Michael Bright - Sharks (The Natural History Museum)

Since people have been going to sea they have been in awe of sharks. Worshipped by ancient civilisations, reviled żeby seafarers and in more recent years, closely studied by marine biologists, sharks are the product of over 450 million years of evolution, honed to perfection as some of the sea's most sophisticated predators. Their formidable jaws and teeth seem to invoke in us an irrational fear that turns any shark attack into front-page news worldwide. Yet their powerful, streamlined bodies are also an inspiration to ship and submarine designers and their immune system may hold the key to fighting human diseases. Presenting the latest findings from international shark reserchers, Sharks is an engaging introduction to these near-perfect predators. It describes the broad range of living sharks, explores their biology and behaviour, and dispels the myths. Illustrated with over 100 of the best shark images from around the world, Sharks reveals these creatures to be far more than just mindless, killing machines. Revised and reformatted with the latest research, new images and up-to-date text, this is a comprehensive introduction to sharks and their biology and behaviour.