Shark Lore & Legend: The Mythology, Science, and Fear of the Ocean's Most Misunderstood Predator: Wh

Why have sharks haunted the human imagination for centuries?
Why do they trigger both awe and terror, even in people who have never seen the ocean?

In Shark Lore & Legend, Reef Sterling plunges deep into the dark waters of myth, science, and psychology to uncover why sharks hold such a hypnotic grip on our collective consciousness. From ancient Polynesian shark gods and Greek sea monsters to modern cinematic fear factories like Jaws, this book explores how humanity has mythologized, misunderstood, and even weaponized the image of the shark.

But this is more than a history of fear, it's a journey through biology, behavior, and belief. Sterling weaves together:

• Indigenous shark folklore and sacred tribal knowledge

• Scientific discoveries that reveal sharks as complex, intelligent predators

• Cultural anthropology and how fear of the unknown shaped global shark myths

• Psychological analysis of how sharks became the archetype of terror in Western storytelling

• And the real threats facing sharks today, mass extinction, illegal finning, and climate change

Perfect for readers of Sapiens, The Body, or The Secret Life of Trees, this book is a visceral, beautifully written exploration of how one creature became a mirror to our deepest fears and fascinations.

Whether you're a diver, a dreamer, or a documentarian, Shark Lore & Legend will change how you see the ocean forever.