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The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness | Sy Montgomery
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review
Elizabeth2
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Pickpick

This was my book club‘s most recent pick, and while the others struggled to dive in, I was completely captivated! This National Book Award finalist reads more like a memoir than a science text. Through chapters dedicated to the different octopuses she meets, Montgomery explores her admiration and curiosity for these creatures. This book leaves you feeling hopeful and in awe of the wonders of marine life. Great on audio! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars ❤️📚

AvidReader25 I loved this one too! 2w
36 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Floresj
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Pickpick

This is an endearing book about the personalities of octopuses and the author‘s experience seeing and learning about their intelligence. Good, but slightly repetitive and I‘m probably not likely to love an octopus‘s sucker tasting my skin- I‘m mostly likely to be grossed out.

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birdie_gw
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Pickpick

Bought this book for a friend who passed through town today but I couldn‘t see because I was working. A fascinating look at the consciousness of a very odd creature. More alien than most.

pdxannie Adding to my stack! 8mo
IuliaC I loved this one! 8mo
pdxannie Ps love that nail color 8mo
3 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Deblovestoread
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#TLT #ThreeListThursday

Hard to pick just 3!

1)Tagged
2) Everything by Rick Bragg
3) Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal - Jeanette Winterson

Thanks for the tag @Read4life 💜. Tagging everyone so I can gather a huge list of recommendations 😁

@dabbe

dabbe That's what I'm doing, too! Thanks for these 3! 🤩😍😃 9mo
Read4life You‘re welcome! 💙💙 9mo
46 likes2 comments
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SarahBookInterrupted
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Meredith from Book Interrupted recommends this book and dreams of an octopus hug too. Check out her thoughts on this weeks Manuscript Monday here: https://www.bookinterrupted.com/post/manuscript-monday-the-soul-of-an-octopus

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JackOBotts
Pickpick

🐙🐙🐙🐙
Absolutely fascinating

TheBookHippie I loved this book. 14mo
JackOBotts @TheBookHippie I read Remarkably Bright Creatures a few months before reading this book…it was a delightful “companion” pairing. 🐙📚🐙 14mo
TheBookHippie @JackOBotts I‘ve looked at that a few times I‘ll have to add it to my TBR! 14mo
See All 6 Comments
JackOBotts @TheBookHippie I hope you enjoy it! 14mo
MemoirsForMe Great book! 🙌🏻 14mo
JackOBotts @UwannaPublishme - it really was. I‘m so glad my colleague let me borrow her copy. I‘m not sure I would‘ve picked it up on my own. 14mo
30 likes6 comments
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DivineDiana
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This is such a good book!

#involvesanimals #bookbinge

AvidReader25 I loved this one! 1y
DivineDiana @AvidReader25 Agree! ❤️ 1y
Eggs Great photo 🐙 1y
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IamIamIam I loved this book!!!! Have you also read 1y
TheBookHippie I agree I loved it. 1y
Julsmarshall I loved it! And those 2 books paired together? Magic! 1y
DivineDiana @IamIamIam Not yet! It‘s on my list! My IRL book club almost picked it, and I would have loved that! But we had already read this one, and the group wasn‘t ready for another octopus book. 1y
DivineDiana @Julsmarshall Hope I get to read it sooner rather than later. 🤞🏻 1y
77 likes1 stack add10 comments
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Robotswithpersonality
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Mehso-so

