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Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life
Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life | Peter Godfrey-Smith
Brilliant Guardian Fascinating and often delightful The Times SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE What if intelligent life on Earth evolved not once, but twice? The octopus is the closest we will come to meeting an intelligent alien. What can we learn from the encounter?
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jenniferw88
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#naturalitsy #midwintersolace @AllDebooks @Chrissyreadit @TheBookHippie

I'm not sure, but this is either the first book that got me into this area or one of the first. It's a fascinating look at the octopus, and Peter quickly became an auto-buy author for me.

TheBookHippie Oooo. 2mo
DebinHawaii This looks amazing! 2mo
Chrissyreadit Im super late but you won the last Friday night share for Midwinter solace! i will send out your prize ASAP ❤️ 2mo
jenniferw88 @Chrissyreadit 🎉🎉🎉 Thank you! 2mo
58 likes5 stack adds4 comments
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jenniferw88
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Can recommend this #99ponkindle #ukkindledeal

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Grrlbrarian
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Pickpick

Finally knocked out my #bookspin 🐙 This book does a good job of explaining the fascinating path to octopus intelligence, one very different to our own, and how that manifests in octo behavior. Due to its explanations of consciousness generally, the book was drier and less octopus-central than I was hoping, but I considered consciousness in new ways ⭐️⭐️⭐️

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
39 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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jenniferw88
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Pickpick

#recommendsday for anyone looking for #liveandlearn #booked2020 @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

4 1/2 ? - the reason it's not 5 is that some of the science went over my head.

I never thought I'd be identifying with a cuttlefish - "Once the decline starts, it occurs very quickly. Their health seems to drop off a cliff". This is me when I get ill, except I bounce back rather than die!

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

Cinfhen Thank God you bounce back xxxxxxx book sounds fascinating 4y
TheAromaofBooks Great review! 4y
ravenlee I just watched a really interesting PBS Nature show called Octopus: Making Contact that reminded me of some of the things I read in this book. If you‘re able to find it you might enjoy it. 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I‘m with @Cinfhen — glad you bounce back! So not ALL cuttlefish ... 🐙 4y
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jenniferw88
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😂

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jenniferw88
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1. 🐙🐚🦀🦐🦑
2. Not in my eyes.

@rockpools @TheSpineView #two4tuesday

Tagging @kezzlou85

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 😊 4y
rockpools How is Other Minds? Been interested in that one forever! 4y
jenniferw88 @rockpools it's good. Some of the science goes over my head, but it's not dry and is making me laugh! 4y
rockpools @jenniferw88 Oh that‘s good! I really should bump it up my list (that and everything else 🙄) 4y
55 likes4 comments
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rwmg
Mehso-so

I must admit I found the Precambrian and Cambrian a bit of a slog to get through but other parts were fascinating and thought-provoking.

However, there is no excuse these days for an ebook not providing links between the endnotes and the portion of the text being discussed further.

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rwmg
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Baby octopus gunkan

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sparrowssavvy
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Pickpick

This book was fantastic! I honestly learned so much and it was truly fascinating!

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ravenlee
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Pickpick

Very interesting look at what consciousness is and how it developed three separate times (vertebrates, and probably separately in octopuses and squid/cuttlefish). I‘m not sure I understood it all, but a good read. Thanks to @jmofo who gave me this one!

I‘m at 2:44 so far for #24B42020, nowhere near where I‘d like to be but the readathon is young! I also took a break to get a haircut and a mini-facial.

@TheReadingMermaid @jb72 @Andrew65

Andrew65 It‘s still a good start and there are five days. 😊👏👏 4y
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ravenlee
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About 2/3 through this one (was halfway at readathon start), and around 1.5 hours so far. Unfortunately I‘m having trouble concentrating on it because kiddo got exactly what she wanted from Santa and has this fascinating non-stop play narration going on. 😆 She‘s been giving her dolls makeovers with the new beauty kit for three days now.

#24B42020

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WildQuibble
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#adventrecommends day 20!

This is absolutely fascinating, and at times hilarious. I can thoroughly recommend it - unless you really enjoy calamari.

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llwheeler
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Pickpick

Very much enjoyed this book on cephalopods, blending biology, psychology, and philosophy - and learned quite a few new things! E.g. how their skin colours work. I would have liked a conclusion that brought more of the elements discussed all together, but each section was very interesting.

Pic: me with an octopus at the Quebec aquarium in 2011

Lindy That‘s a large octopus! 4y
llwheeler @Lindy It was! so cool to watch 4y
Lindy @llwheeler 🐙❤️ 4y
batsy Yes, awesome 🐙 photo! The book sounds super fascinating... Adding it to the infinitely expanding TBR 4y
llwheeler @batsy Thanks! Hahaha gotta love infinitely expanding tbrs... sounds like mine too lol 4y
48 likes5 comments
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llwheeler
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1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings; Other Minds; The Loneliest Magician; la petite poule d'eau
2. Probably will be Other Minds (tagged), I'm really enjoying and definitely will finish before the end of the month
3. Hmm... not sure! Maybe Dune

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

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WildQuibble
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Pickpick

Fascinating read which has a good mixture of data and funny anecdotes. I really enjoyed it - but maybe avoid it if you love calamari.

