mark “the Shark” Quaratiano, who runs a fishing charter in Miami and complains that instead of sticking his hand in the water and pulling out a shark from the infested waters, he now has to work for several hours before he's able to catch a single shark for his macho-men, testosterone-boosting weenie clients (aww, poor baby), to the shark callers of Papua New Guinea, who are losing their faith-based tradition, which has sustained their native culture through colonization and Christian missionary proselytizing, due to the simple fact that the sharks of their islands have disappeared due to overfishing. Not the overfishing of prey fish, although that's played a part; no, overfishing of the sharks themselves. Which brings us to the most horrendous activity responsible for the decline of the shark: Finning. The practice of hauling a shark on board, slicing the pectoral and dorsal fins off the animal and tossing it, often while still alive, back in the water, to drown as it sinks to the ocean floor. Millions of sharks each year are killed in this manner, to supply one industry, shark's fin soup. And yet, as an ingredient, shark's fin adds nothing to the soup; it's a thin, noodle-like ribbon of cartilage which adds no flavor, only prestige to a dish which was once served only to a select few but now, with the rise of the Chinese middle class, is consumed at any and every occasion where such prestige is desired. Eilperin follows the trail of this world-wide trade, from the poor fishermen who are simply following the money even as they realize how the sharks have disappeared from their fishing grounds, to the secretive auction houses, where fins are sorted and sold with a minimum of words and a maximum of dollars and yen exchanged. The author details her travels around the world, to the different hotspots of shark fishing as well as shark protection and education, in a vivid, yet rational voice; her book is a clear-eyed dissection of our legacy towards the elasmobranch family (that's the shark, skate and ray family for those who are not selachophiles [shark lovers, a word I just made up]), backed up by sound scientific data and in-depth research. Part travelogue, part scientific journal, this book is a lively and fascinating look at how various cultures relate to this ocean predator, often in a surprising and (despite how I might've made it sound) sometimes positive way.

I've been a shark lover for as long as I can remember. It's been a love tempered by an equal measure of fear; because I know some sharks like shallow, murky water, growing up in Florida, I never went past my ankles (if I could help it) whenever we spent a day at the beach. I'd love to go cage diving in South Africa and see a great white up close; even though I know it creates a Pavlovian response, I'd still like to visit a shark feeding operation in Bimini, wear a mesh suit and sit in the middle of a feeding frenzy. Yet, when I was younger, I was scared of even swimming in the pool by myself, because of the fear of what might come up from the bottom of the deep end. (Yes, I realize I was swimming in a chlorinated pool and that there was no creature, of any sort, waiting in the deep end; psychological fears are hard to overcome, no matter what kind of logic you throw at them.) I still enjoy Jaws, even though I scream at the TV screen in frustration for the erroneous stereotype it puts forth; I've watched The Discovery Channel's annual Shark Week festival since it's inception, even though, as the years went on, I got bored with many of the programs as they didn't teach me anything I didn't already know. So, as you might've guessed, this book appealed to me at a basic level. However, if you've never given sharks a second thought; if you've seen Jaws and shuddered but never really desired to know any more about those creatures than what was portrayed in the movie; even if you think sharks are evil incarnate and deserve to be killed, I urge each and every one of you to pick up this book and read it. Sharks may not be endearing to the masses, but upon completing Demon Fish I dare you not to feel some sympathy and distress over how we've treated a creature who, quite frankly, is just trying to live on this planet, the same as us. The story of sharks is a story about us, in the long run, and how we choose to interact with the creatures who share our space.(less)

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Jan 04, 2013 Julie Ann Dawson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Reviewer note: My review copy was an uncorrected bound proof and may not match final book.

I am a huge fan of sharks. I have been since childhood, and even today I have an entire shelf dedicated to shark figurines and toys. So it was with great excitement that I began to dig into the pages of Juliet Eilperin's Demon Fish. Demon Fish is less a traditional book on sharks than it is a study into how humans have interacted with them throughout history. Or, at least, that is how the book is marketed....more Reviewer note: My review copy was an uncorrected bound proof and may not match final book.

I am a huge fan of sharks. I have been since childhood, and even today I have an entire shelf dedicated to shark figurines and toys. So it was with great excitement that I began to dig into the pages of Juliet Eilperin's Demon Fish. Demon Fish is less a traditional book on sharks than it is a study into how humans have interacted with them throughout history. Or, at least, that is how the book is marketed. Unfortunately, Demon Fish is bedeviled by a poorly executed delivery that spends more time wagging a damning finger than offering significant insight.

