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Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life
Other Minds: The Octopus and the Evolution of Intelligent Life | Peter Godfrey-Smith
Brilliant Guardian Fascinating and often delightful The Times SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2017 ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE What if intelligent life on Earth evolved not once, but twice? The octopus is the closest we will come to meeting an intelligent alien. What can we learn from the encounter?
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GingerAntics
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How is everyone‘s reading experience going? I greatly enjoyed the part discussing seeing without experiencing sight. I wonder what that is like.
#PeterGodfreySmith #OtherMinds #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll @bnp

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GingerAntics
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It must be so trippy to see without experiencing seeing.
#PeterGodfreySmith #OtherMinds #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety

rwmg I might end up re-reading this from 2019 as my book club is reading what seems to be an octupus themed book for March. (edited) 1d
GingerAntics @rwmg were really enjoying it! 1d
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AlaSkaat
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“Watch me…😑”

I get a very toddlery-vibe from them.

#DeadPhilosophersSociety

TheBookHippie 🙃😂 1w
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AlaSkaat
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“When you work with fish, they have no idea they are in a tank, somewhere unnatural. With octopuses it is totally different. They know that they are inside this special place, and you are outside of it. All their behaviour are affected by their awareness of captivity.”

Went to a plant shop with fish & although ‘they have no idea they are in a tank‘ I felt sorry for them swimming around in circles always hitting a wall.

#DeadPhilosophersSociety

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kspenmoll
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Reflections:
…they have become smart animals. They are smart in the sense of being curious and flexible;they are adventurous, opportunistic. With this idea on the table, I can add more to my picture of how octopus fit into the range of animals in the history of life (64). They have personalities!
The mistreatment of these sea creatures at the Naples Zoological Station sickened & angered me. But the thriving Octopolis(61)is cause for joy & wonder!

AnnCrystal 🐙💝...true! Every living being has conscious, has character 💖💖💖.

😢🙏🏼💝.
1w
TheBookHippie I learned a lot reading this. I love octopi more every day 🐙 1w
Chrissyreadit I want to read this. The Octopus is my spirit animal. 1w
66 likes3 comments
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GingerAntics
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How is everyone doing, today? How is everyone doing with this book? I‘m opening this week‘s discussion to talk about anything! Let‘s call this our bookish group therapy session. lol
#PeterGodfreySmith #OtherMinds #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll @bnp