7 likes1 stack add
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WildQuibble
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Onto my fourteenth book of the #summersendreadathon ( @Clwojick )

rwmg How is it? I nearly bought it in Waterstones last Christmas, and regret not doing so. 5y
Clwojick ♥️♥️♥️ love the #bujo 5y
WildQuibble @rwmg I really enjoyed it. Lots of interesting stuff and anecdotes (I also almost picked it up in Waterstones last year, but didn‘t, then it came up on audible so I snapped it up). 5y
WildQuibble @Clwojick Thanks! ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
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SpaceCowboyBooks
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Reading and enjoying this fascinating book about cephalopod intelligence.

Megabooks Sounds cool! Welcome to Litsy! 👍🏻📚 5y
SpaceCowboyBooks Thanks! Happy to have found a place for people who love books. 5y
See All 15 Comments
BookwormAHN Welcome to Litsy 😺 5y
SW-T Welcome to Litsy 🙂 5y
rretzler Welcome to Litsy! 📖 5y
Kaylamburson Welcome to Litsy!!! Hope you love it here. 5y
wanderinglynn Welcome to Litsy! 👋🏻 Sounds like a fascinating read. 5y
tpixie Welcome to Litsy!! 🥳📚🥳 5y
CoffeeNBooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚 5y
DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉📚🎉Hope you enjoy it here! 5y
LitsyWelcomeWagon Welcome to Litsy! Hope these #Litsytips by @RaimeyGallant http://bit.ly/litsytips and #LitsyHowTo videos: goo.gl/UrCpoU are helpful. #LitsyWelcomeWagon
5y
RaimeyGallant Welcome! 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 💖📖💖 5y
Nute Awesome first post! Welcome to Litsy! It‘s a warm and friendly community. I know that you will enjoy yourself here. I‘m looking forward to getting to know you!🙂 4y
34 likes3 stack adds15 comments
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bookwrm526
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating look at the world of cephalopods and the difficulties that are inherent in attempting to understand a mind that is so alien to our own, but I didn‘t feel like the author really got very far with the discussion of consciousness - I don‘t think he even successfully defined it! This was my book about nature for #ReadingWomenChallenge

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academiconbreak
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Pickpick

I've given this book away 2x and now own my 3rd copy. Godfrey-Smith is the kind of academic that can make his topic as engaging for the layman as the specialist. But then, what's more fascinating than octopuses and consciousness? He investigates the history of cephalopod evolution as a way into the philosophy of consciousness on the premise that cephalopods developed intelligence not because they are like us but thru an entirely parallel process.

academiconbreak The diagram shows the vast evolutionary distance between us and octopuses. And yet, they are intelligent in recognizable ways to us. Fascinating. The last chapter is his scuba diving expedition to the underwater city of octopuses. Very cool. 5y
Crazeedi Welcome to Litsy !!🎉🎉you will love it here 5y
thereadingowlvina Welcome to Litsy!!! 📚💛🤗 5y
See All 6 Comments
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Welcome to Litsy!! 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 📖💙 5y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🌸 5y
17 likes6 comments
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MotionChickness
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I magically went from, “There are zero books I want to read!..” to, “Download EVERYTHING. Put holds on ALL the things! At the same time!!!!”

#helpme😂 #manicreading?

Weaponxgirl Sounds familiar 😂 5y
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JLaurenceCohen

I don't read a ton of science writing, but Other Minds looks so intriguing.

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ravenlee
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In all the activity yesterday I wasn‘t able to thank @jmofo for this wonderful book that arrived in my mailbox! Thank you so much! It looks like a fascinating read.

jmofo I‘m so glad it made it! I hope you enjoy! 💗🐙 5y
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Ddzmini
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Listening to this on audiobook and made cookies for my daughters work party tomorrow.😋 yum may have to make some extra for us 😝

