The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of ConsciousnessFinalist 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. |
Contents
1 | |
CHAPTER TWO OCTAVIA | 30 |
CHAPTER THREE KALI | 61 |
Beginning Ending and ShapeShifting | 93 |
The Art of Breathing in the Ocean | 125 |
Freedom Desire and Escape | 154 |
Choice Destiny and Love | 180 |
CHAPTER EIGHT CONSCIOUSNESS | 210 |
Postscript | 243 |
249 | |
255 | |
About the Author | 263 |
Other editions - View all
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of ... Sy Montgomery Limited preview - 2016 |
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of ... Sy Montgomery Limited preview - 2016 |
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of ... Sy Montgomery Limited preview - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
already animals Anna aquarium arms asked Athena babies barrel beautiful Bill body bottom brain called Christa color coral crab cuttlefish Danny dark dive divers eggs eight exhibit eyes face feel feet female fish four front giant give going half hand happened head holding hour human inside interact it’s Kali keep known later learned leave light live look male Marion mind minutes months mouth move never night ocean Octavia octopus once Pacific Perhaps person pull reach researchers rock says Scott sea star seems seen sharks side skin species started suckers surface swim tank taste tells thing thought told touch turns usual watch week wild Wilson wonder