NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The classic suspense novel of shark versus man, which was made into the blockbuster Steven Spielberg movie. The Jaws phenomenon changed popular culture and continues to inspire a growing interest in sharks and the oceans today. When Peter Benchley wrote Jaws in the early 1970s, he meticulously researched all available data about shark behavior. Over the ensuing … data about shark behavior. Over the ensuing decades, Benchley was actively engaged with scientists and filmmakers on expeditions around the world as they expanded their knowledge of sharks. Also during this time, there was an unprecedented upswing in the number of sharks killed to make shark-fin soup, and Benchley worked with governments and nonprofits to sound the alarm for shark conservation. He encouraged each new generation of Jaws fans to enjoy his riveting tale and to channel their excitement into support and protection of these magnificent, prehistoric apex predators.
This edition of Jaws contains bonus content from Peter Benchley’s archives, including the original typed title page, a brainstorming list of possible titles, a letter from Benchley to producer David Brown with honest feedback on the movie adaptation, and excerpts from Benchley’s book Shark Trouble highlighting his firsthand account of writing Jaws, selling it to Universal Studios, and working with Steven Spielberg.
Praise for Jaws
“A tightly written, tautly paced study of terror [that] makes us tingle.”—The Washington Post
“Powerful . . . [Benchley’s] story grabs you at once.”—The New York Times Book Review
“Relentless terror . . . You’d better steel yourself for this one. It isn’t a tale for the faint of heart.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Pure engrossment from the very opening . . . a fine story told with style, class, and a splendid feeling for suspense.”—Chicago Sun-Times
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I am obsessed with shark movies. I enjoyed this book. If you love sharks you would definitely enjoy this read!
Great book to recycle every 15 years or so
It’s a cliche mention, but it had to be said. And ’nuff said without any review nonsense.
This book is great!
Same as the movie. Easy read.
Readers are captured in the first paragraph. Vividly portrays characters as well as scene. I read this in one sitting! Author is expert in creating tension, so much so that I had a knot in my throat at one climatic point. Good read(again)
This is one of the rare occasions when I liked the movie better than the book. Still it was a good read.
Don’t know how we got lucky enough to have Spielberg turn this plodding and clumsy adventure novel into the classic film. Stick with the movie. The characters are more complex and interesting than Benchley’s original creations, and the extra subplots go nowhere.
Just one of those stories that will live forever.
An awesome read
A classic. Great book.
A fun book to reread and compare to the movie: a summer classic.
I loved this book. I have red many of the megalopolis books lately and reread Jaws because it was so scary and a best book! I also saw the 3 Jaws movies and the first one based on the original book was outstanding! The original music was great also. You held your breath because JAWS was coming! Love the book and reread it every few years!
Who would have thought a fish story could be anything but boring. I really enjoyed this book.
Scary, scary, scary!!!! Yet I keep watching that movie again and again.
One of the few books that I’d readily recommend the movie instead of.
The movie was better (shocking, I know) – the book focused too much on the love affair of the main character’s wife. Maybe she should’ve been shark lunch. 🙁
Loved this book and the old movie from the 70’s….this stays with you for a long time
Seen the movie a hundred times but never read the book- not a son scary as the movie but still really good!
An old favorite that I was glad to find on BookBub.