Alternative titles: 'Adventures at the Aquarium' or 'Octopuses are Nifty'. I had some forewarning by reading How to Be a Good Creature first, but for those interested, Sy Montgomery definitely has a more sentimental, reverent take on animal science. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality 2/? I think she interacted with/cited a couple people who would be better positioned to write a book/paper on the octopus brain/cognitive function, and of course Montgomery exemplifies that good scientists are willing to admit where the knowledge gaps lay, the things we can't know, how much can behavior be a measure for the inner workings of the mind? Without being able to read another being's mind, how much can you really gauge as an outside observer? 1y
Robotswithpersonality 3/? I admit my experience was largely soured once I realized how much of this book would be discussing observations and interactions with 'display octopuses' in aquariums, aka captured for entertainment purposes, studied and cared for on the side. Sy felt the need to build a familial cast of characters from the aquarium employees and volunteers, possibly because there was an upper limit to how much back and forth she could gain from an octopus. 1y
Robotswithpersonality 4/? I will always be grateful to people who go out of their way, even as they struggle against anthropomorphizing their subject, to get people to understand the independent value and agency of other living beings, but if that was the goal, there was an awful lot of filler.
Why the extended diving tribulations riff? Building tension? Not really what we're here for.
1y
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Robotswithpersonality 5/? I get that she's generally curious about all the animals encountered whether on a night dive or passing aquarium exhibits, or likening one unique animal behaviour to another, but I'm still not sure that warranted the passages on the aquarium's renovations? 1y
Robotswithpersonality 6/? I would really love to see more works emphasizing a reverence for nature while studying in the wild, putting forward that people can appreciate and work to preserve and protect animals without feeling entitled to interact directly with them.
Montgomery strikes me as empathetic and excitable, if a little too prone to spiritual/religious imagery/references, and so wherever she found wonder or connections, she found it worth recording.
1y
Robotswithpersonality 7/7 There's nothing wrong with that sentiment, it just isn't what I went looking for. A title with the word 'Soul' in it should have been my hint. 🤷🏼‍♂️
I'm open to (cruelty free) investigations of animal behaviour, especially as it relates to a reevaluation of our anthropocentric views, if anybody has any other book suggestions!
⚠️Animal death, suicidal ideation, discussions of mental health, terminal illness
1y
slategreyskies Great review! Thank you! 3mo
8 likes7 comments
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marleed
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I always get some sort of thrill when it turns out a non-fiction wins the tag in my newest grid!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

Note: To equate quarter ratings to A-F scores, 3.5 and 3.25 both garner a C+, but 3.5 represents my quandary - is it a pick or a so-so!?

Aims42 That‘s a good question! I usually specify it as a “soft pick” unless I feel in my gut it‘s a definite “meh” 1y
ChaoticMissAdventures I feel like I read when transferring from GR to here, that 4-5 were picks, and 3 so so. I think rounding would put a 3.5 as a so-so, and a 3.75 as a soft pick? But often I put a 3 at a soft pick if I think “this is something that is meh for me, but I think others would like it and I would recommend it to them“. It is all so arbitrary! 1y
marleed @Aims42 @ChaoticMissAdventures Oh my gosh, so arbitrary! I can leave an IRL bookclub with a different opinion of a book then when I stepped in the door. On a reread I don‘t look back to my previous rating until I‘ve rated my reread, and it‘s funny how often they differ. When I realized my quarter point system allowed me that ‘maybe today a pick and tomorrow a so-so‘, it solved a quandary for me! 1y
ChaoticMissAdventures @marleed for sure I think my general mood of the day reflects my rating! I can read something in the winter and it will not land an be a 2.5, but read the same book in the summer when I am happier and it will be a solid 4! 1y
63 likes4 comments
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marleed
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Pickpick

After 3 fictional books involving an octopus and a bookclub reason to reread one of them this month, it was time to for a non-fiction book about this cephalopod. I loved this book and when my grandkids head to preschool, I‘d love to spend time as the daily visitor to a Giant Pacific Octopus!

LaraReads So awesome!! What other fictions did you read? I adored 1y
steph_phanie This is one of my favorite books in recent years! 1y
DivineDiana Agree with @LaraReads. Loved this book! 🐙 1y
See All 9 Comments
TiredLibrarian Curious along with @LaraReads - what were the fiction books besides this one? 1y
marleed @LaraReads @steph_phanie @DivineDiana @TiredLibrarian It‘s Remarkably Bright Creatures that I get to reread this month and now with some extra facts to add to my enjoyment! I tagged the other two books in comments above! 1y
Deblovestoread Loved Soul and this one caused all kinds of ugly crying 1y
marleed @Deblovestoread oh my gosh - the tears. As much as I liked this book it‘s hard to recommend to others because of serious ugly cry results! 1y
92 likes2 stack adds9 comments
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Valhalla
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8 likes1 stack add
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MemoirsForMe
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Pickpick