Tamra 👏🏾👏🏾 5y
erinreads They look so good! So much peanut butter goodness! 🤤 5y
AlaMich I love those peanut butter/Hershey kiss cookies!! 5y
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Kshakal You are making my mouth water!! 5y
Ddzmini @Tamra @erinreads @AlaMich and @Kshakal I know and I didn‘t get to try any but I‘m going to have to make some just for fun 😋 5y
UwannaPublishme Resistance is futile when it comes to homemade cookies. 😋 5y
Ddzmini @UwannaPublishme 🤣🤣🤣🍪 5y
102 likes7 comments
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Ddzmini
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My next read I can‘t wait to dive in this has been on my TBR for some time and I really wanted read it when I got it but now I am now starting it so excited 😋📖

jmofo This is my hands down favorite book about sea life I have read!!! I hope you enjoy it. (There‘s so much delicious sciencey nougat filling.) 6y
bookcollecter Looks awesome. Had a dream of Sea Urchins last night so possibly a subtle nudge to get a copy of this lol 6y
Ddzmini @jmofo already enjoying 😋📖 6y
Ddzmini @bookcollecter if you like evolution it‘s a definite read 😋📖 6y
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JenniferP
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Pickpick

This is an intriguing look at the mind of the octopus and other cephalopods and how they‘ve evolved parallel to humans. Part evolutionary biology and part philosophy, the book gave me a lot to think about considering the obscure topic.

Aimeesue I love octopuses. They're the ninjas of the sea! 6y
15 likes1 comment
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Moray_Reads
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Pickpick

A fascinating look at what the octopus can tell us about the development of complex minds. Godfrey-Smith considers the difference between sentience and consciousness and his approach brilliantly covers the philosophy and history of science and it's just full of incredible facts.

Aimeesue Such a good book! I adore octopuses, the ninjas of the seas. 6y
Moray_Reads @Aimeesue I really enjoyed it and I particularly like the giant cuttlefish sections. 6y
56 likes5 stack adds2 comments
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Schlinkles
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1. See above
2. They‘re talking about making all the parking around Forsyth Park paid, it‘s exciting in an infuriating way.
3. Nope, got to work and finish school work
4. What do you call a fly with no wings? A walk
5. Will do
#friyayintro @jesshowbooks

GarthRanzz 👍🏻 6y
31 likes1 comment
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Schlinkles
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May‘s Happy Hour Book Club pick.

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Oryx
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I love this cover. Excited to learn more about octopus intelligence after loving The Soul of an Octopus. Daisy is excited too #dogsoflitsy

LizzieChantree Great photo! 6y
trazo What a cutie! 🐶😍 6y
Sace Love how zen she looks! 6y
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LibrarianRyan Daisy is adorable. Labradoodle? 6y
Oryx @LibrarianRyan Goldendoodle, almost the same thing 😀 6y
LibrarianRyan @Oryx that would have been my second guess. When they are not standing it's hard to tell. I have a ratapoo or a rat doodle myself. 6y
Oryx @LibrarianRyan Doodles and poos are the best 6y
121 likes10 stack adds7 comments
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TCLinrow
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#litsyisthebestINT

What's a holiday without a trip to the bookstore? I'll never know, because I'm sure they call to me with their siren song. My latest holiday haul 😆😁📚

 @callielafleur

callielafleur That's an excellent haul! 💜💜 6y
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Jamesfahyauthor
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What are you reading this weekend? I picked this up in Oxford the other week and am looking forward to dipping In 👍🏻 happy Sunday Litterns 💕

21 likes1 comment
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Redwitchgreen
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This one I have high hopes for though....

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Ddzmini
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So I have some more books one from the mail and two I bought 😝 I did say I had a problem with buying books even though I have some at home I haven‘t read yet 🤣📖📚📚📚

MinDea We are reading women in the castle in February for #LitsyBuddyRead! @LitsyBuddyRead 6y
Bookladylinda I‘m thinking about purchasing Gunslinger Girl, I simply love the cover!!! 6y
See All 7 Comments
Ddzmini @MinDea ok I start class so I may or may not be able to keep up with everyone in the buddyread and I‘ve never actually done that so I would like to try it ☺️ 6y
Ddzmini @Bookladylinda I‘m giving new books a try and I read the cover so it seems like a different read for me 6y
Ddzmini @Amvs1111 I‘ve heard nothing but good reviews about the book plus it seems interesting so I‘m all for reading it 6y
SilversReviews I enjoyed THE WOMEN IN THE CASTLE. 6y
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BeansPage
Mehso-so

The narrative was a little dry to the layman on the subject. Lots of data collected over many years of research reside in this book. The author has obviously done their homework here. There's some great information here. For anyone who's interested in biology, this would be a good read. However I definitely do not recommend this to the casual reader. It will come off as boring.

