The Secret Life of Sharks: A Leading Marine Biologist Reveals the Mysteries of Shark Behavior

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Like many an earnest marine biologist before him, A. Peter Klimley wants you to see sharks as more than dumb predators. But what makes The Secret Life of Sharks unique is that Klimley has spent his entire adult life in close contact with sharks and offers an autobiographical peek into the lives of these fearsome fish. "I remember once placing my hand on the back of a large white shark as it moved like a locomotive alongside of my boat. Its body was warm... " Klimley recalls, evoking both shudders and fascination from readers who might sooner stick their hand in a campfire. This hippie-turned-professor regales readers with adventurous tales, the stuff of Shark Week legend, as well as more prosaic narrative--his progression through grad school, failed experiments, and calls for shark conservation. Klimley succeeds in helping readers understand shark behavior by comparing them to more familiar animals. He provides his own conclusions about what sharks' body movements might convey, their interactions with prey and each other, and why their attacks on humans might be the result of simple misunderstanding. --Therese Littleton

Book Description

Marine biologist Pete Klimley swims with the sharks. He was one of the first scientists to free-dive among sharks, and he has spent nearly thirty years studying shark behavior, sometimes swimming in schools of several hundred sharks. From his firsthand observations he has learned that sharks are not the vicious man-eaters that we imagine, but fascinating animals with complex behaviors.

Most people who think of sharks at all think immediately of great white sharks. But there are more than four hundred species of shark. Dr. Klimley has studied several species, most notably the great white and the hammerhead. (He describes the great white as the athlete among sharks, and the hammerhead as the Ph.D. of the shark world.) In The Secret Life of Sharks Dr. Klimley reveals the significant discoveries he made about hammerhead navigation and great white eating habits. By studying hammerheads gathered around underwater seamounts, Dr. Klimley learned that hammerheads rely on sophisticated tracking of ocean-floor magnetism to navigate. His long-term study of great white sharks off the California coast demonstrated that these huge sharks prefer to eat seals and sea lions because of the energy contained in their fatty bodies. They are selective eaters, not the man-eaters we expect, and they sometimes go weeks between meals. But Dr. Klimley did observe a ritualized behavior that great whites practice in order to avoid deadly disputes over prey that one shark has captured and another wants.

Although we have learned a great deal about shark behavior, says Dr. Klimley, there is much that we do not know. Unfortunately we are destroying these magnificent creatures of the deep through overfishing and degradation of the oceans. Already some populations of sharks have declined steeply.

Vividly written by one of the foremost authorities on sharks, The Secret Life of Sharks is a fascinating account of some of the world's most magnificent animals.

Customer Reviews:

Strangely enlightened, disappointed, and angered all at once by this book............2005-08-29

I bought this book because I love to read and I adore the shark in general. Its population dwindling, due to both cuisine and greed sadden me beyond belief. I thought that this book would enlighten me to the facts that aren't often discussed, yes, during "shark week". I was right. I was also bored out of my mind reading the book. Dr. Klimley loves his job. He also loves the noun-verb-noun and noun-linking adjective sentence. I found myself struggling after the third page not with the intellectual content, mind you, but with the banal sing-song of his writing technique. Paragraph after paragraph of noun-verb-noun sentences shyly punctuated with an occasional compound-complex sentence (methinks thrown in by the publisher) rattled in my brain like tumbling dominoes, until all of the wonderful information that I was trying to ingest fell out of my ears.
Sigh.
To his credit, he's incredibly intelligent, devoted, and quite in love with his job. I applaud all of this. However, he's also somewhat, uncomfortable for me to state, a bit of a traitor to the animals of the sea. He thanks Sea World, of all places, for help with his research. Sea World has been responsible for more cetacean deaths than I can remember reading about. I think that 33% of the dolphins, orcas, belugas, etcetera, die way before their appropriate expiration date at Sea Worlds nationwide, often due to boredom and extremely small habitats. No one in the profession of marine biology should ever thank a Sea World. They are interested in the Great White shark, I am convinced, as a money maker, should they ever succeed in capturing one and managing to keep it alive in captivity.
In the meantime, the ones that die in the quest for the perfect man-made habitat will be as quietly disposed as the numerous ailing "Shamu"s that we are not aware of.
I would have enjoyed this book to absolute death had Dr. Klimley allowed someone else to write it for him and had he thought about dis-connecting himself with a mega-corporation that has been responsible for exactly what every marine biologist should hate with fervor, the exploitation of animals for profit at no consideration to their safety or livelyhood.
All in all, I give it a thumbs mostly down.