Fascinating read about how the octopus—usually portrayed as a menacing and monstrous creature, really has a unique personality, curious nature and perhaps an even deeper connection with us than we realize. And now I know that the plural of octopus is NOT octopi! 😆
Thx @HeathHof for the gift of this wonderful book.
#BookSpin
@TheAromaofBooks
#LitsyLoveReads
(Author‘s Insta photo: #sytheauthor)

ElizaMarie I have heard a lot about Octopus lately. They seem to have a fascinating little personality. 2y
ShelleyBooksie My current read! 2y
Deblovestoread Loved this one! 2y
See All 9 Comments
MemoirsForMe @ElizaMarie It must be a sign for your next read! 😉🐙 2y
Pogue I loved this book. 2y
MemoirsForMe @ShelleyBooksie @Deblovestoread I learned SO much reading this. I was googling so many fish and creatures like the “sea pen” to see what they looked like. Great fun! 2y
MemoirsForMe @Pogue It‘s an eye-opener and such a fun read! 🙌🏻 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
ElizaMarie Ha... you have a point - I just stacked it! 2y
55 likes1 stack add9 comments
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ShelleyBooksie
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Apologies for the late posting @TheKidUpstairs - thank you for my lovely mug and tasty coffee! #muglove23 , @cinfen

34 likes1 stack add
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Gadzooks_Bazooka
Pickpick

I was gifted this book from a coworker as part of a secret-Santa gift exchange and really didn‘t know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. It‘s not a book I would have picked on my own but I enjoyed it.

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IamIamIam
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@andrew65 For today's #WinterReadathonDailyChallenge I'm posting my favorite animals! Most of my favorite animals are sea creatures, except for the okapi. The okapi is cousin to the giraffe and extremely shy. The others are a cuttlefish, and 2 octopus: the dumbo octopus and the giant Pacific octopus! I sneaked this in under the wire tonight after a busy day with a Girl Scouts event!

Bklover I read the book tagged and it was wonderful! 2y
Andrew65 Stunning pictures 🐙🐙🐙 2y
IamIamIam @Bklover I was really amazed at how moving that book was!!! 2y
IamIamIam @Andrew65 😁😁😁 2y
Bklover Me too! 2y
27 likes5 comments
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IamIamIam
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Pickpick

Octopus & cuttlefish are my absolute favorite sea creatures. In this book, Montgomery explores what an octopus experiences in the world of thought and consciousness. Octopus are some of the most intelligent sea creatures and we follow the lives of Athena, Octavia, Kali and Karma through their aquarium journey at the New England Aquarium, along with their caretakers and friends. Extremely readable while being sciency!

Johanna414 I loved this book so much! 2y
IamIamIam @Johanna414 It was amazing!! I had no idea that octopuses (pl? 😶) had such strong personalities and each one so vastly different than the next! 2y
SqueakyChu Oh, I loved this book! 👍❤️ 2y
IamIamIam @SqueakyChu ❤️🐙❤️🐙❤️🐙 2y
SqueakyChu @lamlamlam I would read anything this author writes now! 2y
26 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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IuliaC
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Pickpick

This book is such a delight and truly fantastic for animal lovers; an amazing journey into the universe of this magnificent creature both in captivity and in the wild.

“While stroking an octopus, it is easy to fall into reverie. To share such a moment of deep tranquility with another being, especially one as different from us as the octopus, is a humbling privilege. It‘s a shared sweetness, a gentle miracle, an uplink to universal consciousness.“

Pogue I loved this book. 2y
IuliaC @Pogue me too, I enjoyed it tremendously 2y
Nutmegnc I read this years ago and I still talk about it to anyone who will listen!! 2y
IuliaC @Nutmegnc I've already started to do the same! I hope more and more will listen 😃 2y
57 likes4 comments
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IuliaC
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Fabulous creatures ?; my favorite bit so far: ?