The book opens with a fascinating study into Shark Calling, an ancient custom still practiced in Papua New Guinea. Like many island cultures introduced to Christianity by missionaries, the people of Papua New Guinea have almost seamlessly blended their ancient rites with their adopted Christian beliefs. We are introduced to Karasimbe, one of the most respected shark callers of his generation. And through him we see a glimpse into a forgotten past when sharks were spiritual brethren with humanity.

But after this strong beginning, the book begins to retread familiar territory. Eilperin rehashes the tale of how the movie Jaws changed how people viewed sharks. She repeatedly works her way back to condemnation of China's obsession for shark fin soup. She points her accusing finger at world environmental bodies that refuse to take a stand to protect sharks. Instead of an original exploration of how humans and sharks have interacted over the centuries, we are given a repackaging of stuff that has already been done. If you have ever watched Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, 80% of this book is old news to you.

There are a few amusing antidotes. In particular, her narrative regarding the conversations concerning sharks that came up while she was a reporter on John McCain's Straight Talk Express during the 2008 election cycle. But though amusing, it really doesn't add much to the book. And this is the ultimate problem. Eilperin is a charming conversationalist, but not an eloquent journalist. At times, the book feels like you are talking to a very friendly but somewhat flighty friend who can't seem to stay focused long enough to get to the point. And when she does regain focus, it is to tell you something she already said.

If you are new to the world of sharks and the dangers they face from humans, Demon Fish is a good launching point. Eilperin's writing style is clear and accessible to even the most casual reader. But for those who have longstanding interest in these amazing creatures, the book does little to add to what we already know. (less)

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Jul 30, 2011 Hood rated it 5 of 5 stars

In Juliet Eilperin’s Demon Fish, however, it’s us humans who come off the most evil, rather than the sharks who share the Devil’s name. Eilperin, a national environmental reporter for The Washington Post, traces humankind’s history with the prehistoric critters and comes off proving that, other than the occasional attack or two, these beasts are really on the side of the angels.

Okay, so I exaggerate — some. Sharks are actually more submerged deity than winged angel, at least so far as the few re...more

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Jul 20, 2011 nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm a total armchair marine biologist. I will eat up book after book about any aquatic creature. But this in particular caught my attention, because, well, SHARKS!

I had a lot of trouble with sticking with it, though. Part of the problem is being in a library every day, surrounded by lots of books I haven't read, that I would be allowed to just take home. As if I didn't have any other books to read. Part of it is just the writing and pacing -- it's no The Secret Life of Lobsters, that's for sur...more I'm a total armchair marine biologist. I will eat up book after book about any aquatic creature. But this in particular caught my attention, because, well, SHARKS!

I had a lot of trouble with sticking with it, though. Part of the problem is being in a library every day, surrounded by lots of books I haven't read, that I would be allowed to just take home. As if I didn't have any other books to read. Part of it is just the writing and pacing -- it's no The Secret Life of Lobsters, that's for sure. But I'm glad I kept at it because man, did I learn a lot.

Like, please get me started about shark mating because I could go for hours. Specifically on how some female sharks actually get pregnant by several male sharks, but then their offspring duke it out in the womb, until one male's offspring eats all of the other males' offspring. IN THE WOMB.
My notes actually read "shark babies are monsters."

And I didn't know that Jaws was based on actual events that happened in New Jersey. Or that you shouldn't wear black or blue swimwear, because that makes you look like a seal pup. Or that you definitely shouldn't swim near dogs, whose paddling can easily be mistaken for a floundering fish. Or how hard it is to determine the particular type of shark you've caught through one means or another -- DNA testing or X-rays are usually used. And shark fin soup is total bullshit currently being used to emphasis the growing middle class in China. It doesn't add any nutritional value or taste to the soup and causes the price of fins to soar but then like fishermen just throw the rest of the carcass into the sea which is a total waste.

Seriously guys. I can go on for hours.

I don't think this book is instantly going to change our perception of sharks overnight, although it does point out that faulty toasters often cause more deaths per year than shark attack. But the bottom line is that we don't know fuck all about sharks, so if we keep killing them, not only is it terrible for the environment but we'll never get to answer all of those questions we have. And I have like, so many. Plus, I've totally added cage diving with great white sharks to my Mighty List. (less)

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Jun 09, 2011 Alan rated it 4 of 5 stars

To start off with, I've been a fan of sharks since well before "Jaws" was released back in the 1970s. I recall trolling new and used books stores for any book that had anything to do with sharks or the sea, but especially sharks. And that interest has never died for me, so I grabbed a copy of "Demon Fish" by Juliet Eilperin when I saw it.

