Most of what you know about sharks is wrong

It's a pretty good bet that most of what you know about sharks is wrong. It's also a pretty good bet that your knowledge of sharks originally came from Jaws, by Peter Benchley.

Interestingly enough, after Benchley wrote the book (and then the screenplay), he became a shark conservationist. In an interview with the LA Times, Benchley was quoted as saying:

"Jaws was entirely fiction. Knowing what I know now, I could never write that book today. Sharks don't target human beings, and they certainly don't hold grudges."

After learning more about sharks and how they actually act and behave, Benchley became an active advocate for shark protection. He campaigned against shark fisheries and traveled around the world to make undersea documentaries that had him swimming with sharks and whales. He also lectured on marine conservation.

His final book, the nonfiction Shark Life (2005), was aimed at educating young readers about the dangers of the sea.

Sharkwater is, by far, the best documentary made that dispels the myths that most people believe about sharks. In this movie, Rob Stewart debunks historical stereotypes and media depictions of sharks as bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters and reveals the reality of sharks as pillars in the evolution of the seas.

It's worth the watch.