"Many home aquarists report that their octopuses appear to enjoy watching television with them. They particularly like sports and cartoons, with lots of movement and color. [...] King and her coauthor, Colin Dunlop, even suggest placing the tank in the same room as the TV, so owner and octopus can enjoy programs together.”

Smrloomis Whoa interesting! 😄 2y
IuliaC @Smrloomis yes, amazing discoveries about these creatures 😁 2y
45 likes2 comments
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BookBelle84
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Bailedbailed

I can't do it.... I really tried, I thought I would love it but I actually hate it. I don't feel that the author has the knowledge to do this story justice. The main reason that I struggled with this is the lack of discussion about these intelligent creatures trapped in captivity. She even mentions how aquariums must purchase new ones when they die as it's not a real aquarium without one. ⬇️⬇️

BookBelle84 Maybe I view it differently having studied primates in and out of captivity but to me the constant escape attempts while yes showing their intelligence, also shows their desperation to escape. This story just made me sad, it could have been used as such a good platform for octopus wellbeing and it was one based on the writers feelings getting to be around them rather than what is best for them. 2y
dylanisreading I DNFed this one too. Extremely anthropocentric. 2y
Chrissyreadit That is heartbreaking. I really struggle with how animals are treated. 2y
22 likes3 comments
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iread2much
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Pickpick

This is a fun book about one woman‘s journey to try to get to know #octopuses. It‘s more like a travel book than a deep dive in the world of octopuses, with each octopuses highlighted and the authors quest to see octopuses in the wild being the main focus of the story. I didn‘t get much of the consciousness issue, but then I‘ve also know how smart octopuses are for years.
3/5 read if you love animals and want to know more about octopuses

wisherwishinguponastar I picked this title off the bookshelf at my job the other day and read the beginning of this. Octopuses are so crazy! The first thing I learned was that it is octopuses and not octopi because of this book! 2y
iread2much @booksellerofyourdiscontent that was super helpful to know! Octopuses are amazing animals! 2y
MemoirsForMe I must move this one up on my list. Does sound like fun! Hello Kiyo! ❤️ 2y
iread2much @UwannaPublishme Kiyo says hi! It‘s a really good read. I think you‘ll be glad to read it sooner than later 2y
24 likes4 comments
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DivineDiana
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Pickpick

If you have seen the Oscar winning documentary, “My Octopus Teacher”, you must read this! If you love animals, this will touch your heart. The author is a naturalist and author of 20 nonfiction books. I know I am repeating the word love, but this is a special love story to the amazing octopus. From a New England Aquarium to the reefs of French Polynesia, it is an immersive journey. I was surprised at how many times I was moved to tears. ❤️ 🐙 ❤️

IuliaC I've been unable to ever again eat octopus after I'd watched a documentary on the friendship between a man and an octopus, and found out how intelligent and fascinating this animal is! 2y
DivineDiana Thank you. We have a lot to learn from the animals who share our world. ❤️ 2y
TheBookHippie Stacked! 2y
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DivineDiana @TheBookHippie 👏🏻🐙❤️ 2y
IamIamIam I picked this up last summer!!! I'll have to bump it up! 2y
DivineDiana @IamIamIam So glad you have it! Will look for your thoughts! ❤️🐙❤️ 2y
68 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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DivineDiana
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Current IRL Book Club read.

Bklover I surprised myself by loving this book!! 3y
DivineDiana @Bklover Wonderful! I hope I do as well! 🤞🏻 3y
Nutmegnc One of my most talked about books!! 3y
See All 12 Comments
DivineDiana @Nutmegnc Thank you! Looking forward to talking about it too! 3y
shanaqui I remember this one being sooo fascinating. 3y
DivineDiana @shanaqui I have only read a chapter, but already astounding! 3y
MemoirsForMe I‘m really looking forward to this one! 3y
DivineDiana @UwannaPublishme I will look for your review! 👏🏻 3y
Nute I‘m into her books!🙂 2y
DivineDiana @Nute This is my first! But I am planning to watch a YouTube video of a talk that she gave about this book! 2y
Nute Oooh, I‘m gonna look for that! Thanks for the information, Diana. It‘s great to know you on Litsy!☺️ 2y
DivineDiana @Nute You‘re welcome. It is great to know you on Litsy as well! 😊 2y
71 likes2 stack adds12 comments
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BoldCityBooks
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I‘m only in chapter one right now but I‘m really enjoying this book! I bought it at the Charleston Aquarium last year on vacation.

