Voices in the Ocean

July 13, 2015
After a chance encounter with a pod of wild spinner dolphins while swimming in Honolua Bay, Casey (The Wave) finds herself unable to shake dolphins from her mind. She embarks an investigation into the world of dolphins, impressing the reader with her curiosity and thrilling sense of discovery as she travels the world to learn about these unique creatures. She describes early research into the brain science of dolphins, a highly intelligent species, beginning with Dr. John Lilly in the early 1950s, and traces the origins of dolphin captivity and showcasing, which date back to the circus showman P.T. Barnum in 1861. She also explores the cultural significance of dolphins in different cultures, such as the members of the Chumash nation, California’s earliest inhabitants, who considered dolphins to be their direct relatives. But the most compelling aspect of the book is Casey’s investigation of the current plight of dolphins—faced with captivity; the now infamous dolphin hunt in Taiji, Japan; and the seriously ruined state of the world’s oceans, for example—and the people working to effect change to protect and save them. Casey’s book comes as a welcome addition on a topic also explored in the recent documentaries The Cove and Blackfish.

August 1, 2015
Former O, the Oprah Magazine editor-in-chief Casey (The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and Giants of the Ocean, 2010, etc.) takes the measure of the human-dolphin dance. For hundreds of years, dolphins have been bestowed mythological and cultural significance, been the object of both good and bad scientific study, and been written about countless times. Why? The author gives the reason up front: they are playful, social, and intelligent. They are like us-some of us, anyway, and as Casey learns, only some dolphins as well. The author spins her wheels trying to drive home that unique interface, and some readers may roll their eyes when she waxes poetic on the animal's profundity or how "they enfolded me into their gathering." She nails it, however, when she discusses the shattering loss of her father, the subsequent depression, and the liberating exultation in "how ridiculously fun it was to just cruise along with them." From there, the author runs through her experiences on her dolphin quest, from the classic scientific studies of Roger Payne to their totemic importance to the Pacific Northwest to their wild ride on TV: "After the Flipper movie grossed $8 million in 1963, the dolphin, a kind of aquatic house pet on steroids, was given his own TV show....The show's plots were cartoonish and fantastical but they struck a booming chord." Casey also delves into the miseries of dolphin factory farming and how other scientists have come close to realizing John Lilly's conviction "that the dolphin in the tank is not a what but a who." The most moving section of the book follows the author's visit to Crete, where she viewed the ancient frescoes and mosaics (some underwater) of dolphins, demonstrating their significance across ages. "Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine," said astrophysicist Arthur Eddington. "It is stranger than we can imagine." That sublime wildness is exactly what Casey, ever the adventurer, reveals in this flawed but still entertaining book.

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August 1, 2015

Journalist and author Casey, who has written previous books on marine topics (Devil's Teeth), explores evidence of a unique bond between humans and dolphins throughout history. The art and legends of ancient civilizations, such as the Minoans and Greeks as well as native American peoples, depict dolphins helping humans. Prior to the 2004 Indonesian tsunami a pod of dolphins prevented a group of sightseeing boats from heading to shore and ushered them back to safety. Swimmers and surfers in Hawaii and California have reported that dolphins saved them from shark attacks. Casey admires the animals' x-ray vision, echolocation skills, high-frequency communication, sociability, and swimming speed and laments that they have been harmed by marine pollution and overfishing, which reduces their food supply. The author made contact with marine mammal conservation groups and traveled to parks in Hawaii, the Dominican Republic, Japan, and Canada in which dolphins are kept in captivity under harmful conditions. A list of scientific and environmental groups and their websites are included. Photos not seen. VERDICT This book does not provide scientific background as does Justin Gregg's Are Dolphins Really that Smart? but will interest general and YA readers, as well as nature lovers, who will lose their eagerness to visit dolphin shows and may be motivated toward further reading on the subject.--Judith B. Barnett, Univ. of Rhode Island Lib., Kingston

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2015

Having already given us the New York Times best-selling The Wave and The Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great White Sharks, Casey takes us into the water again to report on those sleek and shiny creatures that can count, recognize their reflections, get depressed, throw tantrums, rescue other dolphins (and humans), and make bright deductions. The U.S. Navy has harnessed them as underwater soldiers. Then there's the dark and violent underworld of illegal dolphin traders and hunters, forthrightly described here, which should get you steaming.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 28, 2015
Voice-over actress Campbell delivers a powerful performance of journalist Casey’s moving (and often heart-wrenching) title exploring one of our planet’s most complex and mysterious species. Campbell possesses a gift for channeling the personalities of the people who Casey encounters during her travels; this talent makes for a gripping listening experience. For example, Campbell perfectly captures the ethereal charm of a New Age marine guru named Joan Ocean. She also scores in her colorful rendering of Lawrence Makili, a native of the Solomon Islands who has channeled his considerable grit and savvy into activism on behalf of the beleaguered dolphins in the waters of his nation. In the section of the narrative devoted to Taiji, Japan’s notorious annual dolphin hunt, Campbell’s ability to project the tones of bitter confrontation without descending into simplistic caricature is a notable accomplishment. Listeners will be utterly enthralled. A Doubleday hardcover.