Surviving the Shark
- wallacejnichols
- July 1, 2012
Afterwords by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols for the book Surving the Shark by my our friend Jonathan.
Book Description:
The jolting and inspiring survival tale of Jonathan Kathrein’s encounter with a great white shark.
In Surviving the Shark, Jonathan Kathrein describes his incredible shark attack experience. The book covers all aspects of Kathrein’s survival, beginning with the eerie moments just before the attack, when something smashes into Kathrein’s hand as he paddles on his board, waiting for a wave off Stinson Beach in northern California. Realizing it is probably shark, and possibly a great white, Kathrein tries to paddle away, furiously trying to make it toward shore, where he sees some of his friends on the beach. But it is too late, as the great white returns, slams into him, then grabs his leg and pulls him underwater, thrashing him back and forth, trying to rip his leg off. How Kathrein is able to escape and make his way to shore, despite his horrific wounds, is nothing short of amazing. But that’s just the beginning, as he now faces months of physical and mental rehabilitation, all the while dealing with the constant media attention that the attack has generated. Gradually, with the help of his family and friends, Kathrein makes a recovery. Today, Kathrein gives lectures on shark conservation, as well as on such topics as avoiding shark attacks when you’re in the water. In this book, he not only writes of his ordeal, but also delves into shark behavior, and explains his desire to spread shark awareness. There is also an underlying theme of tremendous familial love and Kathrein’s extreme fervor for life. 25 black & white photographs.
About the Author
Jonathan Kathrein grew up outside San Francisco with his mother, father, and two younger brothers. He always enjoyed surfing, especially at the site of his attack, Stinson Beach. He was only sixteen when he was attacked, yet he demonstrated great poise and maturity. During and after recovery, Kathrein remains a driving force in shark attack prevention and shark awareness. He leads lectures and founded the nonprofit Future Leaders for Peace, which aims to share his shark experience. Also, in 2009 he collaborated with his mother, Margaret Kathrein, on Far From Shore, which is a retelling of the event from her perspective. They live in San Rafael, California.
David McGuire is the director and founder of Sea Stewards and a Research Associate at the California Academy of Sciences.
Wallace J. Nichols, PhD is a Research Associate at the California Academy of Sciences and the founder of Bluemind: The Mind &Ocean Initiative.