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MrsHood
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Mehso-so

I bought this book for husband as a gift. It was fun to read together (I read aloud to him certain books that we think we‘ll both like…does anyone else here so that???) overall it was okay. A bit redundant. A fun little museum/octopus/scuba diving related book. But there‘s probably better ones out there. Hopefully.

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fredthemoose
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Panpan

⭐️⭐️ I feel bad being hard on this book, but it just didn‘t work for me. I heard the author talking about the book on the Ezra Klein show a few months ago and it sounded really interesting, but it turns out all of the interesting (to me) information was in that interview, which left 9+ hours of other, not particularly interesting content. To me, a book version of a meeting that could have been an email.

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Mitch
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Pickpick

I‘ve learnt so much about these amazingly intelligent creatures & about a different way of looking at every species. The authors level of curiosity & wonder is infectious. It‘s a problematic book though - because her love for the creatures jars with her acceptance of their use & living conditions. I felt incredibly sad for these intelligent, creative & inquisitive creatures living in confined tanks & being sought in the wild for tourist pleasure.

LapReader Have you watch My Octopus Teacher? 3y
Mitch @LapReader I haven‘t … i‘m Googling it now! 3y
TheAromaofBooks I love this cover!!! 3y
See All 6 Comments
Mitch @TheAromaofBooks agreed! It‘s very beautiful and the paper stock is lovely too! 3y
iread2much They are amazing creatures! Ever since I‘ve been made aware of his intelligent they are, I‘ve had to stop eating them. 😅 3y
Mitch @iread2much Agreed! 👍🏼 3y
81 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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MerlinTheSlightlyAwkward
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Pickpick

This is incredible. Animal lovers, be prepared for tears. The author‘s narration is so full of love for living creatures and a devotion to communicating.
Plus, gorgeous octopus pictures.

I‘ve already bought multiple copies for surprise gifting!

#octopus #oceanography #biology #animallover #love #ocean #reporting #journalism #symontgomery #thesoulofanoctopus #soulmates #water #nonfiction

13 likes1 stack add
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Mitch
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On the corner of each page there‘s a photo of an octopus - making a fab flip book - octopuses everywhere!

This book looks random - but I was intrigued by the idea of the octopus an an emotionally co ones and spirited creature. Looking forward to learning lots!

jlhammar Wonderful book! 3y
TEArificbooks Loved this book 3y
Mitch @mdm139 @jlhammar I so pleased to hear that - it was an impulse purchase in the bookstore so bought it without reading reviews etc! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3y
See All 11 Comments
DGRachel I loved this book so much. I think I talked about it so much that my grandmother in Arizona grabbed a copy to read! 3y
Johanna414 One of my favorite books! 3y
Soubhiville I really loved this one too! 3y
Mitch @DGRachel that‘s the best news! 😍 3y
Mitch @Soubhiville I can‘t wait to read it now ! 3y
wanderinglynn I was a little disappointed in this one. 🐙 I love octopuses and find them fascination but thought the author missed out on really exploring the subject, particularly the “wonder of consciousness” part. 3y
Mitch @wanderinglynn I know so little going in ! 3y
wanderinglynn She does present some good info on octopuses. I just had higher expectations. I‘ll be interested to hear your thoughts. 3y
72 likes11 comments
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steph_phanie
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a marvelous and fascinating read! It made me want to rush out to the nearest aquarium to look at the octopuses (and all the creatures) with a new perspective! 🐙

Highly recommend!