'The Shark Expert'.......2004-08-13

Dr Peter Klimley is i would say the formost expert in sharks, the information he gives in his book is based on his life experiences with them.

His life has been shark i do not know of anyone that has more experience or can express himself so well in print

Steve Fox
owner of Deep Blue Divers 'Whale Shark Experts in the Caribbean
www.DeepBlueUtila.com

Not what the title suggests..........2003-10-25

I was really disappointed by this book. By the title, I expected it to cover shark behavior. Unfortunately, it was mainly a biography of the author with very little about shark behavior. This is not a criticism of the author, a respected expert on sharks, but if you want to learn about shark behavior, I suggest checking this book out in the store before buying it or you may be disappointed. I sent mine back for a refund.

The truth is right here!.......2003-08-25

Did everything you know about sharks come from watching JAWS? Do you think that there is a real truth out there beyond the hype on the silver screen? If you want to find out what sharks are REALLY like, A. Peter Klimley's THE SECRET LIFE OF SHARKS will explain the mysteries of shark behavior, and you might find that what sharks actually do is much more amazing than anything that has been seen in the movies!

As a professional biologist, college instructor, and life-long shark aficionado, I was about to embark on a late July "dream" trip to South Africa to participate in a white shark research project. I read this book hoping to get a bit of insight into the animal that I was going half-way around the world to study, and THE SECRET LIFE OF SHARKS provided that and a great deal more. Dr. Klimley effectively blends hard science and a spirit of adventure into an exciting and informative story about his 30 years of studying sharks. He describes the amazing ability of hammerheads to navigate through the featureless oceans using the earth's magnetic fields, explains how huge white sharks avoid "tooth to tooth" combat with each other by communicating with thundering tail slaps, offers reasonable and reassuring explanations for shark attacks on humans, and much more. He dispels the outdated myth that sharks are mindless killing machines, and presents them as evolutionary perfection with special senses, complex social behaviors, and unique physiological adaptations to the sea. By diving with sharks, observing them from land and sea, and even dressing up as a killer whale to swim with them, he has developed an understanding and appreciation of these amazing fish, and provides compelling reasons for their conservation. Enjoy this book and you, too, will hopefully become a champion for these fascinating and endangered animals.

Sharks behaviour presented as no one else can!.......2003-08-21

"The Secret Life of Sharks" is a wonderful novel designed to demonstrate the true nature of sharks through the personal experience/insight of a man who knows sharks on a level well beyond even the most avid shark enthusiast. Klimley provides historical context to his career in shark behaviour and his motivations for pursuing the directions he choose to pursue right from his very beginnings as a grad student. For those that know his work, this book reveals the personal thoughts and stories behind Klimley's research seen in the primary literature. For those new to this world of shark behaviour, this book is a great introduction to sharks and their inner workings presented in a way that is not only informative and knowledgeable to read, but is also so entertaining and enthralling as one does not want to put the book down.

Presented here is a book that puts a true face to shark behaviour and offers an honest look into the most misunderstood and usually misrepresented animals of our time. Follow Klimley into the realm of the hammerhead and great white and see that there really is much more to sharks than just shark teeth and JAWS.

