The Secret History of Sharks, John Long
The Secret History of Sharks, John Long
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The Secret History of Sharks
The Rise of the Ocean's Most Fearsome Predators

Author: John Long

Narrator: John Long

Unabridged: 14 hr 28 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/02/2024

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

From ancient megalodons to fearsome Great Whites, this book tells the complete, untold story of how sharks emerged as Earth’s ultimate survivors, by world-leading paleontologist John Long.

“Will keep you on the edge of your seat from its first page to its last page.”—Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel

Sharks have been fighting for their lives for 500 million years and today are under dire threat. They are the longest-surviving vertebrate on Earth, outlasting multiple mass extinction events that decimated life on the planet. But how did they thrive for so long? By developing superpower-like abilities that allowed them to ascend to the top of the oceanic food chain.

John Long, who for decades has been on the cutting edge of shark research, weaves a thrilling story of sharks’ unparalleled reign. The Secret History of Sharks showcases the global search to discover sharks’ largely unknown evolution, led by Long and dozens of other extraordinary scientists. They embark on digs to all seven continents, investigating layers of rock and using cutting-edge technology to reveal never-before-found fossils and the clues to sharks’ singular story. 

As the tale unfolds, Long introduces an enormous range of astonishing organisms: a thirty-foot-long shark with a deadly saw blade of jagged teeth protruding from its lower jaws, a monster giant clams crusher, and bizarre sharks fossilized while in their mating ritual. The book also includes startling new facts about the mighty megalodon, with its sixty-six-foot-long body, massive jaws, and six-inch serrated teeth.

With insights into the threats to sharks today, how they contribute to medical advances, and the lessons they can teach us about our own survival, The Secret History of Sharks is a riveting look at scientific discovery with ramifications far beyond the ocean.

* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains a list of scientific names, a glossary of terms and selected photos, maps and other visual representations of subjects explored in the book.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Emily on June 05, 2024

The Secret History of Sharks is a great mix of textbook worthy material interspersed with personal stories & discoveries from both the author as well as other people in the field. There’s tons of great new information to be read & also so many things still unknown. My personal favorite sections were......more

Goodreads review by Sierra on June 08, 2024

If you don't know paleo, you might not know that John Long is one of the most famous Fish Guys around, and also one of the most successful synthesizers of paleontological research into comprehensible books. That should be enough of a reason to read this book, although it is significantly more techni......more

Goodreads review by Troy on July 18, 2024

An exceptional piece of popular science -- the shark book I've been waiting for all my life. Takes its place on the shelf next to Bakker, Brusatte, Shubin, and Godfrey-Smith. The audiobook is read by the author in a performance authoritative, charming, humorous, and utterly Australian. Five big toot......more

Goodreads review by Sembray on April 04, 2025

This is a masterful examination of sharks, covering their history, evolution, place in the modern world and why we are so fascinated and sometimes terrified by them. John Long is a world-renowned palaeontologist who even has a genus of extinct sharks named after him, and he does an excellent job of......more

Goodreads review by Shannon on June 26, 2024

If you are into Sharks and their history you will love this book. I read this book because my step daughter is all about sharks and protecting them. I know very little about sharks and I thought this would be a great book for me to read and learn. While it is a very interesting book, There was so muc......more


Quotes

“A must-read on the history of the underwater predator.”The New York Post

“[A] wonderfully rich book.”—The Spectator

“Exhilarating. Long brings to life the incredible story of sharks. . . . Each adventure is pulse-pounding, giving readers a front row seat to the discoveries that have reshaped our understanding of shark evolution. . . . This accessible and engaging book is not only an enlightening read for those curious about marine life, but also a compelling case for why their survival is essential to our own.”American Scientist

“Sharks scare and fascinate us. How did they evolve? How did they beat out the ocean’s other giant predators of the past, like carnivorous marine reptiles? Is it ever safe to swim with Great White Sharks? What else do sharks do to make a living, besides eating us and other big prey? This book, by shark expert and great writer John Long, will keep you on the edge of your seat from its first page to its last page.”—Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel

“In this magnificent book, the eminent paleontologist John Long tells the true story of sharks and their evolutionary legacy spanning hundreds of millions of years. Rich with scientific detail and enlivened with stories from Long’s decades of fossil discoveries and cutting-edge research, this book is the work of a master scientist and storyteller.”—Steve Brusatte, professor and paleontologist at the University of Edinburgh and New York Times bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs

“Dive in to this effervescent, engaging biography of the world’s most misunderstood creatures. Evolving in obscurity almost half a billion years ago, sharks have endured the worst that the earth could throw at them. They were here long before the dinosaurs. When dinosaurs died out, sharks were still here. But will they be able to survive the Earth’s current threat: us?”—Henry Gee, PhD, senior editor of Nature and author of the award-winning A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth

“Every week is Shark Week for John Long, who has spent his life scouring the planet for clues to the mystery of shark evolution. Thoroughly researched and wonderfully narrated, The Secret History of Sharks makes a convincing case that the story of sharks is nothing less than the story of life on Earth. Highly recommended!”—Nate Blakeslee, New York Times bestselling author of American Wolf

“Readers will want to sink their teeth into this.”Publishers Weekly

“Long writes lively, lucid prose, and while this is not a textbook, he delivers an extremely detailed education in the history, anatomy, behavior, and ecology of the extensive shark family. . . . An expert natural history with few stones left unturned. If you enjoy searching for shark teeth, read this book.”—Kirkus Reviews