Great Shark Writings by Valerie & Ron Taylor

Assembled by the Aussie duo who are are the world's greatest shark photographers, this collection has a rather old-fashioned quality, with contributors including Hemingway, Zane Grey and Sir Arthur Grimble. A shame there is so little science (only one extract from 1969), but it is surprising to learn that the mako steaks we see at the fishmonger come from a singularly "mean, cunning, fearless and dangerous" shark. If a shark fancies you as a snack, Valerie says you should "shout, punch and kick" ­ as if you'd do anything else.