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William McKeever
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Emperors of the Deep: Sharks—The Ocean's Most Mysterious, Most Misunderstood, and Most Important Guardians Kindle Edition

by William McKeever (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 265 ratings
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What we can learn from sharks—evolutionary marvels that have survived for 450 million years, and are essential to our planet’s ecosystem.

We’re conditioned to see sharks as terrifying, cold-blooded underwater predators. But as Ocean Guardian founder William McKeever reveals, we need to ensure that their remarkable longevity continues. The first book to reveal in full the hidden lives of sharks, Emperors of the Deep focuses on four species—Mako, Tiger, Hammerhead, and Great White—as never before, including such fascinating details as:
  • Sharks are 50 million years older than trees
  • Sharks have survived five extinction level events, including the one that killed off the dinosaurs
  • Sharks have electroreception, a sixth sense that lets them pick up on electric fields generated by living things
  • Sharks can dive 4,000 feet below the surface
  • Sharks account for only six human fatalities per year, while humans kill 100 million sharks per year


McKeever goes back through time to probe the shark’s prehistoric secrets and how it has become the world’s most feared, and most misunderstood, predator, and takes us on a pulse-pounding tour around the world and deep under the surface, from the frigid waters of the Arctic Circle to the coral reefs of the tropical Central Pacific. He also interviews ecologists, conservationists, and world-renowned shark experts, including the founders of Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior, the head of the Massachusetts Shark Research Program, and the self-professed “last great shark hunter.”

At once a deep dive into the misunderstood world of sharks and an urgent call to protect them, Emperors of the Deep celebrates this wild species that hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of the ocean—if we can prevent their extinction from climate change and human hunters.

“Many astonishing facts.” —The Guardian

“[An] extraordinary book [that] rarely fails to inform and delight.” —The Washington Times

Includes photographs
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  1. Print length
    325 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    HarperOne
  5. Publication date
    June 25, 2019
  6. File size
    6815 KB
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

At once a deep dive into the misunderstood world of sharks—specifically, great whites, makos, hammer-heads, and tigers—and an urgent call to protect them, Emperors of the Deep is a rollicking underwater adventure that will forever change your perception of the 450-million--year-old species from coldblooded underwater predators to evolutionary marvels that play an integral part in maintaining the health of the world’s oceans.

About the Author

WILLIAM MCKEEVER lives in New York City, where he writes books and produces films about ocean conservation. This book is a result of his two-year journey around the world to reveal sharks in a new light. His feature-length documentary about sharks—also titled Emperors of the Deep—is forthcoming. He is the founder of Safeguard the Seas.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07CRGLG9H
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne; Reprint edition (June 25, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 25, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6815 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 325 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 265 ratings

About the author

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William McKeever

William McKeever

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William McKeever is an author and documentary filmmaker. His book, "Emperors of the Deep- The Shark", is in bookstores and focuses on raising awareness to the plight of sharks and makes a call for action to save them. The publisher is Harper Collins. Greenpeace calls the book a "must-read."

He interviewed scientists around the world to collect the latest knowledge about sharks. The book reveals how crucial they are to the marine environment. Lastly, he makes a call to stop the massacre of sharks for entertainment and their fins. In summary, the planet needs sharks more than it needs people.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
265 global ratings
Sharks Crucial to Ecosystem
5 Stars
Sharks Crucial to Ecosystem
Book covers the massacre of sharks but goes beyond that and explains why that is such a disaster for the oceans. Remarkable research into this keystone species that has never been done before.
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Top reviews from the United States

