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256 reviews for:
Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, Seaworld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish
Howard Chua-Eoan, John Hargrove
4.22 AVERAGE
256 reviews for:
Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, Seaworld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish
Howard Chua-Eoan, John Hargrove
4.22 AVERAGE
I’ve loved orcas since Keiko appeared in a little fjord in Norway when I was little. I became obsessed with them. I even made little orcas made of lego because I couldn’t find any orca toys. It was something about those animals that spoke to me. They were so magical and mysterious. The kings of the ocean.
Years later, I discovered Blackfish, and then this book.
This book is so important. I want everybody to read it. It gives such an insight how the whales and trainers were treated by Seaworld. However, it’s not just about that. It’s about a man’s goodbye to someone he loves.
I cried multiple times during this book. The way Hargrove tells his story and the way he talks about the whales is so beautiful and heartbreaking.
Years later, I discovered Blackfish, and then this book.
This book is so important. I want everybody to read it. It gives such an insight how the whales and trainers were treated by Seaworld. However, it’s not just about that. It’s about a man’s goodbye to someone he loves.
I cried multiple times during this book. The way Hargrove tells his story and the way he talks about the whales is so beautiful and heartbreaking.
If you were moved by what you saw in Blackfish I'd recommend this book as a follow up. If you've never seen Blackfish, but are even remotely interested in the plight of orcas in captivity, I recommend this book. What humans have done to these magnificent animals in the name of earning a profit is truly horrible and heartbreaking.
Last year I read a really (emotionally) difficult book, [b:Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity|12799562|Death at SeaWorld Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity|David Kirby|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1440100806s/12799562.jpg|17947873]. It really blew me away. When I found out one the SeaWorld trainers from Blackfish wrote a book, I wanted to get my hands on it asap. I was really affected by that documentary, (and highly recommend it to anyone... its on Canada Netflix currently, btw) and I wanted to read as much as I could about this company and its people.
I really respect the way that Hargrove wrote this book. Most "whistle-blowers" kind of have some kind of grudge against their former employer, and I feel like that takes away from actual facts about a place and is not all that accurate.
And it would be easy for that to be the case here: afterall, I don't think you can get much more emotional than the mistreatment of animals at your workplace.
But I really think that Hargrove did a good job. He didn't as much rant about how shitty a place it is, but explain what he himself experienced and witnessed. How it was kind of like a cult-like culture, the brainwashing you go through. From the very first time he saw his first Killer Whale show at SeaWorld as a child, all he ever wanted to do from that point on was be a Whale trainer. I can respect that. I did too whenever I saw any kind of Wildlife show on TV, or see segments of people working at a Zoo or Aquarium.
Imagine growing up all your life only wanting one thing and working your ass off for it. You finally get you what you want, and that all too annoying adage suddenly becomes true: Be Careful What You Wish For.
At first things are exactly what he was expecting. He was working with the Whales, putting on shows and having "that job." Its only then when the shine starts to wear do you really start to think about the consequences of what you have done.
And then what do you do? It's not like a typical job where you would quit to make a point. What would that prove? Literally hundreds of people would jump at the chance to take his place. And how would he know that the next person in line would treat his beloved Whales properly? Because at the end of the day, its the Whales that are suffering.
It is such a heart breaking thing to read about. I feel so bad for all those poor Whales in SeaWorld, its like a constant stomach ache.
Hargrove takes through his typical day to day duties, as well as some personal struggles of his own. (He almost didn't get hired because one of the supervisors suspected he was gay) He talks about the horrible conditions he and the animals had to deal with on a regular basis - (indeed, one of the main reasons he left was due to the physical pain he was experiencing due to the back breaking work of performing with Orcas) to the painkiller addiction that resulted later on. He holds nothing back.
I've never felt so hopeless after reading a book. I'm sure that's not really what Hargrove was going for here, but I feel like SeaWorld will never stop, and even if they do there are all the other horrible aquariums around the world making too much money to stop. But I really, really hope I'm wrong about it.
I really respect the way that Hargrove wrote this book. Most "whistle-blowers" kind of have some kind of grudge against their former employer, and I feel like that takes away from actual facts about a place and is not all that accurate.
