255 reviews for:

Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, Seaworld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish

Howard Chua-Eoan, John Hargrove

4.21 AVERAGE

afrugalfather's review against another edition

4.0

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“Captivity is always captivity, no matter how gentle the jailer.”

A great read if you are an animal lover, and/or appreciate the life story of someone who knew from an early age what their dream job was and worked with all of their effort to get that dream job. What comes later in the book is a personal look at the ethics of keeping living beings in captivity and the struggle of whether to leave what you love because you no longer believe in the mission.

tholkea's review against another edition

4.0

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A great companion to the documentary. So hard to put down.

ghost_rider's review

4.0

dark informative sad fast-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death

Minor: Homophobia

josie_bookstagram's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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"I had always seen myself as a killer whale trainer—until I could not. All trainers are at one stage or another. I am in the final stage of grief over my career." 🐳

Tough listen doesn’t quite cover my feelings about this book, but in the best possible way. This book isn't just an exposé; it's a deeply personal and compelling account that has fundamentally shifted my perspective on something I once held in absolute awe. Growing up, like so many others, the idea of being a SeaWorld trainer was the pinnacle of dreams for me. I remember watching those incredible shows, the bond between human and orca seemingly unbreakable, and thinking it was the most magical place on Earth. Thirty-odd years ago, SeaWorld represented wonder and the ultimate connection with these magnificent creatures. John Hargrove's book, however, pulls back the shimmering curtain to reveal a far more complex and often heartbreaking reality.

What struck me most powerfully was the sheer dedication and passion that John Hargrove and his colleagues clearly possessed. Their love for the orcas is clear throughout. I found myself with conflicting emotions about the joyful performances I remembered and the often grim realities described within these pages. The cramped living conditions of the orcas, the stress and frustration they endured, and the inherent dangers faced by the trainers paint a starkly different picture than the one the public was, and perhaps still is, presented with. 

This book isn't an easy read, emotionally speaking. However, it's an essential read for anyone who has ever been captivated by these majestic creatures and for anyone who believes in the importance of understanding the full story, even when it’s a difficult one to hear.

nixaem's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

aliya9's review against another edition

5.0

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Sad story about killer whales in captivity.

melinda_sue124's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense slow-paced

emalea_snow's review against another edition

3.0

challenging informative medium-paced

lexi_allen's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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This book an emotional but good read.
I really applaud John for sharing his experiences and emotions while being a SeaWorld trainer . He is very raw , honest and did a phenomenal job telling a harsh reality to hear / read by revealing the dark truths, shady behavior and pure greed behind orca and cetacean captivity.

jaylajohnson's review against another edition

4.0

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While I didn't love this as much as [b: Death at Seaworld|12799562|Death at SeaWorld Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity|David Kirby|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1428353322s/12799562.jpg|17947873] it was still really, really good and validated a lot of important points on the cruelty of keeping such large animals in captivity. It was especially interesting to read from a former trainer's viewpoint. I wish the book was a little more in depth, because, at 272 pages, it almost felt like the book only scratched the surface.