Prairiegirl_reading I loved learning that octopuses was correct. 3y
steph_phanie @Prairiegirl_reading Same! And I think I have said the word 100x since finishing it! My husband has reached an, "Oh, octopuses again ?" state. Haha. 3y
DivineDiana I felt the same way, and am planning my visit to see a live octopus. Did you get a chance to go yet? 2y
10 likes4 comments
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sebrittainclark
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Pickpick

4/5

This was a super interesting look at the intelligence of octopus. It follows Montgomery's relationship with four Octopus: Athena, Octavia, Kali, and Karma. It was a fascinating read that I really enjoyed.

#newyearwhodis @monalyisha @Johanna414 #nywd22

Nutmegnc One of my all time most talked about books. It started my love of octopuses 🐙!!! And I literally just put it on my recommended books list post! It might not be too much to say this book changed my life!!!! It brought me to a new friend and sent me on an adventure to view our local octopus (the tank was made on tv‘s Tanked show back in the day…) (edited) 3y
71 likes7 stack adds1 comment
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sebrittainclark
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1. The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery, Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne, and Good Enough by Kate Bowler

2. The main goal is to read every #bookspin and #doublebookspin this year. I'd also like to also fully complete 1 reading challenge, but that's more of a bonus goal.

3. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

Benthecatlover 1. I‘m reading Eric Emmanuel Schmitt‘s “La Porte du ciel” (edited) 3y
Benthecatlover 2. My goal is to read 60 books 3y
Benthecatlover 3. My first book of the year was Moon police by Tom Gauld. 3y
42 likes3 comments
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Nutmegnc
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That time my friend connected with an octopus 🐙. Red color indicates happiness!! Happy World Octopus Day.

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Nutmegnc
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Happy World Octopus 🐙 Day! Thank goodness for Sy Montgomery and her incredible talent for illustrating many of the ways octopuses are incredible. This book remains one of the reads most often mentioned in my conversations.

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alysonimagines
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A moving account of the author‘s friendships with several highly curious and intelligent octopuses.🔸#augustreads2021

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Cinfhen
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Soubhiville I loved this book so much! 3y
Deblovestoread 5 🌟 read for me. 💜 3y
Cinfhen Having trouble focusing 🧘‍♀️ so I‘m putting this on temporary hold @Soubhiville @Kdgordon88 because I‘ve heard it‘s phenomenal and I want to make sure im fully immersed 🐙🤩 3y
Megabooks This was a really emotional read for me. I can‘t eat octopus now. 3y
Centique @Megabooks I gave up eating octopus a few years ago after reading something about how intelligent they are. But I want to get to this book too! Did you guys see the Netflix doco “My Octopus Teacher” god I loved that 💕 3y
64 likes1 stack add5 comments
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WhatWouldJaneDo
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Got a new kindle case and I'm in love! 😻🐙

Soubhiville Very cool! 4y
Megabooks Nice! 4y
CBee Love it! Where did you find it? Octopi are one of my favorites ♥️ (edited) 4y
WhatWouldJaneDo @CBee mine too! I got it on Amazon, it fits the paperwhite. 4y
CBee @WhatWouldJaneDo thank you 😊 4y
43 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Johanna414
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Halfway through this and loving it so, so much!!! Which has me thinking... I'm not a huge non-fiction reader, but the few nonfiction titles I've absolutely adored have been in that nature/science niche with some memoir thrown in. Now I clearly need to explore this further! I've read and loved Lab Girl by Hope Jahren, A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson and The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Bailey. What should I read next?!?!

Come-read-with-me I have always wanted to read this - sounds great!! 4y
Amandajoy The same author wrote this on and it was pretty good 4y
See All 11 Comments
Soubhiville This is my favorite vein of NF too. I‘ll try to think of some others. 4y
Johanna414 @Amandajoy @Eyelit @Soubhiville you are all the best! Thank you!! 4y
Johanna414 @CaitZ thank you! I‘m definitely going to check out the wolf one! I‘ve got a few more of Sy Montgomery‘s books on my list - I was pleasantly surprised when I got to work this morning and realized how many of her books I have in the library! 4y
44 likes3 stack adds11 comments
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Johanna414
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Starting a book I've been wanting to read for years, and settling in for an evening of #audiostitching
Can anyone tell what I'm working on?

jb72 I actually liked that book. 4y
44 likes1 comment
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KelsiTaylor
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“A lot of people are freaked out by octopus,” he told me... “With Athena, I‘ve had four of her arms on me, and you peel them off and then the other four arms are on.”
“I think we‘ve all been on dates like that,” I observed.