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

One wispy October dawn, a boy on a bike came and went. Little did almost-14-year-old Zazoo know that this inquisitive, bird-watching bicyclist would hold the key to her past and open a window to the future as well.

The orphaned Zazoo lives alongside a canal with her loving adoptive grandfather, who brought her from Vietnam to his French village when she was just 2 years old. She and her tiny, 78-year-old Grand-Pierre share daily oatmeal, a passion for poetry, and a mysterious history. Why do the villagers seem leery of her gentle grandfather, even though he is often referred to as a war hero? Why does Grand-Pierre call World War II the "Awful Time"? And what happened to the brown-haired Jewish girl with whom he used to dance the tango so gracefully?

Philosophical, compassionate, and exquisitely lyrical, Richard Mosher's Zazoo is one of our favorite teen novels of 2001. Zazoo's voice is dreamily poetic, but the dialogue is immediate and true, and the story carries enough suspense (When will her beloved bicyclist return? What is Grand-Pierre's story?) and romance, past and present, to keep the pages turning quickly. Zazoo's struggle with her increasingly forgetful grandfather, her friendships with Juliette and Monsieur Klein, and a powerful infatuation with her elusive visitor combine to create a multifaceted love story of an extraordinary sort. Along the way, we glimpse a time in history, an awful time, demanding us to ask the big questions about life, love, loneliness, death, war, and heroism--and how to let joy creep into sadness and carry on. Highly recommended. (Ages 13 and older) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

Zazoo is Vietnamese by birth but feels entirely French. She has lived with her adoptive Grand-Pierre in France in an old stone mill between the river and the canal since she was two, sharing poetry, adventures, and the predictable rhythms of the seasons. Then one misty October morning, a young man on a bicycle rides into Zazoo's small village and asks a question from which many stories begin to unfold. A love story within a love story.

Customer Reviews:

My Zeal for Zazoo.......2007-04-23

Zazoo is a girl with tons of tangled knots from her past. With dead parents, a historic home, and a mysterious guardian, Zazoo must uncover her past while dealing with her current life in this mystery novel by Richard Mosher.
Zazoo is a girl from Vietnam who was taken to France after World War two. In her life, some odd things come up which lead her to figuring out her past life and facts about her guardian, Grand Pierre. When she finds out the link between her pharmacist and Grand Pierre, she thinks and sees her life in a completely different way.
The entire story is about Zazoo and her journey to find out how she got to France, who Grand Pierre really was, and what the people from her town did during World War two. Some other problems emerge involving a boy named Marius and an odd pain in her chest. With all of these unknown mysteries, Zazoo has to live her life to figure them out.
This is an action-packed book which almost impossible to put book down. Readers who enjoy mysteries and reading about different cultures would really enjoy uncovering the clues from Zazoo's past. They will absolutely adore the plot and conclusion of Zazoo.

A quiet romance that spans generations.......2007-01-26

Thirteen-year-old Zazoo is an orphaned Vietnamese girl who lives on the quiet banks of a French canal with her elderly adoptive Grand-Pierre. Her life is peaceful, marked only by worries about her increasingly aged and beloved grandfather. One day, her life is disturbed by a seemingly chance encounter with a boy on a bicycle who asks questions that lead Zazoo to start to question her grandfather's past. What happened to him during World War II, which he calls the Awful Time? And why do the villagers call him a hero, but seem to be afraid of him?

This is a quiet story about past life and present, filled with missed romance and romance that spans generations. Zazoo's narrative is lively and sweet and innocent, peppered with poetry and occasional true insight. And the mystery of Grand-Pierre's past, as well as the motives of Zazoo's bicycling friend, are compelling enough to move the story to its very beautiful and touching end. It's not an exciting story, but it is a lovely one.