TheBookHippie I‘m just setting down with it -gathering thoughts … however- I think I‘d like to be an octopus. I find myself very very aligned with them 😂🤣😂 1w
TheBookHippie Honestly though the book is good. It‘s not about these animals necessarily but us and I am enjoying trying to explore that thought. 1w
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I was seriously have been thinking the same thoughts while reading this week‘s chapter. There are a couple of parts where I was thinking, yup, I‘m an octopus. It‘s so interesting to see ourselves through this other very different lens. I feel like we could all just be octopi and have our own little shell ledge and just hang out down there, ignoring the rest of the world for a while. 1w
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TheBookHippie @GingerAntics this exactly!!! I know @kspenmoll has posted some gems while reading and I think yes! It‘s quite fascinating. These last three years I‘ve read a lot of octopus books and I‘ve fallen for them where as before never considered them and then I thought - is it because we are taught to fear them or see them as icky? 1w
TheBookHippie Like I had octopuses all wrong… it‘s like what people did to witches. And now in this time we are living in -this hell scape, I think it‘s very important to learn and talk about all the creatures of the ocean and everywhere and their intelligence and everything else. So people don‘t kill them!!!! 1w
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I feel like this is the same sort of place I‘m at. We are told all these scary things about them in school or we read these stories of giant ones that could eat a human or something, and so we fear what we don‘t know enough about. Then in this book, we‘re looking at these octopi that are as small as the tip of your finger or the size of a pet dog. I want to go diving and put out my arm, just to watch an octopus put out theirs too. 1w
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie what an amazing experience that would be. 1w
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics EXACTLY! Which is why I fear project 2025. And I too want to just swim with them. 1w
CatLass007 @TheBookHippie @GingerAntics what group is this? Because I have been reading a lot about octopi in the last couple of years also. This book has been on my radar for a while. I would love to have read it with a group. Do you really think that if people understood that creatures of the ocean have intelligence the creatures would be protected from being killed? People kill other people. Am I being cynical? 1w
TheBookHippie @CatLass007 they‘d protect an animal over a person sometimes. In my experience once something is in your life, or you have an experience with it, it isn‘t as easy to kill. That‘s why travel, community, zoos, field trips etc are important. We are still reading this book. 1w
TheBookHippie @CatLass007 We are the #DeadPhilosophersSociety you can look back at what we read and who we are. 1w
CatLass007 @TheBookHippie Thank you for the info. I definitely will check y‘all out. I see where you‘re coming from but what about aquariums and whale watches? Their presence doesn‘t keep people from polluting the oceans. Zoos don‘t prevent people from calling climate change fake news. People still want their rhino horns for aphrodisiacs and people still want their gorilla hand ashtrays. I believe it is vital to love and respect our fellow human (cont)⬇️ (edited) 1w
CatLass007 @TheBookHippie beings and equally as vital to love and care for this planet and all the creatures who live on it. But I question the willingness of the majority to do the same. (edited) 1w
TheBookHippie @CatLass007 every one saved is a good day. A lot of zoos and aquariums do massively good work to keep species from extinction. The majority may never do good, it‘s an everyday fight to get the minimum in most things, that‘s just life. I focus on who is doing good and how I can help them. 1w
CatLass007 @TheBookHippie @GingerAntics Have you got a reading plan for the entire year or do you vote on books on a monthly or bi-monthly or whatever basis? 1w
GingerAntics @CatLass007 I think it has a lot to do with the way people are raised and what they are open to. People who were raised in the theology of the world is ours to subdue and dominate can learn something else. People who use rhino horn instead of viagra don‘t have the means or education to know better. It‘s all about giving people opportunities to learn something new. Some will take it and some won‘t. Every opportunity is exactly that: a chance. 1w
GingerAntics @CatLass007 not everyone will take it, but some will. It takes time. There are zoos like we had when we were kids, and there are zoos now that talk about conservation efforts and are part of those efforts. All of those things change how kids see the world. All of those kids grow up to be adults who see the world as something they can work with or against. It‘s all a process. 1w
GingerAntics @CatLass007 you can only do what you can do… and sometimes you just want to join a colony of octopi. 1w
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie girl, same! I‘m ready. Let‘s go. Let‘s just join an octopi colony. I wonder what they do instead of reading. I don‘t think the salt water will be good for the books or our e-readers. 1w
GingerAntics @CatLass007 when we get done with this book, we will take a few weeks off and choose a new book, then we do a chapter a week until we finish. We‘ve tried planning multiple books ahead and it never works. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 1w
CatLass007 @GingerAntics @TheBookHippie You both have said things that make me want to think some more about what I just said. I think that‘s the point of philosophy, having discussions that make you think. 1w
CatLass007 Thank you. I participate in some buddy reads in which the books are planned for the entire year. I participate in others in which the books are voted on monthly. I personally like to know what books will be discussed for the entire year because it helps me plan my budget and my library holds. But I understand that‘s not always possible. 1w
kspenmoll I am still catching up but I loved and laughed at “feisty” Charles the octopus! 1w
kspenmoll @GingerAntics @TheBookHippie My husband has always had a penchant for octopuses because he grew up in FL. We have had books & creatures & he played an octopus with my son. 😀 1w
TheBookHippie @kspenmoll it‘s so life giving reading this book! I too like feisty Charles, shocking I know! My grandson adores them so I‘ve been immersed these past two years and loving it. 1w
GingerAntics @kspenmoll wasn‘t he great?! 1w
GingerAntics @CatLass007 welcome to the party! 1w
CatLass007 @GingerAntics Thank you. This book isn‘t available in my library and it definitely doesn‘t fall within my budget this month and probably not next month either. But I do plan to listen to the audiobook in the near future. I‘m afraid it‘s just a matter of $. 1w
CatLass007 @GingerAntics @kspenmoll @TheBookHippie Have y‘all read The Serviceberry? I just finished it and I thought it was excellent. I wouldn‘t mind a re-listen with you if you haven‘t already read it. 1w
AlaSkaat Also a fan of Charles! It makes me laugh how they will squirt lots of water at you simply because they don‘t like you. Why can‘t we do that?? 1w
AlaSkaat I‘m curious to know about their memory 1w
GingerAntics @AlaSkaat I‘m hoping that‘s coming up. I feel like that will be so interesting. 1w
GingerAntics @kspenmoll @TheBookHippie @CatLass007 @AlaSkaat anyone else watching The Americas tonight? If not, I highly recommend. Tom Hanks is doing an AMAZING job with the narration. It‘s just breathtaking! 1w
TheBookHippie @AlaSkaat yes!!! We need that skill!!! 1w
AlaSkaat @GingerAntics I confused Tom Hanks for Tom Cruise and was so confused how he could be doing that so well 😂 can‘t watch it in the UK I think. 1w
GingerAntics @AlaSkaat that sucks! Especially because it‘s been done through BBC studios. 1w
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GingerAntics
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This part made me laugh. I‘m not gonna lie.
🤣😂🤣
#PeterGodfreySmith #OtherMinds #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety

