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    Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, Seaworld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish
    Unavailable
    Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, Seaworld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish
    Unavailable
    Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, Seaworld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish
    Audiobook8 hours

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

    Written by Howard Chua-Eoan

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Over the course of two decades, John Hargrove worked with 20 different whales on two continents and at two of SeaWorld's U.S. facilities. For Hargrove, becoming an orca trainer fulfilled a childhood dream. However, as his experience with the whales deepened, Hargrove came to doubt that their needs could ever be met in captivity. When two fellow trainers were killed by orcas in marine parks, Hargrove decided that SeaWorld's wildly popular programs were both detrimental to the whales and ultimately unsafe for trainers.

    After leaving SeaWorld, Hargrove became one of the stars of the controversial documentary Blackfish. The outcry over the treatment of SeaWorld's orca has now expanded beyond the outlines sketched by the award-winning documentary, with Hargrove contributing his expertise  to an advocacy movement that is convincing both federal and state governments to act.

    In Beneath the Surface, Hargrove paints a compelling portrait of these highly intelligent and social creatures, including his favorite whales Takara and her mother Kasatka, two of the most dominant orcas in SeaWorld. And he includes vibrant descriptions of the lives of orcas in the wild, contrasting their freedom in the ocean with their lives in SeaWorld.

    Hargrove's journey is one that humanity has just begun to take-toward the realization that the relationship between the human and animal worlds must be radically rethought.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMar 24, 2015
    ISBN9781101926468
    Unavailable
    Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, Seaworld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish
    Author

    Howard Chua-Eoan

    HOWARD CHUA-EOAN was News Director of TIME magazine from 2000 to 2013.

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    Reviews for Beneath the Surface

    4.5/5

    53 ratings10 reviews

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    • 5/5
      For my return to book blogging after a long hiatus, I'm taking a step back from YA to write about a biographical non-fiction novel that I have literally been unable to stop reading between work and sleeping. Beneath the Surface by John Hargrove is addictive, emotional, unforgettable, and soulful novel about his experiences as a former SeaWorld trainer. If you, like me, were forever changed by Blackfish, put this book at the very top of your to-read list.Little needs to be said for the content of the book because there is no question that is poignant, moving, and engrossing. Hargrove is undeniably a knowledgable, experienced, and reliable narrator. His love for these animals is felt on every page, and from this, I feel as if I know and love them, too. It is a rather pricey book—and I held out for two months for the paperback release after discovering this book existed. I was worried, particularly because of the price, about buying a redundant book that would basically retell Blackfish. This is not that at all! Within 10 pages, I had decided that it was worth every penny—and more! Anyone who was moved by Blackfish or with a love of animals can appreciate Hargrove's struggle to work with and eventually stop working with whales in captivity. Because despite working for the corporation that has imprisoned these magnificent creatures, he and all the trainers work hard and stay there, enduring repeated injuries, poor working conditions, death-defying risk, and terrible pay all because they love the whales and want to make sure that they are cared for; to make the best of an awful situation. His many examples of agonizing injuries, fearful moments, and near-death experiences is a testament of how much a person will go through for someone they love, even when that someone is an apex predator.Blackfish is a very thorough examination of whales in captivity, but the film is focused largely on the tragedy of Dawn Brancheau and Tilikum. Hargrove does not just repeat the things of the documentary, branching out so much more to include his path to becoming a trainer, detailing typical days with the whales, explanations of waterwork, breeding, behavioural psychology, and accidents and near-accidents. You learn more about other whales he's worked with and loved (particularly Kasatka and Takara), and his experiences at multiple parks, as well as touching on Dawn and Tilikum, and the resulting legal battle between OHSA and SeaWorld, and SeaWorld and the changing social climate of animal rights. Beneath the Surface is beautifully written and Hargrove allows his readers to delve a little deeper into Shamu Stadium, both in the pool and backstage. As a fellow animal lover and someone who grew up with awed visits to Marineland in Niagara Falls to watch the orca shows—something that our children will never know— it is impossible not to be pulled into the narrative, exposing the terrible truths about orcas in captivity to the world. Eye-opening and heart-breaking. I cannot remember ever reading a book that I loved and felt this much—and I work in publishing! 5 Stars
    • 4/5
      If you don't like this book because you think we should keep big fucking animals in a tiny fucking tank then you are a dick.