This is not your typical book on the natural history of sharks. While most books on sharks will focus on one of a couple of things, i.e., the diversity and bio...more To start off with, I've been a fan of sharks since well before "Jaws" was released back in the 1970s. I recall trolling new and used books stores for any book that had anything to do with sharks or the sea, but especially sharks. And that interest has never died for me, so I grabbed a copy of "Demon Fish" by Juliet Eilperin when I saw it.

This is not your typical book on the natural history of sharks. While most books on sharks will focus on one of a couple of things, i.e., the diversity and biology of sharks, or the risk to or from sharks, this book is a bit different.

Eilperin starts out on an atypical tack. Her first topic is historical, mythical, and spritiual connections between humans and sharks. She visits "Shark Callers" of Papua New Guinea, explores their mystical connection with sharks, and that status the being a "shark caller" brings to people who do this. She also looks into connections between sharks and people throughout the rest of the Indo-Pacific Region as well as in the Americas and other areas of the world. This section was particularly interesting to me since most of my background with sharks is in the areas of their biology, ecology, and environmental connections related to shark-finning and other examples of over-exploitation or sensationalism surrounding sharks.

The author then takes us with her as she learns about people's general perceptions of sharks, and, the culinary connections between us and them. She pays particular attention to the topic of shark finning and the shark fin trade that supplies the growing shark fin soup industry that has existed in Asia for years, but that has recently escalated since the newly more affluent Chinese person is buying into the general expecation that sahrk fin soup must be part of any respectable wedding celebration, as well as other celebrations to boot. This means that offering shark fin soup to your guests is more about tradition and saving face than it is about taste. Sheesh!

I was surprised to read that when the author and others looked into what shark fin soup actually is, they found that a bowl of shark fin soup qualifies if it has even a small stringly piece of shark fin in it, and that the shark fin ingredient is actually quite tasteless. It's all about keeping up with the Joneses, er, Changs, and not wanting to lose face. That's what's driving the whole shark finning industry. Of course some people and cultures use the meat from the body as well, but shark fins are what make the intenational and local shark fishing industries go round.

Later on in the book Eilperin provides a respectable introduction to conservation issues and challenges associated with today's global shark community, and provides a good explanation about why maintaining a high pressure shark fishery has led to declines in the stocks of many shark species so that they now have as little as 1% of the original popuation remaining, AND why fishng nations are so reluctant to engage in setting meaningful quotas, or setting useful protection limits for these important top predators.

Only a few shark species actually have widespread (international) protection - Whale Sharks, Basking Sharks, and White Sharks. You can read why these were highlighted in these protections.

All in all I found this book to be engaging, insightful, and useful.

The reason I awarded only 4 stars is that, at least for me, the beginning had a tendency to drag. But, overall the messages of the importance of these ecologically important animals is stated clearly.

4 strong stars - enjoy!

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Aug 04, 2011 Paul Pessolano rated it 3 of 5 stars

“Demon Fish” by Juliet Eilperin, published by Pantheon Books.

Category – Animal/Nature

Most of us have a preconceived idea about sharks, this stems from the hit movie “Jaws” and the sensational articles that have been written about shark attacks. These two events, and there are others, have led to an unprecedented killing of sharks around the world.

Another major reason for the killing of sharks is the Asian desire for Shark’s Fin Soup. A soup, by the way, that most people find very bland and only...more “Demon Fish” by Juliet Eilperin, published by Pantheon Books.

Category – Animal/Nature

Most of us have a preconceived idea about sharks, this stems from the hit movie “Jaws” and the sensational articles that have been written about shark attacks. These two events, and there are others, have led to an unprecedented killing of sharks around the world.

Another major reason for the killing of sharks is the Asian desire for Shark’s Fin Soup. A soup, by the way, that most people find very bland and only palatable if other ingredients are added to it. The desire for this delicacy (not my words) has caused a overfishing for sharks for just the fins; most times the rest of the shark is just discarded. The desire for this soup and the decline of sharks has caused the price of shark fins to skyrocket.

The author brings out some little know facts concerning sharks. A study shows that only four or five people a year are killed due to a shark attack, that means that you would be more likely to die from lightning, a bee sting, or an elephant attack. It is also claimed that only 6% of the known shark species are known to attack humans. There are some areas that have been depleted, or becoming dangerously close to being depleted, of shark population that the ecosystem has been seriously threatened. The Mediterranean Sea is now devoid of sharks and it is believed that it will never be a habitat for sharks again. This is a sea that at one time was teeming in shark population.

