A review by maddyreads89
The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery

medium-paced

2.5

When I started this book, I found all the info quite interesting and really thought this could be a 4-5 star read. However, as the book went on, I became more and more uncomfortable with the lack of discussion of any ethical implications of keeping these animals in captivity. I know that wasn’t supposed to be the main focus of the book, but if you’re gonna explore the consciousness of octopuses, a discussion of how they perceive their captive environment seems necessary. Sy Montgomery is clearly a good writer and storyteller, but unfortunately her wish to turn her experiences into a satisfying learning-adventure narrative came at the cost of giving ethical questions the weight they deserve.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings