The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness
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Book Overview
Finalist for the National Book Award for Nonfiction * New York Times Bestseller * A Huffington Post Notable Nonfiction Book of the Year * One of the Best Books of the Month on Goodreads * Library Journal Best Sci-Tech Book of the Year * An American Library Association Notable Book of the Year "Sy Montgomery's The Soul of an Octopus does for the creature what Helen Macdonald's H Is for Hawk did for raptors." --New Statesman, UK "One of the best science books of the year." --Science Friday, NPR A New York Times bestseller from the author of The Good Good Pig, this "fascinating...touching...informative...entertaining" (The Daily Beast) book explores the emotional and physical world of the octopus--a surprisingly complex, intelligent, and spirited creature--and the remarkable connections it makes with humans. In pursuit of the wild, solitary, predatory octopus, popular naturalist Sy Montgomery has practiced true immersion journalism. From New England aquarium tanks to the reefs of French Polynesia and the Gulf of Mexico, she has befriended octopuses with strikingly different personalities--gentle Athena, assertive Octavia, curious Kali, and joyful Karma. Each creature shows her cleverness in myriad ways: escaping enclosures like an orangutan; jetting water to bounce balls; and endlessly tricking companions with multiple "sleights of hand" to get food. Scientists have only recently accepted the intelligence of dogs, birds, and chimpanzees but now are watching octopuses solve problems and are trying to decipher the meaning of the animal's color-changing techniques. With her "joyful passion for these intelligent and fascinating creatures" (Library Journal Editors' Spring Pick), Montgomery chronicles the growing appreciation of this mollusk as she tells a unique love story. By turns funny, entertaining, touching, and profound, The Soul of an Octopus reveals what octopuses can teach us about the meeting of two very different minds.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1451697724
ISBN13:9781451697728
Release Date:April 2016
Publisher:Washington Square Press
Length:272 Pages
Weight:0.57 lbs.
Dimensions:0.8" x 5.5" x 8.4"
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
I will never eat calamari again!
Published by PaxInGarden , 4 years ago
Interesting info about an amazing animal. Animal and biology lovers will appreciate the book. It became repetitive after the detailed description of 3 of the individual animals. Watch the documentary “My Octopus Teacher” for another study of these beautiful and intelligent creatures.
The Soul of an Octopus is a wonderful true story from Sy Montgomery
Published by Margaret , 4 years ago
I have read 4 books by Sy Montgomery.....she writes beautifully, teaches wonderfully, and makes you want to keep reading! Her books are true stories...which in itself is amazing, since she could easily be killed with her real encounters with dangerous animals! I wonder who should read this book...EVERYONE, including young adults....and I am almost 70! One other of her books, THE GOOD GOOD PIG is also one of my favorites....don't pass her by because you may have never heard of her...wonderful writer!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 8 years ago
Entertaining and enlightening--what more could one ask
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