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Lindy
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Pickpick

Sometimes the content of this science #audiobook was a little dry, but it‘s a pick overall because octopuses (and other cephalopods) are fascinating. Their brains are distributed throughout their bodies. They can fit through a space the size of their eyeball. They use tools in complex ways. They have individual personalities. They‘re like intelligent alien beings…except they originated in the same place as humans did: Earth‘s oceans. 🐙

MrBook Love this review! 6y
Lindy @MrBook Thanks! Are you a fan of 🐙 ? 6y
MrBook They are amazing creatures! Wish I could have one 😕. When I was a kid, I visited a house that had an aquarium that was a whole wall(!), and I thought if I could ever do that, I would have an octopus in there, lol, among other creatures too, like fish and starfish and sea horses. 6y
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Lindy @MrBook A wall-size aquarium would be wonderful. I don‘t snorkel often, but when I do, I feel like I‘m inside an aquarium. Probably because I have only been to the ocean occasionally, but have looked for hours into aquariums. 6y
UrsulaMonarch Great review! Agreed that it was sometimes dry, but generally just so cool! 6y
Lindy @Lkelly 👯‍♂️ 6y
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Lindy
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When you dive into the sea, you dive into the origins of us all.

(I was on an island with no wifi for the past few days. This audiobook was perfect company for being by the ocean.)

TrishB Looks beautiful 😊 6y
AceOnRoam The colour of the water is beautiful 💙 6y
merelybookish Sounds like a great place to be! 6y
See All 24 Comments
Lindy @TrishB @AceOnRoam @merelybookish Thanks. North Stradbroke Island off the coast of Brisbane: a gorgeous place with wild kangaroos and koalas. 😃 6y
AceOnRoam Ohh, I've been camping there! 6y
Lindy @AceOnRoam 👍👍👍Do you live in Brisbane or nearby? (edited) 6y
AceOnRoam I lived in Brissy from 2005 to 2013, I was in Clayfield mostly. Beautiful city. Lovely weather 🌸🌱🍍🌴 6y
Marchpane Is that Cylinder Beach behind you? My fave holiday spot (I'm from Brissy too 😊) 6y
Lindy @Marchpane What a keen eye! That is indeed Cylinder Beach. We were in a lovely holiday home tucked away in trees (owned by friends of a friend) just 5 minutes walk from the beach. 6y
Cinfhen Lovely 😍 6y
batsy That looks like utter bliss 💙 6y
Marchpane Those waves gave it away! 💕💕it's a special place. 6y
UrsulaMonarch Wonderful all around!!! And a great book! 👍😁 6y
LeahBergen Wonderful! 6y
Lindy @Marchpane The turquoise colour —I just couldn‘t get over the colour. 6y
Lindy @Lkelly Cephalopods are so interesting. 😊 6y
Lindy @Marchpane I‘m in Brisbane until Dec 29 if you are available for a Litsy meet-up. And perhaps @Sue also, if she has time? 6y
Sue @Lindy @Marchpane I‘m keen! 6y
AceOnRoam Oh, bugger. I am back in Turkey now. Have a fun meet up ladies! 6y
Cinfhen How fun!!! #litsymeetup 6y
Marchpane @lindy @sue that sounds great! My contact is millarm at gmail 6y
Lindy @AceOnRoam Aww, too bad. 6y
Lindy @Marchpane @sue I can be reached at my yahoodotcom address. Use my first and last name. 😊 6y
64 likes1 stack add24 comments
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Marchpane
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#AllTheBooksOf2017 #favoritebookcoverof2017

Limiting this to books I read this year - and I couldn't pick just one! I'm very drawn to bright colours and simple but bold images on book covers 😍

Kalalalatja Great covers! 6y
UrsulaMonarch Lovely!! 6y
126 likes2 comments
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twohectobooks
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#novemberbythenumbers #eight

Discovered via the #goodreadschoiceawards and added to my #tbr!

Seekingtardis Octopi are my FAVORITE THING EVER!! 6y
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Jamiedemo
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Pickpick

Epic & astonishing, superbly enlightening, I'll read this again.

speljamr This book was really good. I'm fascinated by these creatures. 6y
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Expandingbookshelf
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"When you dive into the sea, you dive into the origin of us all." ????

So READ THIS BOOK K

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speljamr
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Pickpick

The octopus is a truly fascinating creature, along with it's various cousins. This book explores the independent rise of intelligence in this evolutionary line and how it relates to our definition of consciousness. Highly recommended if this topic interests you. #science #philosophy #neuroscience

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shanaqui
Pickpick

Actually makes me want to go diving and meet octopi and cuttlefish.

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shanaqui
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As if I needed to start another new book... Train reading!

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Marchpane
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Pickpick

Engrossing, insightful, slightly rambling book about intelligence, evolution and the wonders of biological diversity. Read it for the section on ageing alone - why do we age, and why do different species have varying natural lifespans? Also for the cool octo-facts 🐙🦑🌊

#nonfictionchallenge17

jpmcwisemorgan I liked this one too. I read it around the same time I heard a Nerd Nite talk on cephalopods so it made it all that more interesting. 7y
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Misanthropester
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Pickpick

A fascinating work melding biology & philosophy in a nuanced & engaging manner

6 likes1 stack add
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Misanthropester
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"evolution of the mind"