And it would be easy for that to be the case here: afterall, I don't think you can get much more emotional than the mistreatment of animals at your workplace.
But I really think that Hargrove did a good job. He didn't as much rant about how shitty a place it is, but explain what he himself experienced and witnessed. How it was kind of like a cult-like culture, the brainwashing you go through. From the very first time he saw his first Killer Whale show at SeaWorld as a child, all he ever wanted to do from that point on was be a Whale trainer. I can respect that. I did too whenever I saw any kind of Wildlife show on TV, or see segments of people working at a Zoo or Aquarium.
Imagine growing up all your life only wanting one thing and working your ass off for it. You finally get you what you want, and that all too annoying adage suddenly becomes true: Be Careful What You Wish For.
At first things are exactly what he was expecting. He was working with the Whales, putting on shows and having "that job." Its only then when the shine starts to wear do you really start to think about the consequences of what you have done.
And then what do you do? It's not like a typical job where you would quit to make a point. What would that prove? Literally hundreds of people would jump at the chance to take his place. And how would he know that the next person in line would treat his beloved Whales properly? Because at the end of the day, its the Whales that are suffering.
It is such a heart breaking thing to read about. I feel so bad for all those poor Whales in SeaWorld, its like a constant stomach ache.
Hargrove takes through his typical day to day duties, as well as some personal struggles of his own. (He almost didn't get hired because one of the supervisors suspected he was gay) He talks about the horrible conditions he and the animals had to deal with on a regular basis - (indeed, one of the main reasons he left was due to the physical pain he was experiencing due to the back breaking work of performing with Orcas) to the painkiller addiction that resulted later on. He holds nothing back.
I've never felt so hopeless after reading a book. I'm sure that's not really what Hargrove was going for here, but I feel like SeaWorld will never stop, and even if they do there are all the other horrible aquariums around the world making too much money to stop. But I really, really hope I'm wrong about it.
My family never really took vacations. We never traveled out of state, we didn't take road trips, we didn't fly anywhere. The one thing we would do, however, was go to the Ohio Sea World most summers. I. LOVED. IT. I loved it. I have always loved animals, so getting to see sea lions, otters, walruses, dolphins, and whales was my dream come true. Interacting with them at Dolphin Cove and getting squirted by walruses at Sea Lion Stadium and watching the killer whales leap out of the water right in front of us seemed like literal magic. I was devastated when the park was closed down in Ohio, but I never forgot how it felt to visit.
And then, I got older. I learned more and more about animals. I started to get uncomfortable. And then the big one, I watched 'Blackfish' on Netflix in 2015/2016. Ouch. When they say that wake-up calls are hard and heavy and hurt, they're not joking.
These animals that are being kept in giant tubs and performing tricks for treats are not much different from humans in the sense of intelligence. They remember, they understand, they mourn, they grieve, they form bonds and connections, and they feel emotion. It's not moral or ethical to keep them in captivity, and it sure as hell isn't moral or ethical to breed them in captivity (naturally or artificially), and it's sure as LITERAL HELL isn't moral or ethical or justifiable to separate the calves from their mothers, because in the wild these animals live in large family groups with their mothers *for their entire lives*.
Reading this book was uncomfortable and heartbreaking and infuriating. It's easy to understand how the author became enamored by the whales in his childhood and decided to dedicate his life to working with them by training them. He was under the spell of Sea World and all of the glamour and excitement of working with some of the most beautiful and intelligent animals alive. As you read the book it's like you could feel his passion and his commitment, but you could also start to feel his wavering resolve, his doubts, his pain, his griefs and regrets.
Ultimately John Hargrove left Sea World and has been since advocating for the captive whales and speaking out against Sea World practices. If you can stomach some difficult subject matter (animal deaths and abuse, human injuries and death) I think you should read this book and get a different perspective. 5 out of 5 stars for sure.
And then, I got older. I learned more and more about animals. I started to get uncomfortable. And then the big one, I watched 'Blackfish' on Netflix in 2015/2016. Ouch. When they say that wake-up calls are hard and heavy and hurt, they're not joking.