kspenmoll 🤣 1w
GingerAntics @kspenmoll other than the not monogamous thing, I think this is another point in favour of me being an octopus. 1w
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GingerAntics
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Imagine if your arm or your foot could actually process information in conjunction with your brain. Not just send information to your brain, but actually process that information and send the conclusions to your brain!
🤯🤯🤯
#PeterGodfreySmith #OtherMinds #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety

kspenmoll That would make processing our environment lightening quick! 1w
GingerAntics @kspenmoll right? Just imagine how much different that experience would be? If we could keep our current brains and just add on the new neurones, think of how much mental space that could free up to think about other things! 1w
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GingerAntics
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Bookwomble 💖🐙💖 1w
kspenmoll I just bet you are!!!!😂😂😂😉 (edited) 1w
GingerAntics @kspenmoll 🤣😂🤣 thank you 1w
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GingerAntics
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What I wouldn‘t give to see an octopus in a coconut shell.
#PeterGodfreySmith #OtherMinds #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety

kspenmoll This is so cool. 1w
GingerAntics @kspenmoll isn‘t it? I would LOVE to see this. 1w
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kspenmoll
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“The real survivor is indeed a cephalopd, but nautilus rather than octopus.Still living in the Pacific, present-day nautiluses are little changed from 200 million years ago. Living in coiled shells,they‘re now scavengers.They have simple eyes and a cluster of tentacles,and they move up and down, from the deep sea to shallower water in a rhythm that‘s still being studied.They seem to stay higher in the water at night, deeper in the day.”

kspenmoll Immediately thought of OWH‘s poem The Chambered Nautilus, which I have co-taught, unpacked, & analyzed with students. 2w
LoverOfLearning Looks like a cool little book! 2w
GingerAntics @LoverOfLearning we‘re enjoying it. So far, highly recommended. 2w
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GingerAntics
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How is it going, ladies? Anyone else troubled that E. Coli can SMELL YOU?! I wonder if probiotics can sense when you‘re about to take them? Do they get lonely when I forget to take them for a while? The poor dears.
#PeterGodfreySmith #OtherMinds #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll @bnp

kspenmoll 😂😂😂 lonely probiotics! 2w
GingerAntics @kspenmoll I know. I feel so bad for them. Don‘t tell them I can‘t find them right now. 2w
AlaSkaat I somehow lost the book. Where / how ??? but new one is coming tomorrow so I shall get back to this haha 2w
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GingerAntics @AlaSkaat oh my, really? That‘s horrible! I hate when that happens. Of course, as soon as the new one arrives, the original copy will appear. lol It‘s a law of physics or something. You got this. You‘re going awesome! 2w
GingerAntics @AlaSkaat it didn‘t arrive with like an alternate cover or something, did it? 2w
AlaSkaat @GingerAntics unfortunately I did not find the lost book. Where it could be I have absolutely no idea. I haven‘t lost a book in like… a week. I‘m kidding lol. But seriously it just disappeared! The new one came in good shape so I‘m back to reading 📖 2w
AlaSkaat I did find this book for free on Archive online, but I prefer physical copies for this, especially if I‘m to mark something interesting 2w
GingerAntics @AlaSkaat totally agree that adding notes is easier in physical copies. 100% I‘m glad you got your new copy. Perhaps someone saw it, thought it looked interesting, and wandered off with it. You have inadvertently spread knowledge. Good work! 2w
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GingerAntics
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kspenmoll Thanks for the humor!!!😂 2w
GingerAntics @kspenmoll I found this fact to get terrifying!!! 2w
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kspenmoll
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Culmination of the evolution talk in this chapter. #adventuresinphilosopy