Probably the most disturbing fact brought out regarding the decline in sharks is that they were able to keep other species in control. There are some areas where seals and other animals that were once food for sharks are increasing in numbers and upsetting the natural order of things.

There is an outstanding chapter that is devoted to the whale shark that gives rise to some hope for the future. It seems that instead of killing off this species, or any species for that matter, a better approach would be to cultivate tourism by running excursions to view these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

A very well put together book that explores the world of sharks and man. The author details not only how we got to where we are today in this crisis but how we may find our way out of it.

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May 15, 2011 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 resu...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Steve rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reading

While the title and cover suggest an intimate look at sharks and their world, this is, instead, a book of environmentalist reportage focused on the people who work with sharks in various capacities: scientists, fishermen, politicians, even restaurateurs. It's essentially a book about fish population management. In other words, it's pretty dry, with only a couple of chapters that deliver even a fraction of the information any book about a species of animal should deliver, and virtually none of th...more

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Jul 09, 2011 Lee Anne rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed-not-bought

Washington Post environmental reporter Juliet Eilperin, who in her dust jacket photo looks as exactly as "tote bag" as you expect her to, authored this book on sharks and people's adversarial relationship with them.

This book and I got off on the wrong foot. The first chapter, about shark callers in Papua, New Guinea, was so long, earnest, and dull, and the author seemed so uncertain as to how much to insert herself into the narrative, that I quickly lost interest. Although there are some interes...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked reading about different shark myths across cultures, as well as DNA origins, but this book didn't teach me much about sharks themselves. While I appreciate the conservation approach, I think Peter Benchley's SHARK TROUBLE does a better job explaining the importance of sharks to different ecosystems.

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Aug 15, 2011 Ryan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: socialscience, science

Glad I got through it! The pacing was a little off, but otherwise it's an excellent book about some cool elements of shark biology and behavior, but mostly about our relationship with them as a species. People are scared of them, but they should be scared of us, etc. You learn about the disgusting practice of finning - where sharks are caught, killed, de-finned, and cast back into the water. This is only because a lot of Asian cultures will pay a lot of money for shark fin soup, which doesn't ad...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Jonathan Schildbach rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I find sharks fascinating, and as much as they scare the hell out of me, they definitely need to be protected--which was basically what the book was about (the protection, not the scares). Eilperin provides plenty of information to make the case that sharks need to be saved from over-fishing, but often the information was padded with repetitive observations--for instance, that protecting sharks in one geographical area would not provide enough p...more I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I find sharks fascinating, and as much as they scare the hell out of me, they definitely need to be protected--which was basically what the book was about (the protection, not the scares). Eilperin provides plenty of information to make the case that sharks need to be saved from over-fishing, but often the information was padded with repetitive observations--for instance, that protecting sharks in one geographical area would not provide enough protection if they were still subject to being fished in other places--since the sharks don't necessarily stay in one place, or passages about how economic growth in China has led to an increase in the consumption of shark-fin soup out of tradition/status-seeking more than out of anything of value in the food.

There were some captivating parts, but often the narrative got repetitive, or Eilperin lost me in her transitions. There were a few times where I had the thought(s), "Were you done with that section? Are you coming back to it? Are you tying it to the section you just started?"

There was also some pretty cool stuff that I had never read/heard about before, like a good portion of the information on shark reproduction. And Eilperin touches on some pretty important stuff about shifting priorities via economic incentives (tourism vs. fishing, for instance).

But the book never really gels. It's like it can't settle into it's own rhythm--kind of like a CD with a few good tracks and a lot of passable-but-bland material in between. And a really powerful overall concept is lacking. For instance, when you can point to George W. Bush signing some major legislation to preserve shark habitat, it's kind of hard to argue that sharks aren't a popular animal when it comes to environmental protection. The politicians Eilperin discusses that oppose protecting sharks have a clear tie to economic incentives.

And talk about your missed opportunities, when Eilperin gets around to writing about going cage diving among great whites, she only devotes a page-and-a-half to her time in the water.

There's also sort of a weird tension in the book between peoples' fear of sharks, and their love of scary, really cool animals. Eilperin suggests that "Jaws" did a great deal to ruin the reputation of sharks--but while there are those who would think it was okay to exterminate sharks, I think the majority of people who are fans of "Jaws" are really much more interested in keeping sharks around than in wiping them out (unless I am part of a very small minority). And there's a sequence in the movie that addresses the hysteria of people blindly attacking sharks out of fear.