These animals that are being kept in giant tubs and performing tricks for treats are not much different from humans in the sense of intelligence. They remember, they understand, they mourn, they grieve, they form bonds and connections, and they feel emotion. It's not moral or ethical to keep them in captivity, and it sure as hell isn't moral or ethical to breed them in captivity (naturally or artificially), and it's sure as LITERAL HELL isn't moral or ethical or justifiable to separate the calves from their mothers, because in the wild these animals live in large family groups with their mothers *for their entire lives*.
Reading this book was uncomfortable and heartbreaking and infuriating. It's easy to understand how the author became enamored by the whales in his childhood and decided to dedicate his life to working with them by training them. He was under the spell of Sea World and all of the glamour and excitement of working with some of the most beautiful and intelligent animals alive. As you read the book it's like you could feel his passion and his commitment, but you could also start to feel his wavering resolve, his doubts, his pain, his griefs and regrets.
Ultimately John Hargrove left Sea World and has been since advocating for the captive whales and speaking out against Sea World practices. If you can stomach some difficult subject matter (animal deaths and abuse, human injuries and death) I think you should read this book and get a different perspective. 5 out of 5 stars for sure.
I devoured this book! Having not seen "blackfish" I really did not know what I was getting into reading this book . This man , this strong man, a man that was not afraid to love has changed my outlook on a lot of things with just this book. A lot of what was said applies to my love of horses too . As a horse owner I am also a "jailer" yes I love my mare more then I can describe but , I too, keep her in an unnatural state and she is also relient on me for all of her basic needs. The only saving grace is that she is far removed from her wild cousins . This book is written in a "real" view, the author does not sugar coat his role in the unacceptable care of the orcas in the park. You get a real view of the hatred that greed breeds in people . There is so much more that I can say about this book but I feel my words would not do this book justice . All pet owners (yes "normal" pet owners ) need to read this book ! Everyone that really enjoys these orca shows need to educate themselves on what they are viewing because the shows would stop being as wonderful as before , the magic is fake . It is the same with many of the other wild animal exploitation such as elephant rides, tiger and big cat show and other such stuff . We as a human race are cruel beyond measure to animals and more so to each other . This book leaves me sad but also hopeful that if more speak out that are from the wild animal entertainment scene maybe , just maybe we can learn to be a more thinking and feeling race . A must read for everyone !
Ever since seeing Blackfish on Netflix in the winter of 2013, I have been curious to know more about what goes on behind the scenes at marine parks like SeaWorld. This is definitely not an "unbiased" account, and SeaWorld is doing its best to discredit the author and any other whistleblowers, but the book gives a very nuanced view of a trainer's career. While there are plenty of damning stories about SeaWorld's lack of concern for employee safety or animal welfare, the author makes it clear why he stayed in the industry for two decades: his rich and rewarding relationships with the whales. I'd recommend this to anyone curious about the effects of captivity on orcas, or about the challenges of working with whales.
I had been wanting to read this book since the 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards, one of which it won. Since it was co-authored and the primary author isn't a writer by trade, it wasn't necessarily the best-written or most engagingly constructed tale. However, the perspective Hargrove offers is invaluable. He isn't afraid to criticize SeaWorld, and has the knowledge to back it up (artificial insemination and forced breeding too early in females, etc.). I particularly enjoyed his insights on the meaning of the orcas' behavior immediately prior to aggressive incidents. He was less verbose in his analysis of the Dawn/Tilikum incident than "Blackfish" was, but more descriptive of Alexis/Keto. There was also no mention of Kelte/Tilikum or of the SW park in Ohio. Admittedly, Hargrove never worked there, but he also never worked at Orlando. I know I can't compare this book word for word to "Blackfish," but the two together paint a vivid picture of the sad lives of orcas in captivity. I cringe to remember our family SW vacations. I'm so very thankful that SW has ended its breeding program, and hope that the remaining captive whales have the best possible rest of their lives.
Meh. Amateurish, repetitive writing and the moral posturing got old, but the behind-the-scenes look at orca training was kind of cool.