Behind the Dolphin Smile: One Man's Campaign to Protect the World's Dolphins

This book is a fascinating look into Rick's early life. You see his time as a scuba diver, a treasure hunter, and quickly he becomes employed to the Miami Seaquarium. He helped capture animals ranging from small tropical fish to dolphins. He worked at feeding them, training them, and eventually landed a job working as the trainer for the various dolphins used in Flipper. That right there is the main chunk of the story. Rick's time training Kathy and the other dolphins. You see his experiences on the show and how they got certain shots, what it was like working with the people and more. I'll be honest, reading this I couldn't help but think a fan of Flipper might enjoy reading this. I would guess that about 70% of this book is about what happened behind the scenes on Flipper. The rest is dedicated to his life before and after the show. Less that a quarter of this book is decicated to his activism, so if you were hoping for that you won't be finding it.For me I felt that this book does drive to home how one man came to the conclusion that these animals shouldn't be held in captivity. He doesn't smash you over the head with it constantly, rather you get bits and pieces about what is wrong with the industry as a whole. Now be aware that a lot of the attitudes of the individuals in this book are based on the time period. While it may seem obvious to us now, the fact that animals have thoughts and emotions was pretty controversial. Animals were seen as little more than living breathing machines. Rick learned that this was wrong. Dolphins are able to do these tricks not because people are great trainers, but because the animal itself is incredibly intelligent. You learn along with him why no dolphin should be confined in a tank.I would recommend this book to anyone, especially to fans of the Flipper show. It not only gives you some great behind the scenes looks of the show, but gives a powerful environmental message about respecting dolphins as they are, not as we want them to be.

I love Ric O Barry and the Dolphin Project. I follow them on Twitter and Facebook. I have learned a lot from the Dolphin Project and I see dolphins in the ocean, not at SeaWorld

One of my most favorite books of all time. And I have read thousands.Not just because its about dolphins and how Ric O'Barry saves them, but also the incredible adventures in between! Beautifully written context upon which O'Barry lays a compelling journey full of laughs and tears. The fight to free all the captive dolphins from their prisons has been a movement that has grown exponentially over the year thanks to Blackfish (a MUST SEE) but O'Barry's documentary The Cove was so stunning the pain is still with me now. Don't miss it. This book and his The Cove film show the horrors of captivity and the truth behind that gorgeous yet deceiving dolphin smile.

. . . and all other wild creatures in zoos and aquariums. I am very impressed with the work done by Richard O'Barry in stopping something that should have never started. When I was in my late teens and early 20's, I went to horse shows where the horses are treated terribly - heavy shoes, constant and unending time in small stalls with the only time they get out being totally structured with no feeling of freedom and being a horse. I can identify with O'Barry and his unending battle to free all dolphins and whales from any sort of captivity. Kudos to you !

This was an informative book even though I felt I didn't need too much info on his life. His experiences with the dolphins were amazing. What sticks in my mind are his experiences when he tried to help a dolphin "escape" from his pen and it didn't want to leave and when the 2 dolphins he rehabilitated and traced how they were doing. They were alive and well. This made me think that what Ric did with patience in rehabilitating those dolphins to return to the wild can apply to orcas or any wild animal in captivity. It was amazing.

FLIPPER was my favorite show as a child. It was interesting to learn what the life of these captive dolphins is really like. The author certainly convinced me these beautiful and intelligent creatures should be free and never exploited. Informative read.

Ric O'Barry is hero and example for the acts of bravery to educate and influence thought and policy on the crimes against cetaceans which occur from thoughtless mistreatment of creatures whom likely have equal or superior intellect to humans; also suggest Susan Casey's book Vouces in the Ocean

I wasn't really too impressed with this book. I got very confused on how he really felt about the dolphins. Of course heobviously loved them and wanted to work with them and on the other had he wanted them free. I don't think you can have it both ways. Let them live in the wild or train them and keep them in a happy, safe, natural environment.

In spite of the fact that I have just started reading the book,I think it is going to be one of these books that you cannot put down. I am part of a group called 'Women of the World United against Taiji' which tries to educate and spread awareness peaceful about the capture of dolphins and the drive hunts that take place every 6 months in Taiji, Japan; That is how I got to know about Ric O'Barry and his book as he posts video and comments regularly on their Facebook page. The title says it all, behind the dolphin smile, there is pain, fear, depression, sadness and loneliness because we ripped them apart from their family in the name of entertainment and kill their families for their meat. As the foreword says 'Anyone who has spent time around dolphins comes away with the impression of a powerful, almost otherworldly intelligence', but we treat them like objects.

I recently watched the documentary 'The Cove' and was sadden and horrified by the revealing images. I was left wanting to help, to learn more about dolphins and Ric O'Barry, so I purchased this book. I read the book in two days as I found it an easy read and enjoyable. A lot of the content of this book covers Ric's work on the TV show 'Flipper' and highlighted to me the intelligence of these beautiful marine mammals - and more importantly - the cruelty of capturing dolphins.I have respect for Ric O'Barry and the work he now carries out saving dolphins from around the world. After reading this book I am feeling motivated to make a change and to do anything in my power to keep dolphins and whales in the wild where they belong.

A great book written by an expert on dolphins, he is a well respected expert and continues to do amazing work with dolphins and whales.

Great book, bought as Xmas present for my grand daughter who adores dolphins, she now can read in-depth about them.

Excellent read could not put it down