So, in the final analysis--I loved the idea of this book, but couldn't love the execution. I kept thinking of Susan Casey's "The Wave"--and how somebody could make science writing about the Ocean a highly entertaining read. Yet, even with sharks, Eilperin doesn't get there.
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Oct 11, 2012 g-na rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: biology-zoology

To be honest, I almost abandoned this book without finishing it. Eilperin investigates the relationship between humans and sharks, and most of that revolved around the former killing the latter. I was so upset reading about the relentless killing of sharks that I considered giving up on it.

That being said, the author has done a good job researching how sharks and people have been connected throughout time. There have been cultures who in the past have revered sharks, but the passage of time and...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Ryan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was drawn to this book by the subject matter, and the title, and the jacket art, which features a looming shark staring straight at the viewer from behind text that appears to be sliding out of gill slits.

The book itself falls into a category I have no name for, but that I describe as "stuff that makes me feel powerless." While there are some positive notes of potential recovery amid the warnings of shark extinctions, the frequent mention of China's obsession with the tasteless practice of "fi...more I was drawn to this book by the subject matter, and the title, and the jacket art, which features a looming shark staring straight at the viewer from behind text that appears to be sliding out of gill slits.

The book itself falls into a category I have no name for, but that I describe as "stuff that makes me feel powerless." While there are some positive notes of potential recovery amid the warnings of shark extinctions, the frequent mention of China's obsession with the tasteless practice of "finning" sharks for a tasteless ingredient in soup made me mentally bid sharks--misunderstood in their terror and glory--a sad farewell.

Once more than a billion people decide they want something ...

Still, while reading this book, I simultaneously received an e-mail from the Monterey Bay Aquarium urging me to contact my elected leaders in California and ask them to vote for legislation that would ban the sale of shark fins in the state. I sent an e-mail of my own wording--the first time I've ever done such a thing. It's better than simply feeling powerless.

Juliet Eilperin is a talented writer and obviously thorough investigator and reporter. But while I wouldn't quite call her prose clinical, it doesn't have the richness I was hoping for in a book about the ocean's--maybe the world's--top predators. Tales of shark callers with stone statuettes should shine with an almost mystical glow--but that's my preference. Eilperin was not out to beatify sharks, nor romanticize the people who rely on them for traditional, cultural, or economic reasons. She simply visits various countries and continents in search of stories and experiences she puts on paper to educate her readers. It's a noble goal.

So while her passion lacks creative depth, it is evident, and her approach keeps the book from being moist-eyed and preachy despite its repetition of statistics and quotes from experts that point to a future without sharks. What little we know about the fish is still enough to indicate that their absence would transform our oceans in dire and drastically surprising ways.

I am convinced of sharks' importance, as well as the necessity of their preservation, but I was to begin with. Now if only Eilperin could convince a billion or so people not in the choir to read her book. Barring that, does anyone have the resources to mount an ad campaign in Beijing? Maybe large billboards and bus ads with movie stars saying in Mandarin: "Only men with embarrassingly small penises serve and eat shark fins."(less)

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Feb 06, 2012 Victoria rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nature, non-fiction, ocean

As a die-hard "shark fan" I have to say that I was a little disappointed with this book. A lot of the facts continue to be a regurgitation of the same information that has been published through Shark Week. And despite many references about how "everything we know now about sharks is so different" there wasn't really enough evidential support of this rather broad statement. That being said, if you missed Shark Week the last few years, and you can't wait until August, then definitely pick this bo...more

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May 31, 2013 Sean rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The theme the author made prominent in the book is that sharks have had a pretty bad reputation for attacking people. But actually its not as common as people think. The other theme is that sharks are being decimated it numbers by the hundreds of thousands killed every day. The author makes several points saying how shark conservation is important. The book is generally about man's impact on sharks and how we should use our ocean resources more wisely. The authors purpose for writing this book w...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

While I personally would have given this book 4 stars, I choose 3 because if you are not obsessed with sharks like I am, you may not enjoy it as much. It is the story of a jounalist travelling the world to research the very large decline in shark populations. People have a tendancy to think that because sharks have survived since the time of the dinosaurs that they will always be there. That is clearly not the case after what this author discovered. Shark populations are declining rapidly, even...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Tea Krulos rated it 5 of 5 stars

You might not believe this, but I had the idea to write this same book. It was a pipedream book, something I could write if money wasn't an object. My working title was "Man Bites Shark."

You can imagine my weird surprise when I was browsing a bookstore and found this. Flipping through it, I realized every idea I had thought up, down to specific chapter ideas, was in this book. I would say it was Twilight Zone- like.

