Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life

Sealife as such never interested me till I met my partner, who is a passionate diver. He always says that there is nothing more meditative in the world than being surrounded by marine life. I had to see this for myself and, despite being a non-swimmer, decided to give diving a go. I would have to sink, and how hard could that be for someone who could never stay afloat? I was wrong. The fear and stress were too strong, and no amount of beauty around me could overcome that. So I stuck to snorkeling.

Everything changed after my first snorkeling trip in the Red Sea. It was a whole new world, and the colors and creatures were mind-boggling. I never imagined there was so much beauty beneath the surface, and I only watched it from afar. It must be a completely different level of experience to be amongst them.

I have only seen octopuses in aquariums, but hearing the author describe these creatures really makes me want to rethink my decision to write off diving. They are truly fascinating.

I enjoyed the book and I love how passionately it is written. It is factual and philosophical, and there is a lot to learn. More than anything, it left me with a newfound appreciation for these fascinating creatures.

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