GingerAntics Oh I do like a good visual aid!!! 3w
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ravenlee
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GingerAntics I feel like that‘s a bit reductionist. That is certainly SOME philosophy. To say it is largely like that is an over generalisation at the least. 3w
ravenlee @GingerAntics it is reductionist, but I feel like it‘s reductionist in a way to simplify for accessibility. As opposed to depicting philosophy as a bunch of loners engaged in never-ending navel-gazing while the world spins out of control beyond the ivory tower. It makes it feel, to me, like philosophy is something everybody can and does do. 3w
GingerAntics @ravenlee that‘s fair 3w
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kspenmoll
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“We have reached the birth of social behavior.”
I feel like a kid- this is so cool! I never imagined learning about cells would be so much fun! #adventuresinphiosophy

GingerAntics He really makes his subject matter come alive and helps it connect to other things entirely. You‘re learning about cells… but it‘s philosophy, too. 🤯 3w
50 likes1 comment
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kspenmoll
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Started this tonight. This book totally engaged me- all new learning. I am keeping to the schedule @GingerAntics set, so I can take it slow, digest & process what I am absorbing. #adventuresinphilosophy

GingerAntics This is a great book, isn‘t it? I‘ve only read the first chapter so far, but it‘s wonderful! 3w
kspenmoll @GingerAntics I am loving the author‘s approach- he is making this unknown world accessible for me! 3w
GingerAntics @kspenmoll I feel like he‘s making multiple things more accessible. Philosophy, marine biology. 3w
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GingerAntics
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kspenmoll I had to read slowly & felt I could note the whole chapter but I broke it down to a few thoughts that spoke to me. What the author writes of & his ocean world is totally new to me. 3w
GingerAntics @kspenmoll yeah, I was actually worried at first it wasn‘t philosophy, but he brought it around beautifully. I think this book is going to be an awesome adventure. I like the linking of the ocean world and ours. 3w
GingerAntics @kspenmoll I even ended up looking up octopus eyes. lol 3w
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AlaSkaat My questions from last week were answered, haha 3w
AlaSkaat I forgot how much I liked biology, especially when it‘s in this form! I think I will enjoy this one. I can‘t say I know much about it though, but basically the octopus is a fluke? lol. Went down the wrong line maybe 3w
AlaSkaat An intelligent alien. - I‘m still confused. Does he mean the octopus can experience things as we can? Dolphins and such are very smart… but do they have consciousness? Can they ‘observe‘ the world? 🤷‍♀️ 3w
GingerAntics @AlaSkaat the dolphin brain comes from the same place our brain does, evolutionarily. The octopus brain evolved from a different line. So its brain is fundamentally unique from all other intelligent brains on earth. That‘s what I got from the intelligent alien comment. 3w
AlaSkaat Aa that makes sense. Looking forward to reading more about that 3w
GingerAntics @AlaSkaat it is a truly unique perspective to think about… consciousness through octopi. 3w
ravenlee @AlaSkaat Dolphins have passed the mirror test, a standard test for self-awareness, and demonstrate long-term learning strategies. Without being able to communicate with them about their intellectual lives, that might be as close as we can get to saying they have consciousness. 3w
ravenlee @GingerAntics I like that the author is using philosophy to make the science more accessible, and the science to make the philosophy more accessible. Tying together two intimidating specialties in a way that both become less off-putting. 3w
GingerAntics @ravenlee the dolphins taking the mirror test is also beyond adorable! 100% agree about the accessibility point. He‘s really brought in a sense of wonder for all of it. It‘s wonderful! It‘s fun to read. 3w
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GingerAntics
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Let‘s call this discussion 0.5, because I‘m not sure what we can discuss from the page/page and a half that was the (edit) epigraph. If you haven‘t started yet, you are not even close to behind yet. lol It‘s literally two quotes. No worries.
#PeterGodfreySmith #Otherminds #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll @bnp

kspenmoll My library edition, 2016 has no epilogue, just a half page of 2 quotes. Is that what you mean or is there a newer edition? (edited) 1mo
GingerAntics @kspenmoll I have the 2016 digital edition. It starts with a quote from William James and then has one from Roland Dixon. It‘s an epigraph, not an epilogue. I missed that before. 1mo
AlaSkaat I‘m not sure if I‘m still hangover from the wedding I attended on Saturday, but I do not understand that first quote at all! lol. 4w
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GingerAntics @AlaSkaat it‘s a complicated sort of strolling quote. I‘m not sure I understand it either. I have a feeling the book itself will give us more information, and possibly explain it indirectly. I don‘t think it‘s all that important. 4w
ravenlee @AlaSkaat I think (part of) what James is saying is that it‘s lazy scholarship/philosophy/science to say “wow, this ability/adaptation just appeared out of nowhere! That‘s so weird!” It‘s our responsibility to look from different angles to find the precursor(s) to less-obvious phenomena. 3w
GingerAntics @ravenlee very valid point! 3w
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GingerAntics
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I meant to post this earlier in the week, but our first “discussion” for this is tomorrow. We are just reading the epigraph, so if you don‘t have your copy yet, it‘s nothing to worry about.
#PeterGodfreySmith #Otherminds #Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll @bnp