So, I gave up on that idea but the good news is I got an excellent book to read....more

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May 19, 2013 Eddy Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals-and-children

A group of traders huddles around a pile of dried shark fins on a gleaming white floor in Hong Kong. A Papua New Guinean elder shoves off in his hand-carved canoe, ready to summon a shark with ancient magic. A scientist finds a rare shark in Indonesia and forges a deal with villagers so it and other species can survive.

In this eye-opening adventure that spans the globe, Juliet Eilperin investigates the fascinating ways different individuals and cultures relate to the ocean’s top predator. Along...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Dachokie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: other

Demon Fish or Demon Man?

This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine Program.

Are sharks nothing but ruthless killers that deserve to be killed solely because the media machine is focused more on sensationalizing news and perpetuating basic fears than reporting simple truths? Has the blockbuster film "Jaws" created an unnecessary hysteria of hatred toward all sharks? Is man's craving for a particular delicacy reached a point where we are systematically exterminating the species for the dubious...more Demon Fish or Demon Man?

This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine Program.

Are sharks nothing but ruthless killers that deserve to be killed solely because the media machine is focused more on sensationalizing news and perpetuating basic fears than reporting simple truths? Has the blockbuster film "Jaws" created an unnecessary hysteria of hatred toward all sharks? Is man's craving for a particular delicacy reached a point where we are systematically exterminating the species for the dubious value of their fins alone? Juliet Eilperin thinks sharks have an unfair rap sheet and in her book DEMON FISH, she argues that unnecessary fear and commercial greed have led to the wanton killing of a species that, in reality, is not as evil as we think. While I liked the premise for Eilperin's book and found much of the book to be fascinating, I also felt it lacked continuity and at times, had too much political flavor.

Eilperin begins her book by informing the reader of an innocent and simple ritual practiced by a New Guinea tribe called "shark calling". "Shark calling" is a ceremonial event where a designated male in the tribe canoes into the ocean to lure a shark that will be sacrificed (by having its eyes jabbed and beaten to death with a ceremonial stick) to eventually provide food for the shark caller's village. The innocence in this ritual is that it is a tribal custom and it involves the individual killing of shark that results in feeding people. Eilperin then indicates that "shark calling" is losing its luster today as the western world has infiltrated the culture, bringing the lucrative practice of commercial fishing and along with it, greed. The huge hauls accumulated by commercial fishing have made it more and more difficult for the shark caller to find a single shark. With this chapter, the tone of the book is set, by contrasting what appears to be the author's opinion on how sharks should be treated (with reverence) versus how she feels they actually are being treated (commercially over-fished, fodder).

The second chapter of the book provided an excellent and profoundly interesting overview of the shark species' vast history ... including some of the more infamous shark attacks (including the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks and the sinking of the USS Indianapolis toward the end of World War II). I found this chapter intriguing because it also reflected the negative effect the movie "Jaws" had on sharks, as well as the media's tendency to create hysteria just for the sake of doing it (like in 2001, when several shark attacks propelled Time magazine to declare it "the Summer of the Shark"). While I preferred this chapter over all others, I found it interesting that the author selectively included commentary from only shark attack victims' that had no ill will toward the fish that almost killed them. Even "Jaws" author Peter Benchley is noted to have taken a sympathetic and defensive position on sharks following the universal hatred aimed toward the fish following the release of his bestseller book and the subsequent blockbuster movie. Actually, by the end of the chapter it is hard not to have a sympathetic view toward a fish killed strictly out of fear and while the author takes great steps to support this belief, I was left wondering if I was getting the complete perspective. I am virtually sure not all shark attack survivors are likely to be so empathetic toward their attackers, but we don't get to hear their side of the story.

The remaining chapters focus on a hodge-podge of topics that generally evolve around the tenuous coexistence between man and sharks, a world where sharks are sharks and man is sometimes good and sometimes evil (the shark caller might be considered "good" and the commercial fisherman might be "evil"). I had mixed feelings on these chapters in that I agreed with the author's viewpoints on several instances, such as the killing of sharks for the utterly stupid "delicacy" called shark-fin soup and the ignorant fear-induced violence exhibited toward the more docile types of sharks. But I wasn't sold on the author's claim that the overfishing and needless killing of sharks for whatever reason (fins, food, fear, etc.) was leading to their extinction. The reason for my skepticism is that early in the book, the author states that 90% of the ocean is unexplored. I find it difficult to support the belief that what man has done with 10% of the ocean's creatures accurately represent the remaining 90%, but the book tells us the shark population is dwindling and cites shark-finning and overfishing as likely culprits. Maybe their seeking refuge in the 90% of the ocean we haven't explored ... just a thought. The general theme of these subsequent chapters is dedicated to contrasting those trying to understand/save the sharks with those who hunt sharks for money or sport. I found some of the scientific research presented in these chapters quite fascinating. In particular, Eilperin discusses the findings of shark behavior associated with mating/reproduction which I found to be very educating. Additionally, there is substantial information provided on the Whale shark, the world's largest creature that, despite its size, is apparently rather difficult to track down and study.