    • 5/5
      This is an important and powerful book.Having not seen the documentary Blackfish, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but I knew I would be interested in getting a behind the scenes look at what goes on at SeaWorld from an experienced orca trainer. I was not disappointed. This book contains that and much more.John Hargrove is clearly passionate about the orcas he worked with, and seems to be an animal lover in general. We learn how throughout his career he advocated for the whales, even though, sadly it was a difficult thing to do as an employee of SeaWorld. Once leaving SeaWorld he continued to take on that role with his participation in Blackfish, and he continues to be a strong advocate for captive orcas in other ways. It was so sad to see how orca trainers had to try to fight for so many basic improvements for the whales at SeaWorld while the corporation was simultaneously throwing millions into the glitz and glamor aspects of their shows/performances. For SeaWorld the bottom line is clearly MONEY and not the well-being of the orcas OR the trainers. It was obvious many times throughout the book, and finally to OSHA, who filed suit against SeaWorld in court.The book also contains some good information about orcas in the wild - their matriarchal social structure, information about different orca groups throughout the world, and other information from top scientists studying orcas in the wild. When this is compared with the information gathered about the captive orcas, it is undeniable the harm that is being done to orcas in captivity. When the author explains what is known about the two horrific human deaths caused by captive orcas, it can be seen that it is too dangerous for these whales to continue to be used like circus animals. SeaWorld and their counterparts throughout the world need to halt their programs immediately. They should stop all close interactions the whales have with humans and put the orcas in a more open water environment than the small enclosures they have now. Sadly, they have been captive too long and cannot be set free out into the wild again.Not only was Beneath the Surface an eye-opening book, but I found it to be educational about orcas in general, and it motivated me to find out how I might be able to get involved in helping these captive orcas. I recommend this book.I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
    • 3/5
      This book isn't exactly what I thought it was going to be. I expected it to be solely about the treatment and captivity of orcas at SeaWorld and that was part of it, but it's also about John Hargrove's career and life at SeaWorld and how he rose through the ranks. And it was kinda boring. I had no interest in how he became a trainer, I just wanted to know about the whales. I've seen Blackfish and I was completely sucked in by it and that's what I was looking for with this book and it just didn't happen. It was also slightly repetitive and jumped between time frames. That being said, it wasn't a complete waste, I did learn a little bit that I didn't already know about SeaWorld to add to how much I already dislike them.
    • 4/5
      I found this book a page-turner because the facts flow fast in this book. The author did a great job of peaking the interest of the reader when it came to behind the scene at Sea World. I had known before reading this book that Sea World was not treating their Orcas and other Sea Life well, I just had not realized how bad they really are. I am glad this author is trying to advocate for the Orcas' well-being. This book did lift the lid for me and give me a glimpse of true Sea World. I hope that someone can convince Sea World to care for the Orcas better. The Orcas deserve a good life
    • 5/5
      I started watching the movie Blackfish, because it was mentioned in the Advanced Readers Copy I was lucky enough to be able to review Beneath the Surface, by John Hargrove and Howard Chua-Eoan. The film premiered in 2013 at Sundance. I am sure that I saw some coverage on TV, however I was recuperating from an accident, leaving me with severe spinal injuries.In John Hargroves fact filled novel he uncovers and speaks of so many occurrences that there is no way that I could even begin to summarize them all. This book is not for the faint of heart, nor is the movie...It is sad and gruesome and leaves you feeling powerless and unable to do anything about it. I can only imagine what the trainers who loved these creatures so much must have felt. The fact that they go out and get the babies from their mothers, leaving the mothers crying out for them. They have intelligence, and sadly memory that while spending their time in a concrete tank they finally lose it.We are all responsible and must pay attention to how we treat all the creatures on this earth. Thank you John and Howard for caring.
    • 5/5
      After you have read this book you will never be able to see cetacea captivity in the same way again. I had already made up my mind about Sea World after reading David Kirby's book Death at Sea World. John Hargrove's book just reinforced everything I already knew and felt. This past January I had the honor of meeting and speaking with some of the people John Hargrove mentions in his book. Jane-Velez Mitchell, Naomi Rose, and Howard Garrett, along with two thousand other people gathered at the Miracle march for Lolita in Biscayne Bay, to bring attention to the deplorable conditions Lolita is living in at the Miami Seaquarium. Hearing these people speak in person gives me hope that one day the human race will right the terrible wrong that has been done to these magnificient creatures. John Hargrove is just one more voice added to the growing chorus that says keeping these animals in captivity is wrong! The tide is changing against you Sea World.
    • 5/5
      So many emotions ran through me as I read this.

      The story is heartbreaking, but in parts uplifting, full of joy and misery at the same time.

      John's love for the animals is obvious from beginning to end. His journey from trainer to activist is eye-opening. I have never been to SeaWorld, but through advertisement I fully bought into what a happy place it is, and I always wanted to see the Orca show. After reading this book, I will never go to SeaWorld. I now understand that how they are kept and made to perform is wrong on every level.

      I applaud John for writing this book and helping people like me to see what it's really like.
    • 5/5
      Good book that reveals the horrors of orcas in captivity. SeaWorld is definitely the villi an here.
    • 5/5
      John Hargrove was only six years old when he first saw his first Sea World Show. From that time on, that was the place he wanted to go. Not only did he want to be an Orca but he want to be an expert trainer. Every time he went to the show, he stayed after and asked trainers so many questions. Being an expert trainer became his dream. He began working at the lowest paying jobs in Sea World. He worked on the swimming requirements and a college degree to get a job with Sea World. He worked in the U.S. and France and even today has never lost his fascination for Orcas.Then he started noticing things that he did not see at the shows.John developed an empathy for the whales who out of boredom ate paint of the wall of their tanks. The whales held in captivity developed medical problems that they do not have in the wild. They can grow blind from the chlorine in the pools. They are used to sandy bottoms instead of hard concrete. How can we use whales for entertainment when it hurts their lives so much? Whales need to eat 150 pounds of assorted fish every day no matter how good or bad their performance. Also the captive whales behave differently towards other whales than those are freedom. They suffer psychological damage, hurt themselves, other whales and humans. He describes it as them “slipping into the dark side”.John Hargrove wrote a very emotionally and intellectually compelling book about why we should not hold this immensely large and intelligent being captive. It is not good for the whales and it is not good for us. As time passed, his body could no longer take the many broken bones and his spirit could no longer seen his friends hurt or killed. He realized that is greed for money not concern for the whales that drives the production of these shows. He describes his naivety when he was a child with hero trainers and even later but then he started to see the truth of what was really going on. His argument is written very compelling and he uses his own personal experiences to show how he began to see what the whales lives were truly like. I thank him for his bravery is writing this book. John Hargrove has joined with those want the present captive whales taken care of and never have any more whales captured or born captive. I saw on Sea World Show a long time ago and never returned. I left with an uneasiness and ache in my heart for the animals there. John Hargrove has opened this ache and let the pain be felt. There are constructive thingst that we can do. We can start thinking differently. It is time!I received the Advance Reading Copy from Amazon Vine at no cost but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feeling in this review.