Thursday, February 16, 2017

The Soul of an Octopus:

A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness


By: Sy Montgomery
Genre: Non-Fiction
Pages: 241
Published: 2015
Told in: First Person

Compare to:
The Social Lives of Dogs
       -Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s-Eye View of the World
       -Michael Pollan
Bird Sense: What It’s Like to Be a Bird
       -Tim Birkhead

In a nutshell:
Montgomery explores the physical and psychological world of the octopus primarily through her experiences with the New England aquarium. From her studies she shares what she has learned about marine life, octopus personalities, and their connection to mankind.


What you may enjoy:
This is a very casual non-fiction. The book is written chronologically, a story of the author’s increased exposure to octopuses. Not only does the book contain information about octopuses, but it shares tidbits of other marine life. It is informative without being monotonous.

What you may NOT enjoy:
The philosophy of the book is questionable and is often filled more with the author’s opinions than solid fact. If you’re looking for a solid science book, don’t look here. The book is more of Montgomery’s personal journal of her experiences, riddled with similes.

Warnings:
Violence and Disturbing Images:
2 octopuses eat each other, mentioned; octopuses die, mentioned; octopus swarmed by ants; 2 starfish eat octopus corpse; octopus bits a girl; woman electrocuted by an eel; girl drowns herself, mentioned; octopus suffocates another octopus, mentioned; octopus dries out and dies

Sex and Nudity:
Sexual reference; sexual similes; octopuses mate, described and mildly graphic; sea slugs sexual technique vividly described; describes male octopuses equivalent of ejaculation; woman mentions scraping her nipples

Language and Profanity:
B*tch, H*ll

Drugs and Alcohol Abuse:
Dolphins become intoxicated from a toxic fish; fruit flies drink liquor after not being sexually sated 

But it on Amazon

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