Finalist for the National Book Award for Nonfiction * New York Times Bestseller * Starred Booklist and Library Journal Editors’ Spring Pick * 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 … 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
Another New York Times bestseller from the author of The Good Good Pig, this “fascinating…touching…informative…entertaining” (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.
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I lost interest after the first chapter;’ I was hoping for mor einformation about octopuses, and the face-to-face meeting format of the first chapter put me off.
I was very moved to learn about the range of behaviors of the octopus . I was stunned to learn about their range of actions that give insight into their emotions. It is a great book – very original and interesting.
Fans of the New England Aquarium should read this. Everyone should read it for what it shows us about that amazing creature the octopus. The writing is excellent—no science background necessary. Be warned: you won’t be eating octopus afterwards.
I never thought I could be so wrong about a book
After reading this book, I have become a loyal Sy Montgomery fan. I like her intelligence and spirit, and I found the book endlessly fascinating. It teaches us once again that, no matter our species, we are all connected and have much to learn from each other. I certainly learned to love and respect octopuses.
This charming book unveils the secret world of Octopuses–their personalities and startling intelligence–as observed by the aquarium staff and scientists studying them.
By the time I got through this book I had a whole different opinion of the octopus. The are amazingly intelligent and even have a sense of humor. This is a must read for anyone who cares about the natural world
This book changed me forever. Not only my view and knowledge of octopus (ok, octopi) but in a deeper sense, I became a more conscious human being. And that’s a big gift, a Big Deal. I hope it does the same for you.
I absolutely loved this book. I keep giving it as a gift because it was such an amazing story.
A fascinating look at the characteristics of the Octopus. Very interesting, fun, and a colorful journey by the author. Highly recommend.
I learned so much about octopuses and how intelligent some of these creatures are. It was a poignant story as the octopuses in the human world, and other such creatures do not always fare well. I have a totally new appreciation of this grouping.
An outstanding story about her real experience.
Fantastic book. It teaches you about sea life, about octopus, and about humans.