TheBookHippie Just got my library hold!! 1mo
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie perfect timing! 1mo
DrSabrinaMoldenReads It‘s on Kindle Unlimited if anyone else has that 3w
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TheBookHippie In a flare currently which is annoying. Hoping to get to this tomorrow! 3w
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie oh no! I hope you feel better soon. 3w
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics just very achy and tired and annoyed.. big storm hitting today so I imagine the barometric pressure did me in 3w
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie another one? I swear, every week we‘re getting blasted again. 3w
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GingerAntics
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The first day is 3 weeks, but 4 Sundays away. The epigraph looks like it‘s about 2 pages, so that shouldn‘t be too bad if someone can‘t get this book until the following week.

2 Feb - Epigraph
9 Feb - Meetings Across the Tree of Life
16 Feb - A History of Animals
23 Feb - Mischief and Craft
2 Mar - From White Noise to Consciousness
9 Mar - Making Colors
16 Mar - Our Minds and Others
23 Mar - Experience Compressed
30 Mar - Octopolis

TheBookHippie Looks good! 2mo
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GingerAntics @TheBookHippie how did you see that so fast?! 2mo
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics just logged in 🤣 I just put it on hold hopefully it arrives soon. 2mo
kspenmoll I will check this book out-see if library has it. 2mo
ravenlee Ok, I‘ll give this a try. I was getting all confused because Litsy wasn‘t showing it as read but I thought I had…I did read this about five years ago. I liked it but don‘t remember it and still have it, so I guess it‘s time. 2mo
AlaSkaat Looks good. I‘ll try getting the book by end of this month 2mo
kspenmoll I just got my library hold in so i am set! 1mo
GingerAntics @kspenmoll so did @TheBookHippie! Both of your libraries have brilliant timing! I love that they both came in at the same time. 1mo
DrSabrinaMoldenReads @GingerAntics I‘m in. Will there be discussions? I‘m never sure how this works. (edited) 3w
GingerAntics @DrSabrinaMoldenReads we started this week. I used to do questions, but we‘re trying a more open style this time. I post on Sunday sometime and we discuss what we want to discuss. 3w
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GingerAntics
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This also sounds fun. Let me know if you‘d rather read this (or something like it). This seems like it might be a bit more upbeat… which I feel like we need these days.
#Philosophy #AdventuresInPhilosophy #DeadPhilosophersSociety
@TheBookHippie @ravenlee @JaclynW @RavenLovelyReads @AlaSkaat @Chrissyreadit @kspenmoll @bnp

TheBookHippie Yes!!!!!! 2mo
GingerAntics @TheBookHippie doesn‘t this sound fun? Plus the cover is gorgeous! 2mo
TheBookHippie @GingerAntics yes!!!! It looks so good. 2mo
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AlaSkaat This sounds a lot more interesting and less daunting! 2mo
GingerAntics @AlaSkaat that‘s what I thought! 2mo
AlaSkaat When do you guys think of starting? 2mo
GingerAntics @AlaSkaat that‘s going to be my next question. Do we want to start later in January or wait for February? 2mo
AlaSkaat @GingerAntics February would be ideal for me, but I‘m open to anything 2mo
GingerAntics @AlaSkaat February 2nd is the first Sunday, and that actually gives us 4 Sundays between now and then, so everyone would have time to get a copy and what not. 2mo
AlaSkaat Works for me. How would we do it this time? I read one of your comments where you said questions were hard to come up with, we could try something easier ? 2mo
GingerAntics @AlaSkaat I‘m thinking either just open the discussion, maybe have one question to start things. I thought about opening it up so if anyone had something they wanted to discuss they could post it and we could all join in. In the Shakespeare group we just had a post and it was a discussion free for all. That wouldn‘t be so bad. 2mo
AlaSkaat @GingerAntics yeah, we can try doing that 2mo
GingerAntics @AlaSkaat I feel like the conversations are more organic that way and they‘re easier to have. You just kind of jump in. If a topic gets a ton of traction or something, we could make a separate post for it just to keep things organised if we needed to. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 2mo
AlaSkaat @GingerAntics That sounds good. We‘ll see how the discussions go next time 2mo
GingerAntics @AlaSkaat if it doesn‘t work, we can always go back or try something else. I‘m always open to ideas. 2mo
kspenmoll My son thinks he has this- now to find it in his extensive somewhat chaotic library!!!! 2mo
GingerAntics @kspenmoll love that! Fingers crossed you can find it! 2mo
19 likes17 comments
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Pogue
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Mehso-so

