Bokus
Sy Montgomery - Soul of an Octopus, Häftad

Häftad, Engelska, 2016

Soul of an Octopus

Av Sy Montgomery

135 kr

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Beskrivning
'Sy Montgomery’s The Soul of an Octopus does for the creature what Helen Macdonald’s H Is for Hawk did for raptors' New Statesman'Charming and moving...with extraordinary scientific research' Guardian'An engaging work of natural science... There is clearly something about the octopus’s weird beauty that fires the imaginations of explorers, scientists, writers' Daily MailIn 2011 Sy Montgomery wrote a feature for Orion magazine entitled 'Deep Intellect' about her friendship with a sensitive, sweet-natured octopus named Athena and the grief she felt at her death. It went viral, indicating the widespread fascination with these mysterious, almost alien-like creatures. Since then, Sy has practised true immersion journalism, from New England aquarium tanks to the reefs of French Polynesia and the Gulf of Mexico, pursuing these wild, solitary shape-shifters.Octopuses have varied personalities and intelligence they show in myriad ways: endless trickery to escape enclosures and get food; jetting water playfully to bounce objects like balls; and evading caretakers by using a scoop net as a trampoline and running around the floor on eight arms. But with a beak like a parrot, venom like a snake, and a tongue covered with teeth, how can such a being know anything? And what sort of thoughts could it think?The intelligence of dogs, birds and chimpanzees was only recently accepted by scientists, who now are establishing the intelligence of the octopus, watching them solve problems and deciphering the meaning of their colour-changing camouflage techniques. Montgomery chronicles this growing appreciation of the octopus, but also tells a love story. By turns funny, entertaining, touching and profound, The Soul of an Octopus reveals what octopuses can teach us about consciousness and the meeting of two very different minds.
Produktinformation
  • Utgivningsdatum: 2016-04-07
  • Mått: 130 x 197 x 17 mm
  • Vikt: 210 g
  • Format: Häftad
  • Språk: Engelska
  • Antal sidor: 272
  • Förlag: Simon & Schuster Ltd
  • ISBN: 9781471146756
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Betyg & recensioner

1 recensioner, genomsnitt 4/5

  1. 4/5 Mike H

    The book title "The soul of an octopus" could easily have been "The touch of an octopus" since that is the author's key contact point between the world of humans and cephalopods. But exploring the nature of the soul is the question put before the reader, even if it is not so obvious until the end.

    It seemed initially surprising to the author that an octopus could interact with humans. The interactions between other animals and humans is also discussed with an element of surprise, because somehow they have been considered as incapable of true meaningful relationships. The idea having been that an animal would only like you because you fed it. Yet such an idea is nonsense as all cat, dog, horse and even pig owners know, and have done for thousands of years. Adding the octopus to the list of creatures that can have an emotional connection with humans is perhaps only strange because they inhabit completely different environments without human contact.

    From an evolutionary perspective, why would a Cephalopod develop such emotional capacities, or the ability to enjoy human friendship? Especially since most species live in isolation. The design of the octopus brain and eyes seem incredible. The strength of the suckers yet with extreme sensitivity are amazing characteristics. The co-ordination of 8 legs, and the ability to change colour to fit any environment, and even to animate the colours and shades - to make itself look like a fish or merely look like a moving shadow - incredible. Although variation between species is natural, perhaps the origin of the octopus design is not, but the author doesn't deal with the question.

    The author does bring up the questions about God, adding little snippets about the gods of various religions, and admitting to praying, but not considering the existence of the soul to be anything beyond chemicals and electricity. Religion is reduced to mere tradition, without consideration that perhaps there really is a supernatural cause to life, or purpose to living.

    Several octopuses with personal names make their appearance in the book, and demonstrate widely varying personalities. Sea stars, electric eels, a bossy turtle, and many aquatic creatures also make an interesting appearance.

    In parallel with the stories of the octopuses runs the story of several of the human characters. The experiences of rejection, loss and suffering all find some solace in the relationships with the octopus. This brings out some of the difficult issues of the way humans treat each other, and nature, when there could be so much more harmony. The reason for this human condition is not discussed at any length, but the experience of love is a common thread, and is very well brought out. It is the most profound part of the book, and the touching is central to it.

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