The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness [B0153]

2016 PB with some wear. Finalist for the National Book Award for Nonfiction. Library Journal Best Sci-Tech Book of the Year. An American Library Association Notable Book of the Year. "One of the best science books of the year." -Science Friday, NPR. 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. 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.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Growing up the progeny of a woman who worked in assisted living and memory care, a woman who cared for animals, a woman who loved the graceful intelligence of octopuses, this book affected me greatly. For anyone who loves octopuses, who has watched a family member in the last moments of life, please, do yourself a favor, and read this book."; "This book was lovely. A wonderful pairing with Remarkably Bright Creatures. It was fascinating! I learned a lot, felt a lot and became mildly passionate about ocean life. Mildly humorous as well. Looking forward to my next trip to the aquarium through different eyes."