Beneath the Surface

Killer Whales, SeaWorld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish

By: John Hargrove, Howard Chua-Eoan

Narrated by: John Hargrove

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.

Excellent book to read after watching 'Blackfish'

This is a moving and detailed account of what it takes to become a sea world trainer with a clear progression from sea world fan/protector to animal advocate. With his story John makes you love his former job and the orcas yet by the end you feel sick and hopefully you'll become an advocate like John and many others did. This is a perfect companion book if you are planning on watching 'Blackfish'.

Very important book

I am very glad I read this book!! I knew orca captivity wasn't in the whales' best interest, but I appreciated the high degree of detail about exactly what the issues are at Sea World. It was a very eye opening book!
My only complaint was that I felt that too much time was spent talking about the lengths he had to go to get his job as an orca trainer and how honored he was to be part of the "very exclusive club," which was emphasized a ton and was hard for the listener to relate to and be patient with.
I still definitely recommend reading though!

Really interesting in every way...

It met my expectations and more. I was afraid it was going to be really soap boxy and have a lot of unnecessary fluff, but I found it to be really articulate and eye opening! When he describes the power of the Orcas in the water and the heartbreak he's endured, it's very touching. Worth the read!

Moving and educational

Fascinating to listen to. It was heart-wrenching in some places, thrilling in others, and I learned so, so much. I will never be the same.

Riveting book!

I could not stop listening. This was a fabulous book, and I highly recommend it to those who love or hate SeaWorld.