Zazoo: Great Novel or Cheesy 1st Person-er?.......2006-12-03

I've read some pretty cheesy first person novels in my life, and I expected Zazoo to be the same, but, well, it's not. Firstly, it has a complex plot with characters that interact with each other in the past and present-good thing. Second, it has a well-described setting, though the environment isn't necessarily well described-not exactly good, but it does help the reader focus on the story. Third, it well describes psychological issues faced by many people, and in Zazoo most of the issues are faced by the old men remembering their past. I think that some of that is just offensive, especially the `owls killing mice' parts. Overall, though, I think this book was pretty good. 4 stars.

I am shocked........2006-09-01

I loved Zazoo. Both the book and the girl. I loved the poems, which were very good. I loved the story. I was amazed by the way a man could write a book in a teenage girl's perspective. This book is worth reading...
...And is not... (as according to other reviewers)
A. Boring. 'Zazoo' has a pretty complex plot with characters that are realistic.
B. 'Unrealistic' because of the way Grand-Pierre can't remember anything but the war. I'll tell you, if there is anything that a person would remember when they were old, it would be taking people's lives and living themselves in a war.
C. Appropriate for children age eight and up. I am a child, and I was HORRIFIED by some of the content in the book. Grand-Pierre's sweetheart hung...all the 'mice' he killed as an 'owl.'
D. Just a 'seducing, pretty' cover.

Read 'Zazoo.' It is a wonderful book.

Forgetable.......2005-11-28

When I first picked up this book I expected an interesting book that would teach me something about french culture, but It was not that at all. There is no real exciting event, and by the end you just want to tell Zazoo to stop complaining! When it is finally over you are left with many untied strings and a boring ending to a incredibly dull book. As for learning about France, all I got out of this book was that French people normally don't eat oatmeal. If you must read Zazoo it is not challenging, so it is not like you are wasting loads of time.

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Zazoo
Richard Mosher
Manufacturer: Clarion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KPCXCI

Book Description

This invaluable reference handbook describes the fundamental principles and procedures underlying the successful isolation of viable, functionally intact hematopoietic and lymphoid cells, and their maintenance as primary cultures. The text provides technical information on the signals and mediators required for the differentiation and growth of these cells, and is designed for laboratory investigators with limited practical experience in cell culture. Chapters discuss dendritic cells, T and B lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages, NK and LAK cells, mast cells and basophils, hematopoietic differentiation of embryonal stem cells, and the culturing of murine thymic explants. Each chapter has been written by experts who have practical experience of the techniques discussed to provide tips for avoiding common pitfalls, and sharing insight into the fundamental questions in cell biology and immunology addressed using each cell culture model.

Culture of Hematopoietic Cells (Culture of Specialized Cells)

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Culture of Hematopoietic Cells (Culture of Specialized Cells)

Manufacturer: Wiley-Liss
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

Provides scientists with step-by-step methods for easy use in the lab when cultivating and experimenting with blood cells. Covering a range of human and mouse cell types, this laboratory manual includes contributions from more than twenty leading investigators who offer their practical expertise on a wide range of topics. Features detailed instructions for reagent preparation and information on the latest specialized equipment and supplies.

Hematopoietic and lymphoid tissue in culture (Studies in Soviet science)

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Hematopoietic and lymphoid tissue in culture (Studies in Soviet science)
Elena Aleksandrovna Luriia
Manufacturer: Consultants Bureau
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Physiology | Basic Science | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Human Cell Culture: Volume IV: Primary Hematopoietic Cells (Human Cell Culture)

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Human Cell Culture: Volume IV: Primary Hematopoietic Cells (Human Cell Culture)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 079235821X

Book Description

This unique comprehensive volume in the Human Cell Culture Series encompasses research methodology for the growth and differentiation of all types of primary hematopoietic cells. Each of the twelve hematopoietic cell types is covered by a leading expert in the field, providing insightful background information along with detailed current culture and assay techniques. In addition to uses for research applications, current and future clinical applications of large-scale culture methods are also discussed. Further, the procurement and processing of primary human tissues is covered in detail. Because of the regulatory and ethical implications associated with use of human and fetal tissues, a separate chapter is included to guide scientists through these issues as well. The generous inclusion of figures and tables, along with a consistent format, makes critical information highly accessible to the reader. Additionally, numerous literature citations provide a valuable reference for students and professionals in the hematology, immunology, oncology and bioengineering fields.

