Book critic Joan Baum re-read JAWS and has this review. Book Review: JAWS at 50 And for generations, moviegoers have been thrilled to be terrified by the fabled great white shark.

Universal optioned Jaws before the book’s release for $175,000, hoping—as Congdon had—that the public would respond to the story. “We had no idea that the novel would be a best-seller ...