jennav117's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
5.0
momwrex's review against another edition
1.0
I was hoping for more information on dolphins. The majority of the chapters are filled with "personal interest"rather than science.
ellemmm3's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
A book entirely about dolphins? Never thought it would interest me, yet I found myself fascinated to learn just how intelligent they are. Of course, it makes it just that much more heartbreaking to read about the mass killings of these beautiful creatures. One can only hope that more awareness will help to decrease these occurrences.
A book entirely about dolphins? Never thought it would interest me, yet I found myself fascinated to learn just how intelligent they are. Of course, it makes it just that much more heartbreaking to read about the mass killings of these beautiful creatures. One can only hope that more awareness will help to decrease these occurrences.
dfmaiwat's review against another edition
1.0
If you are interested in learning more about dolphins and porpoises, I have better recommendations for you
-“Mainland: The Worlds Strangest Theme Park” by Debunk File
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riX_rCX-EiQ
-“The Dolphin House” by Atrocity Guide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UziFw-jQSks
-And (of course) “Blackfish” Cowperthwaite (2013)
Shedding light on the various examples of cruelty dolphins have been subjected to is a noble and important effort, yet Casey often speaks of the subject in a way that makes clear she does not understand the necessarily balance between optimism and naivety within the world of conservation. I'm far more harsh on this book as well because of the author's habit of saying "Scientists say..." and providing no further information about the source of an outlandish claim she has made.
Writing on the Japanese dolphin fishing industry as outlined in the film “The Cove”, Casey seems to believe that the easiest course of action is for people to stop fishing, as if it is so simple.
In truth, while an immediate halt to this cruelty would be the most ideal outcome, Casey seems unwilling to acknowledge that quitting this practice cold turkey would immediately cripple the local economy. A much grander reform is necessary and would take many years, maybe even decades, to achieve.
Casey has an unnerving habit of describing figures/people that she does not like/agree with in an unflattering manner. This ranges anywhere from simply unkind (drawing attention to a man’s receding hairline) to outright racist (the transcription of Japanese speech).
The author also has a very irritating way of giving voice to ludicrous claims, including the words of Joan Ocean that dolphins can travel through time. Casey likes to maintain that she has ambivalent feelings about these thoughts, but presents them with a surprising lack of criticism. Casey herself makes the claim that if people were able to swim with dolphins, they would feel no need to use drugs.
I feel that this claim both undermines her point and outlines a privilege of hers. For one, in publishing this claim, she give validity to the false claim that interacting with dolphins can be healing. This claim is also the basis for dolphin therapy (a practice that, in and of itself, results in the suffering of dolphins and a further desire to bring them into captivity). Secondly, these trips to swim among dolphins were made by Casey (a white woman) to Hawaii (a place that Polynesians have regularly discouraged travelers from visiting as a result of a negative impact on the economy).
I do hope that changes are made in the future to make way for humane interactions with dolphins and a phasing out of cruel captivity practices, but I think Casey’s book jumps past empathy for the animals and a belief that dolphins are just as human as us and possibly mystical. I fear that this book is unfairly tinged with the unmistakable feeling, that the other has fallen victim to the surprisingly vast new-age and mystic beliefs about dolphins and has failed to separate her unflinching dedication to them from the logic of conservation and sometimes even the reality of biology.
-“Mainland: The Worlds Strangest Theme Park” by Debunk File
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riX_rCX-EiQ
-“The Dolphin House” by Atrocity Guide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UziFw-jQSks
-And (of course) “Blackfish” Cowperthwaite (2013)
Shedding light on the various examples of cruelty dolphins have been subjected to is a noble and important effort, yet Casey often speaks of the subject in a way that makes clear she does not understand the necessarily balance between optimism and naivety within the world of conservation. I'm far more harsh on this book as well because of the author's habit of saying "Scientists say..." and providing no further information about the source of an outlandish claim she has made.
Writing on the Japanese dolphin fishing industry as outlined in the film “The Cove”, Casey seems to believe that the easiest course of action is for people to stop fishing, as if it is so simple.
In truth, while an immediate halt to this cruelty would be the most ideal outcome, Casey seems unwilling to acknowledge that quitting this practice cold turkey would immediately cripple the local economy. A much grander reform is necessary and would take many years, maybe even decades, to achieve.
Casey has an unnerving habit of describing figures/people that she does not like/agree with in an unflattering manner. This ranges anywhere from simply unkind (drawing attention to a man’s receding hairline) to outright racist (the transcription of Japanese speech).
The author also has a very irritating way of giving voice to ludicrous claims, including the words of Joan Ocean that dolphins can travel through time. Casey likes to maintain that she has ambivalent feelings about these thoughts, but presents them with a surprising lack of criticism. Casey herself makes the claim that if people were able to swim with dolphins, they would feel no need to use drugs.
I feel that this claim both undermines her point and outlines a privilege of hers. For one, in publishing this claim, she give validity to the false claim that interacting with dolphins can be healing. This claim is also the basis for dolphin therapy (a practice that, in and of itself, results in the suffering of dolphins and a further desire to bring them into captivity). Secondly, these trips to swim among dolphins were made by Casey (a white woman) to Hawaii (a place that Polynesians have regularly discouraged travelers from visiting as a result of a negative impact on the economy).
I do hope that changes are made in the future to make way for humane interactions with dolphins and a phasing out of cruel captivity practices, but I think Casey’s book jumps past empathy for the animals and a belief that dolphins are just as human as us and possibly mystical. I fear that this book is unfairly tinged with the unmistakable feeling, that the other has fallen victim to the surprisingly vast new-age and mystic beliefs about dolphins and has failed to separate her unflinching dedication to them from the logic of conservation and sometimes even the reality of biology.
nfoutty's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
3.0
A random line of dialogue being written in a “Japanese accent” was just a completely unnecessary piece of racism in an otherwise delightful read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Suicide and Suicide attempt
kilonshele's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
nadiandr's review against another edition
3.0
۲.۵
اوایل کتاب جذابه چون دلفینها جذابن
بعد از یک سوم اول دیگه وارد حاشیه میشه و بیشتر به فعالان حقوق دلفین ها میپردازه تا خود دلفینها
خیلی پراکنده نوشته شده و در بعضی موارد ناقصه و جهتگیرانه
اوایل کتاب جذابه چون دلفینها جذابن
بعد از یک سوم اول دیگه وارد حاشیه میشه و بیشتر به فعالان حقوق دلفین ها میپردازه تا خود دلفینها
خیلی پراکنده نوشته شده و در بعضی موارد ناقصه و جهتگیرانه
smiley938's review against another edition
4.0
I want to read more of her books about marine life, but I'm scared I'll get too depressed. I'll never again visit an aquarium/park that holds captive dolphins.