The Soul of an Octopus

Why I recommend it

My therapist recommended this book, and I didn’t love it at first, but it grew on me over time. It’s a book about octopuses, but it’s also a book about consciousness.

What stayed with me

How much might we miss when we expect another creature’s intelligence to look like our own? Paying closer attention can change the questions we ask.

Who it’s useful for

Curious readers interested in animals, consciousness, and our relationships with other living things.

A tension or limitation

Much of the book comes from encounters with captive octopuses. Those relationships are compelling, while also raising questions about captivity and what we can know about an animal’s experience.