Sharks Don't Sink

Adventures of a Rogue Shark Scientist

By: Jasmin Graham

Narrated by: Jasmin Graham

The uplifting story of a young Black scientist’s challenging journey to flourish outside the traditional confines of academia, inspired by her innate connection to nature’s most misunderstood animal—the shark.

"Jasmin Graham has that winning combination of talent and grit needed to excel as a scientist. Every girl who wants to be a marine biologist should have this book."—Hope Jahren, New York Times bestselling author of Lab Girl and The Story of More

Sharks have been on this planet for over 400 million years, so there is a lot they can teach us about survival and adaptability. For example: how do sharks, which unlike other fish are denser than water, stay afloat? They keep moving. When Jasmin Graham, an award-winning young shark scientist, started to feel that the traditional path to becoming a marine biologist was pulling her under, she remembered this important lesson: keep moving forward.

If navigating the choppy waters of traditional academic study was no longer worth it, then that meant creating an ocean of her own. Jasmin joined with three other Black women to form Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), an organization dedicated to providing support and opportunities for other young women of color. She became an independent researcher: a rogue shark scientist, seeking ways to keep these extraordinary endangered creatures swimming free—just like her.

Sharks Don’t Sink is a riveting, moving, and ultimately triumphant memoir at the intersection of science and social justice: a guidebook to how we can all learn to respect and protect some of nature’s most misunderstood and vulnerable creatures—and grant the same grace to ourselves.

©2024 Jasmin Graham (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Graham had to face the sharp-teethed truths of academia, while creating a world of curiosity and discovery around the complex lives of sharks. To combat the racism she encountered in academia, Graham created an ‘ocean of her own’ to become an independent scientist and a champion of social justice.”
—Martha Ann Toll, NPR

“Sharks Don’t Sink is a compelling tale of resilience, passion, and the transformative power of empathy and knowledge. Through Graham’s eyes, we not only gain a newfound appreciation for these incredible creatures but also of Graham’s own journey to becoming a voice for the voiceless. Through this remarkable memoir, readers will be inspired to pursue their dreams, defy expectations, and fight for a better, more inclusive future for all.”
—Weike Wang, author of Chemistry and Joan Is Okay

“Graham beautifully illustrates her profound connection with sharks and parallels their struggles with those faced by marginalized communities around the world. Graham powerfully underscores the importance of empathy, advocacy, and the recognition of shared experiences in collectively creating a more just and equitable world for all. It's such a joy to witness Graham's intelligence, charisma and tenacity shine brightly through her writing.”
—Danni Washington, author of Bold Women in Science

Inspiring and Relatable

Jasmin, the author, is very honest, brave and is an inspiration. It was a good story with a great ending.
As a woman scientist who started college in the mid 80s, I can relate to so much of what she's been through.
Jasmin, thank you for writing this and putting your experience out there! It will help so many people feel less alone in their own experiences.

a passionate scientist

I appreciate hearing the very personal experience of Jasmin Graham coming up in the reactionary environment she faced. She tells of difficulty with the humans (every woman or person of color in STEAM knows which humans) but also of the pure joy of chasing understanding through the methods of science. It's particularly interesting to hear how she is accomplishing this outside of the established institutions! Interesting and I would recommend it to nonscientists for insight into an often misunderstood profession, and to academics of all stripes for insight into why diversity is so important and how to nurture it.

Fantastic read

Great insight into the world of shark & other marine research - professionally and personally, as well as systemically. Inspiring, interesting, informative! I can’t wait to hear more about this author & scientist’s work.