Culture of Epithelial Cells, Culture of Hematopoietic Cells and Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique Third Edition Set

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Culture of Epithelial Cells, Culture of Hematopoietic Cells and Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique Third Edition Set
R. Ian Freshney
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Human hematopoietic cells in continuous culture (Abstracts of Uppsala dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine)

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Human hematopoietic cells in continuous culture (Abstracts of Uppsala dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine)
Kenneth Nilsson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Anatomy | Basic Science | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Customer Reviews:

Excelente libro introductorio.......2000-12-08

Entrega una gran cantidad de informacion introductoria sobre las cariables que influyen sobre la retencion de finos y fillers. Se hace especialmente enfasis en los tipos de ayudantes de retencion y los tipos de fillers a usar.

Quizas le faltó hacer un mayor enfasis sobre la retencion en medio acido, pero en general lo recomiendo.

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Retention of fillers by papermaking fibers (Bibliographic series - Institute of Paper Chemistry ; no. 186, 2d ed)
Lillian Roth
Manufacturer: Institute of Paper Chemistry
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0006AWA8O

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Retention of fillers by papermaking fibers (Bibliographic series / Institute of Paper Chemistry)
Robert W Miller
Manufacturer: Institute of Paper Chemistry
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00088ZTW8

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Retention of fillers by papermaking fibers, supplement III (no. 186, suppl. III)
Vera Pollock
Manufacturer: Institute of Paper Chemistry
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006WBR22

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More mayhem with the Mulliners

Mr Mulliner Speaking (Everyman Wodehouse)
P.G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Everyman's Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Meet Mr. Mulliner

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Money in the Bank (The Collector's Wodehouse)

Something Fresh (The Collector's Wodehouse)

Jill the Reckless (The Collector's Wodehouse)

ASIN: 1841591386

Customer Reviews:

More mayhem with the Mulliners.......2007-05-02

Whatever the topic of conversation in the bar-parlour of the Angler's Rest, Mr. Mulliner always has something to say. So sit back and listen as he relates the trials and tribulations of his extended family.

This book contains the following short stories:

The Reverent Wooing of Archibald
The Man Who Gave Up Smoking
The Story of Cedric
The Ordeal of Osbert Mulliner
Unpleasantness at Bludleigh Court
Those in Peril on the Tee
Something Squishy
The Awful Gladness of the Mater
The Passing of Ambrose

The stories range from amusing to laugh-out-loud hilarious.

More of Mr. Mulliner's tales can be found in "Meet Mr. Mulliner" and "Mulliner Nights". A few of the Mulliner stories were dramatized for the television show "Wodehouse Playhouse" now available on DVD and highly recommended.

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Mr Mulliner Speaking
P G Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Herbert Jenkins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J2X9AC

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Mr. Mulliner Speaking
P.G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000F04EL6

Meet Mr Mulliner + Mr Mulliner Speaking. Heron P G Wodehouse Collected Works

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Meet Mr Mulliner + Mr Mulliner Speaking. Heron P G Wodehouse Collected Works
P G Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Heron
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IYUC1A

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Meet Mr Mulliner + Mr Mulliner Speaking. Heron P G Wodehouse Collected Works
P G Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Heron
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IYUBD4

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Mr. Mulliner Speaking
P G Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Herbert Jenkins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NQC0IG

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MR. MULLINER SPEAKING
P. G. WODEHOUSE
Manufacturer: HERBERT JENKINS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000S9O4FU

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Mr. Mulliner Speaking
P. G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Coronet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000KXTX8M

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Mr. Mulliner Speaking
P. G. Wodehouse
Manufacturer: Random House of Canada, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0099559307

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