The Shark-Watcher's Handbook: A Guide to Sharks and Where to See Them

Following 2001's Summer of the Shark, when reports of attacks up and down the Eastern seaboard seemed weirdly frequent, this slim volume, a kind of Audubon guide to the deep, comes to clear the water. Zoologist Carwardine and research scientist Watterson compile a bevy of maps, drawings and information-rich essays in a single package for the shark-curious. (Or the shark-serious: to identify a silvertip shark, one presumably must swim quite near him.) Part reference book and part travel guide, the writing at times borders on the dryly academic, with sections devoted to topics such as ""Origins and ancestors,"" and ""Shark repellents and protection."" The images are generally good, a combination of crisp underwater photography and well-rendered illustrations. A world directory of prime shark-watching locations takes up much of the rest of the page-count. For those so fascinated by the thought of the deep-sea killers that they actually want to confront one, this book will take them far towards achieving that goal.