Thoroughly researched and written in clear, jargon-free prose by a shark "outsider," it reveals everything about these sophisticated guardians of the oceans. The shark has been the planet's dominant predator for millions of years. But in just 50 years all sharks have become threatened by human activity; victims of a deadly combination of overfishing, pollution, and the destruction of their habitats. Although scientific knowledge of sharks is increasing rapidly, there is still much to learn about these complex and elusive animals--and for many species it may already be too late. Despite this, in the popular imagination sharks remain poorly understood and, all too often, despised. This book stands up for sharks--big or small, scary or harmless.