While I believe DEMON FISH was an interesting read, I wasn't sold on the author's argument that all sharks are demonized and being killed to the point of becoming extinct. As an environmental activist, the author is effective with conveying her passion for sharks and their place on the planet and I wholeheartedly agree that sharks, in general, have been unjustly maligned over the years, for a variety of reasons. On the other hand, there was a little too much activism and not enough general information to educate the reader with a more balanced approach to her argument. While I liked much of the book's content, in the end, I felt it was less about traveling the hidden world of sharks than it was about exposing the dirty deeds of mankind. (less)

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Dec 19, 2011 Alex Telander rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2011

If you’re reading this, chances are you have some sort of fear of sharks . . . and maybe by discovering what Demon Fish is about, you will confront these fears, learn more about these incredible fish, and in turn come to respect them as the amazing creatures that they are. Well, if there was a book that could help you with that, Demon Fish is certainly it.

Juliet Eilperin works for the Washington Post. Her first book was on politics, Fight Club Politics: How Partisanship is Poisoning the House of...more If you’re reading this, chances are you have some sort of fear of sharks . . . and maybe by discovering what Demon Fish is about, you will confront these fears, learn more about these incredible fish, and in turn come to respect them as the amazing creatures that they are. Well, if there was a book that could help you with that, Demon Fish is certainly it.

Juliet Eilperin works for the Washington Post. Her first book was on politics, Fight Club Politics: How Partisanship is Poisoning the House of Representatives, but in April of 2004 she covered the environment for the national desk, reporting on science, climate change, and the oceans. If there were a comprehensive biography of the ancient, long-lived fish known as the shark, Demon Fish would qualify. Eilperin begins with an introduction of her first meeting with these majestic yet powerful and terrifying creatures, and how she grew to appreciate them. She tells the story of the World-Famous Shark Callers found on the island of Papua New Guinea, who have been hunting these fish for centuries with a ritualistic method that involves calling the shark, then capturing it; once killed every part of the fish is used in some way. But Shark Calling is a dying art, especially when there are other companies that use more modern technology to deplete the nearby shark populations.

Eilperin’s chapter on “An Ancient Fish” presents a full history of the shark, starting long ago during the time of the dinosaurs when they were massive creatures feared by just about everything beneath the waves (and above no doubt), to the smaller but no less frightening versions of today. The shark is in fact one of the oldest, longest living creatures on the planet, and now has over four hundred species. Eilperin travels the world, visiting and working with different people who interact with sharks in different ways: whether it’s fishing for them, taking tourists out to see them and attempt to catch them, or tagging and conserving and protecting them however they can. She devotes a significant portion of the book to the shark fin industry, which is the biggest threat to this fish, as the restaurants of Asia (as well as many others around the world) continue to serve shark fin soup, even though it doesn’t taste of much – as Eilperin makes clear – but is a cultural expectation, not just in Asian restaurants but expected to be served at weddings as a sign of the bride’s family’s noble standing.

Demon Fish doesn’t attempt to convince or convert or proselytize on the threatened numbers and species of shark around the world; Eilperin just presents the facts and realities for what they are in many different places across the globe. It is clear that things are not fine with this ancient fish, and when the likes of Jaws and other similar stories continue to perpetuate this fear of a gravely misunderstood creature, Demon Fish does an excellent job of informing and educating, making one realize at the end that the shark is simply another one of the incredibly unique animals populating this planet and has just as much right to live and breed and exist as all the others do, including the many humans who fear it.

Originally written on September 23, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.