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Skyrimir
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I let my seniors vote this year and they unanimously chose this over Macbeth. Now, I love Macbeth, but I was also think after such a rough year that students may want something lighter. They have been loving their aquatic science class and I think this will be a good connection to that. I‘ve never read it (other teachers at school have used it) so I‘ve got some speed reading to do!

Deblovestoread Great choice! I love this book. 4y
Nebklvr It is so good and so accessible. Teach for the win! 4y
22 likes2 comments
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beaconhillbooks
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Pickpick

Give me all of the books like this. Love them.

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sharread
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Pickpick

Amazing story about our beautiful world God gave us along with all the unique creatures. This book made me think about how limited our own visual world is compared to creatures of this world. All life has an important role here and this book explains that perfectly. A fun quick read, helps you learn something new, easily. Not too scientific either.

Cuilin Did you see my “Octopus Teacher” on Netflix, such a beautiful story? 4y
Bklover Oh I read this a while back and loved it!!! 4y
MemoirsForMe Looking forward to reading this! 4y
48 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Deblovestoread
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#12Booksof2020 #Day9. Another non-fiction pick. This book was surprisingly fascinating and touching. I didn‘t expect to be still thinking about it almost a year later but I do.

Andrew65 Looks good. 4y
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CorgiBooks
Bailedbailed

I think this book was probably intended for people who didn‘t already like cephalopods, as it seems absolutely insistent on selling octopus to you. It made the whole beginning drag, and I only got about half the way through the book before I decided it just wasnt for me

Lchnessmnstr I didn‘t know much about the Octopus before I read this but it still felt pretty repetitive... 4y
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shadowspeak17
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Pickpick

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. Montgomery‘s enthusiasm was infectious. The relationships between all the people and animals were nice to read about, and even though this ended up being more memoir than I expected, I still learned a lot about octopuses and other marine animals. But... there was one thing that bothered me. I already had mixed feelings about these animals being kept in captivity before, and while Montgomery seems ⬇️

shadowspeak17 pretty firmly on the side of it being okay because education, what actually happens in the book with a couple of octopuses definitely did not bring me over to Montgomery‘s side.

#booked2020 #liveandlearn #catsoflitsy #Phoenix
4y
shadowspeak17 @jenniferw88 I have not, but it sounds good. Thanks for putting it on my radar! 😃 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I'm glad it was mostly a good experience. I think it would make me feel conflicted as well, though. 😰 4y
39 likes4 comments
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Yuki_Onna
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⚓Part of my holiday bookhaul ⚓
Fond memories... I could do with another holiday now after one week of work 😝 I miss the sea and the seaside... 🌊

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shadowspeak17
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1. No, I didn‘t know that was a thing that was happening.
2. My anniversary
3. The Soul of an Octopus 🐙 I‘ve only read one chapter, but I‘m enjoying it so far.

#ThoughtfulThursday

MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing 🌠 4y
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shadowspeak17
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Here are #3books I plan to read this month:

The Soul of an Octopus- already started for #booked2020 #liveandlearn

Above Us Only Sky- for #lmpbc

Saga- for my #friendrecchallenge

OriginalCyn620 Nice! 👌🏻 4y
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CampbellTaraL
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Pickpick

A touching story about the author's interactions with octopus, captive and in the wild. It'll for sure make you pause a little longer at the next octopus exhibit, and likely skip the menu items where octopus is featured.

Megabooks I haven‘t eaten octopus since I read this. 4y
CampbellTaraL @Megabooks Right? I've read many a book that typically turns people away from eating specific animals after a lot of thought, but this is the first that demonstrated so thoroughly that I just can't bring myself to consider eating an octopus ever again. 4y
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