Nasrina
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and important book to read to help an important species to recover.
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2019
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This is a very good and well written book about sharks. Especially what we as humans have done to them since the Movie “Jaws”. The author is very good about telling his feelings about sharks from when he was young until now. Plus he goes into depth about several shark species. Their hunting skills, what they do eat, how long till they actually have baby sharks. What are decimation and all the ways of doing that. Make it impossible for the sharks to recover and are all endangered or on the watch list. I’m still reading and enjoying this book immensely. I have several family members and friends looking forward to borrowing this book from me.
10 people found this helpful
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Christopher Lapierre
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! Sharks & humans intersect in many ways
Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2020
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I really enjoyed Emperors of the Deep. The author makes many great connections to sharks and humans, in an easy to digest manner. All of the different aspects of sharks from some species exhibiting social nature, the issue with over-fishing and finning, and so on, prove to be very eye-opening even for someone who considers themselves a "shark enthusiast". The author's own experiences and those of whom he interviewed were key in providing context for many of the chapters. There was no shortage of good information from some of the top shark scientists.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes sharks, the ocean, conservation, or for those who want to know more about how these things are connected!
4 people found this helpful
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Marie Allen
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye-opening, well-written, engaging and inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2020
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William writes passionately about his experiences all over the world with sharks. We all know that sharks are being over-hunted and exploited, but hearing first hand the atrocities and also the research and conservation efforts is horrendously eye-opening, yet inspiring. I have shared this book with everyone I know and I hope that it helps make the waves to help protect and teach respect for sharks around the world. Thank you, William.
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Eric Henderson
4.0 out of 5 stars Sharks are Cool
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2020
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I have always like sharks since I was little. I was notified about this book thru a youtube video. It was a bit borish in some areas but over all alot of good info. I defiantly recommend this book!
One person found this helpful
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Kristine Gildersleeve
5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding achievement!
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2019
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William McKeever deftly weaves current research on the often maligned "big four" sharks (great white, mako, hammerhead and tiger) with compelling personal narrative in his first book, Emperors of the Deep.
From an evolutionary perspective to present day overhunting and overfishing, McKeever touches not only on the exploitation of fisheries, but in some cases of the fishermen themselves.
In defense of these majestic and pre-historic beings, McKeever highlights the beauty of our marine ecosystems and the special role these sharks play.
McKeever at once engages the reader and invites us to respect, to revere and ultimately to protect our oceans and it's inhabitants.
Emperors of the Deep is an informative read in service of the greater good.
An outstanding achievement!
7 people found this helpful
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Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars Consciousness-raising
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2021
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A super important book for raising consciousness around not only humans’ negative impact on the shark population, but other species as well...and how this damages the entire oceanic ecosystem. Very thought-provoking and well written...many parallels can be made to other issues we face due yo overpopulation, power, greed and ignorance.
One person found this helpful
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Daniel C Kinicki
3.0 out of 5 stars Unfocused advocacy
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2023
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Most people will probably never read more than a single book on shark conservation in their lives. To all those people, I can firmly say, don't pick this one. Better options exist. The author is primarily a journalist, and this book falls heavily into the tropes of conservation journalism, including approaching the science in a superficial way, filling the narrative with numerous 'human interest' asides of limited relevance to the overall issue, and repeated peans to social change with few if any practical suggestions on how to make that change come about.

This text does outline many of the various problems sharks, especially large, pelagic species, face, effectively, if in a slightly scattershot fashion. Beyond that, it has a distinct tendency to get sidetracked from the topic at hand. Sometimes this is to the good, the discussion of how human trafficking, debt slavery, and other appalling practices are deeply embedded in modern day commercial fishing practices is probably the best part of the book, one that play's to the author's strengths as a writer. A full length book on that subject would have been a better one than this. Unfortunately, the topic is only modestly related to shark conservation and feels out of place in the overall structure of the book.
2 people found this helpful
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Susan de Leon
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous "must read" book for anyone who cares about the natural world
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2020
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This is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read about the natural world. I learned so much about sharks and ocean life. What we don't know we take for granted - frequently until it is far too late. There is still time to save the sharks which has an impact on ocean life and ultimately the wellbeing of the planet and humans too. Thanks to the author for doing such a great job on this important topic.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Violina
5.0 out of 5 stars Sharks--The Ocean my son's favorite
Reviewed in Canada on September 14, 2020
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My son likes it!
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Shell
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 5, 2021
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Fantastic book, definitely if you're into your sharks. Brilliant read!!
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Parsec
5.0 out of 5 stars Eines der besten Bücher zum Thema "Haie" der letzten Jahre
Reviewed in Germany on October 15, 2019
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Machen wir es kurz: William McKeevers EMPERORS OF THE DEEP ist ein hochinteressantes Buch über Haie und vermutlich das lesenswerteste Werk zu diesem Thema, welches in den letzten Jahren erschienen ist... obschon es fraglos gerade in letzter Zeit einige ganz ausgezeichnete Bücher über Haie gab.

EMPERORS OF THE DEEP zeichnet sich zum einen durch einen sehr lebendigen und gleichzeitig stets informativen Schreibstil aus - es macht einfach Spaß, McKeevers Schilderungen zu lesen, und selbst wenn man auf eine gut sortierte Bibliothek zum Thema Haie zurückgreifen kann wird man hier noch einige neue Aspekte und Gedanken finden. Leser, welche Angst vor Haien verspüren, sollten EMPERORS OF THE DEEP unbedingt lesen, denn der Autor zeigt nicht nur, wie grotesk überzogen die häufig anzutreffende Angst vor Haien ist, sondern auch, welche wundervollen Tiere hier irrational gefürchtet werden.

Zum Anderen gelingt es McKeever in EMPERORS OF THE DEEP mit furchterregender Effektivität, die immense Bedeutung der Haie für das wichtigste und größte Ökosystems Planeten herauszuarbeiten - und die akute Bedrohung dieser Tiere sehr plastisch darzustellen. McKeever schildert in dem Kontext auch, wie die internationale Finning- und Fisch-Industrie mitunter funktioniert und wie die Gier nach Profit gerade einen ganz Lebensraum in Rekordzeit vernichtet. Diese Kapitel von EMPERORS OF THE DEEP sind in höchstem Maße schockierend, gerade die Darstellung der Finning-Industrie ist mehr als beängstigend.

Alles in allem: ein wirklich enorm lesenswertes, wichtiges und toll geschriebenes Buch.
3 people found this helpful
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Tdhird
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book but not for kids
Reviewed in Canada on December 27, 2021
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Great educational book, but there are a couple of chapters that are not meant for younger children. Otherwise, seems like good read.
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Foggygirl
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in Canada on July 13, 2019
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Great read about one of the most fascinating animals in the ocean and their struggles to survive in the anthropocene.
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