Reviews for The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness

by Sy Montgomery

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

*Starred Review* Naturalist Montgomery (Birdology, 2010) writes exceptionally affecting and enlightening books inspired by both rigorous scientific curiosity and enraptured wonder and empathy for all living beings, from dogs to chickens to tarantulas. Committed to illuminating the true, complex nature of diverse forms of animal consciousness, Montgomery headed to Boston's New England Aquarium to learn about one of Earth's most stupendously capable creatures, the octopus. Introduced to Athena, Montgomery plunges her arms into the icy water to make contact, and is thrilled when her new cephalopod friend firmly grasps her, tasting her skin with some of her 1,600 sensitive and powerful suckers. Montgomery also gets to know Octavia, Kali, and Karma, stroking their soft heads and observing their many moods and activities, appreciating each distinctively intelligent, willful, inquisitive, mischievous, and affectionate personality. She also learns to scuba dive to observe octopuses in the wild. In prose as gripping and entwining as her subjects' many arms, Montgomery chronicles the octopus' phenomenal strength, dexterity, speed, weaponry, and lightning-quick shape-shifting and camouflage abilities. She also tells funny and moving stories about her friendships with the dedicated aquarists and volunteers (most notably Anna, a valiant young woman with Asperger's syndrome) who care for the cephalopods with infinite respect and tenderness. Montgomery's uniquely intimate portrait of the elusive octopus profoundly recalibrates our perception of consciousness, communication, and community.--Seaman, Donna Copyright 2015 Booklist


Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This book's big reveal may be up front in the title, but that doesn't detract from the delight of discovering just what, exactly, an octopus's soul might look like. Naturalist Montgomery (The Good Good Pig) admirably demonstrates the complexity, intellect, and personalities of the octopuses she has come to know at the Boston Aquarium-sweet-natured Athena, steadfast Octavia, mischievous Kali-without ever resorting to easy anthropomorphism. Her science is accessible but not overly simple, and the details she offers about these creatures bring them into sharp focus: they are sophisticated camouflage artists, can solve puzzles, and show distinct preferences for people, places, and tastes. Along with an abundance of fascinating octopus lore, Montgomery illuminates her own quest to understand the creatures better and paints vivid portraits of the people who are similarly drawn to them. Her affection for her subjects, both human and cephalopod, shines through. VERDICT Anyone captivated by the natural world, from interested middle school readers and up, will be engrossed by this account of a strange-and unexpectedly beautiful-animal. [See "Editors' Spring Picks," LJ 2/15/15.]-Lisa Peet, Library Journal © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.


Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Naturalist Montgomery (Birdology, 2010, etc.) chronicles her extraordinary experience bonding with three octopuses housed in the New England Aquarium and the small group of people who became devoted to them. As a casual visitor to the aquarium, she had been intrigued by the sense that the octopuses, invertebrates separated from us by millions of years on the tree of life, she watched were also watching her. "Was it possible," she writes, "to reach another mind on the other side of the divide?" Their appendages are covered with "dexterous, grasping suckers" that propel food into mouths located in their armpits, and they savor the taste of food as it travels along their skin. This ability is one of the ways in which they perceive their environment. On her first behind-the-scenes visit to the aquarium, Montgomery was given the opportunity to directly interact with Athena, a 2 1/2-year-old, 40-pound octopus housed in a 560-gallon tank. Hosted by the aquarium's director of public relations, with other personnel on standby to ensure her safety, the author was encouraged to place her hand in the tank. Though Athena possessed the strength to pull Montgomery into the tank, she was gentle and even playful. The author describes the thrill of this and subsequent encounters with Athena and two other octopuses housed at the aquarium. They recognized and openly welcomed her visits, soliciting petting and stroking as might a house pet in similar circumstances. Octopuses seemingly relate easily to humans, quickly learning to pick up cues from their keepers, who make a game of hiding food, and in turn play tricks on them. Yet in the wild, they are generally solitary and may attack and eat others of their species if placed in the same tank. With apparent delight, Montgomery puts readers inside the world of these amazing creatures. A fascinating glimpse into an alien consciousness. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.


Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This intimate and spiritual work relates Montgomery's (Quest for the Tree Kangaroo) experiences communing with octopuses in aquariums and in the wild. She clearly conveys the visceral experience of reaching into a tank and touching the creatures and watching octopuses from birth until death. While spending time with the animals, she also enters a fascinating community of people who share her love of aquatic animals. The work is mesmerizing and read by Montgomery herself, which reinforces the intimacy of her experiences. She builds from her encounters with the octopuses and the people who care for them to a meditation on consciousness beyond humanity. The only negative aspect to this work is the audible paper noise in the background. VERDICT A not-to-be-missed listening event for animal and ocean lovers. ["Anyone captivated by the natural world, from interested middle school readers and up, will be engrossed by this account of a strange-and unexpectedly beautiful-animal": LJ 6/1/15 starred review of the Atria hc.]-Tristan M Boyd, -Austin, TX © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.