The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery **** (of 5)

Sy Montgomery makes a very strong case that octopusses (that is the correct plural, not ocotopi) are so intelligent that they have both cognition and consciousness.  Montgomery's case is not built so much on biology, though there is plenty of evidence to go on.  Octopusses have both central brains and individual brains in each of their eight arms.  That means an octopus can work its arms in concert or independently and that simultaneously an octopus can do eight different things.  It can unscrew a bottle cap with two arms, feed itself with a third, while it explores, tastes, and touches additional items with its remaining arms.  In some ways, a human ability to walk and chew gum at the same time pales in comparison.  Mostly, Montgomery argues that octopusses have feelings, curiosity, personality, and moods and convinces us by interacting with octopusses on a weekly basis at the Boston aquarium.  She lets the aquarium's Giant Pacific Octopus taste her skin, stick some of its hundreds of suckers all over her, and play with her.  In many ways an octopus is more expressive than most dogs and cats and if a spineless sea creature is this intelligent and knows itself that well, what else might be lurking in the minds of the animal kingdom?

Here's one visit with a Giant Pacific Octopus.