For more reviews and exclusive interviews, go to the BookBanter site.(less)

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Jul 08, 2012 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: animal lovers

Recommended to Emily by: NYTimes, I think

Shelves: nonfiction

"But the best example of how we should treat sharks came from perhamps the unlikeliest conservation hero of them all, George W. Bush, in June 2006. For years environmentalists had been pressing the White House to fully protect the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Another remarkable series of Pacific atolls stretching fourteen hundred miles lng and a hundred miles across, the uninhabited chian boasts more than seven thousand marine species, at least a quarter of which are found nowhere else on earth....more "But the best example of how we should treat sharks came from perhamps the unlikeliest conservation hero of them all, George W. Bush, in June 2006. For years environmentalists had been pressing the White House to fully protect the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Another remarkable series of Pacific atolls stretching fourteen hundred miles lng and a hundred miles across, the uninhabited chian boasts more than seven thousand marine species, at least a quarter of which are found nowhere else on earth. ... In the end Bush surprised even his own advisers by declaring the islands the Papahanaumokuawakea Marine National Monumnet, making it the largest marine protected are in the world, one that will remain untouched for generations."

"Just two weeks before leaving office on January 6, 2009, Bush made one ast offering to conservaton activists by creating three separate marine momuments in the Pacific that will protect some of the most pristine parts of the sea. ... it meant Bush had to defy Vice President Dick Cheney and the U.S. recreational fishing lobby. These groups, and the vice president, argued the president had no right to deny American citizens the right to thake their rod and reel to the farthest corners of U.S. territory. IN the end Bush decided that he did."

"I have wanted to visit the Northwest Hawaiian Islands and the northern Marianas for years: now I will likely never go. But that's beside the point -- the sharks will be there. They were here long before we arrived, they are unlike anything else on earth, and they, more than any other living thing, embody what is profound and beautiful about the sea."

"The House Democrat had criticized Bush on plenty of occasions, but this time he gave him full credit for performing what Case described as 'the most revolutionary act by any president, any administration, in terms of marine resources.'"

"Bush's decision would not usher in a new era of ecotourism; the Northwest Hawaiian Islands would never become a catchy, pituresque symbol for America like the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone. It would simply exist, undamaged, with all of its wondrous creatures swimming below the surface."(less)

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Oct 15, 2012 B. Rule rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book left me vaguely unsatisfied. It's primarily a long, occasionally shrill, account of the ecological devastation wrought by modern fishing on shark populations. I was hoping for more detail about the sharks themselves, but that information is parceled out with great parsimony. I think the fundamental problem is that the writer simply isn't that engaging. If you really love sharks, this book is worth reading. If you have a passing curiosity like me, you might want to fish around for anoth...more

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Dec 13, 2011 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

What's the best thing for a girl that has been having shark attack dreams for the last 37 years? To read "Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks." Juliet Eilperin does an excellent job of telling the story of how these predators that have captured the imagination the world over -- and how and why we need to protect them. However, I don't recommend reading it right before you go to bed. These amazing creatures have a cunning way of taking over your dreams.

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Dec 18, 2011 Cindy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

Have I mentioned how much I love sharks? If you love sharks like I do and watch Discovery, Shark Week, and National Geographic Wild, there is little information in this book that will seem new to you. However, if you do not love sharks or do not watch Shark Week or nature documentaries, this is a very engaging, informal, and informative book about sharks, how we feel about sharks, how we have felt about sharks, how little we actually know about sharks, and how we are currently decimating shark p...more

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Sep 23, 2011 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Whether you've long been fascinated with sharks or simply want to know more after the most recent Shark Week," pick up this wide-ranging look at shark in myth, history, and the precarious present. Will a creature millions of years old survive the craving for shark's fin soup? If not, we shall certainly prove ourselves the greatest killer the ocean has ever known, making Bruce the Shark from Jaws look like a guppy.

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Aug 19, 2011 Tracey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

Overall, I liked this. I would have appreciated more about current shark science and less about the hunting and eating of sharks, but that's a huge problem right now and I understand that it should be publicized LOUDLY. It was fun seeing the names of Eugenie Clark and the Taylors, who used to show up on tv specials about sharks back in the 70s and 80s.

Also, best book cover of the year.

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Aug 13, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 52-books-in-a-year-2011

Informative without being too scientific. I expected a book about different types of sharks, but realized it was more an environmental read on marine ecology and WHY we don't really know that much about sharks. I liked the journalistic style and how each chapter was like a short story--informative without beating you over the head with the need for conservation efforts not only for shark populations but for all oceanic life.

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Sep 02, 2012 Kasandra rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book makes it clear that humans are killing all the sharks, and by the time enough people take this seriously, it may be too late for many species to recover. A very sad read, but eye-opening. Also fascinating: did you know that some fetal sharks eat their siblings in utero (i.e. great whites and others)? Also, sharks are much closer to us at all times in the ocean than you may have realized. Will make you think twice before swimming in the ocean again, guaranteed.

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