Meh. This was published in 2016 and was written more like a text book. I was hoping it was more layman friendly, also having octopus in the title is a bit misleading. He spent more time on cuttlefish.

TheBookHippie Have you read tagged book I very much loved it! 2mo
Pogue @TheBookHippie no I have not, but I just stacked it! Thank you for telling me about this. 2mo
SilversReviews Love the cover!! I haven‘t read the book. 2mo
Pogue @SilversReviews if you do let me know what you think. 2mo
41 likes4 comments
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Pogue
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On a spring morning in 2009, Matthew Lawrence dropped the anchor of his small boat at a random spot in the middle of a blue ocean bay on the east coast of Australia, and jumped over the side. #FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

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cephellapod
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Pickpick

Less fun to read than other animal books I‘ve read before but nonetheless a fascinating read!

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Robotswithpersonality
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Mehso-so

For the most part, a pleasantly scattered approach.
Speculation, hedging and hey, look what nifty thing this cephalopod can do! Then discussing current knowledge on consciousness in humans, which, okay, but not what I was reading it for? Then back to that thing the octopus or cephalopod did and an associated theory. 1/2

Robotswithpersonality 2/2 What I learned from this book is I want to read more about cephalopods, perhaps from a more purely scientific, rather than philosophical framework. Did love finding out how cuttlefish's colouration works, even if the community is still a little fuzzy on the why's.

⚠️animal cruelty, animal experimentation
10mo
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Robotswithpersonality
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Pfft, go Charles! 😆

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Robotswithpersonality
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Seems like the perfect candidate for a Jaws-style summer action-horror blockbuster. Just need some clueless tourists/incautious teens.

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Robotswithpersonality
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Aaaand now I'm picturing a French dessert with a Rolling Stones tongue sticking out of it. 🤦🏼‍♂️

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Robotswithpersonality
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“a continual electrical clamor, a symphony of tiny cellular fits“
A satisfying description of my thought process...😅

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Robotswithpersonality
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Bacterial cooperation = glowy squid safe from predators on moonlit nights.
I love Nature. ☺️

5 likes1 stack add
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jenniferw88
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#naturalitsy #midwintersolace @AllDebooks @Chrissyreadit @TheBookHippie

I'm not sure, but this is either the first book that got me into this area or one of the first. It's a fascinating look at the octopus, and Peter quickly became an auto-buy author for me.

TheBookHippie Oooo. 13mo
DebinHawaii This looks amazing! 13mo
Chrissyreadit Im super late but you won the last Friday night share for Midwinter solace! i will send out your prize ASAP ❤️ 13mo
jenniferw88 @Chrissyreadit 🎉🎉🎉 Thank you! 13mo
58 likes5 stack adds4 comments
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jenniferw88
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Can recommend this #99ponkindle #ukkindledeal

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Grrlbrarian
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Pickpick

Finally knocked out my #bookspin 🐙 This book does a good job of explaining the fascinating path to octopus intelligence, one very different to our own, and how that manifests in octo behavior. Due to its explanations of consciousness generally, the book was drier and less octopus-central than I was hoping, but I considered consciousness in new ways ⭐️⭐️⭐️

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y
39 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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jenniferw88
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Pickpick

#recommendsday for anyone looking for #liveandlearn #booked2020 @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

4 1/2 ? - the reason it's not 5 is that some of the science went over my head.

I never thought I'd be identifying with a cuttlefish - "Once the decline starts, it occurs very quickly. Their health seems to drop off a cliff". This is me when I get ill, except I bounce back rather than die!

#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

Cinfhen Thank God you bounce back xxxxxxx book sounds fascinating 5y
TheAromaofBooks Great review! 5y
ravenlee I just watched a really interesting PBS Nature show called Octopus: Making Contact that reminded me of some of the things I read in this book. If you‘re able to find it you might enjoy it. 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I‘m with @Cinfhen — glad you bounce back! So not ALL cuttlefish ... 🐙 5y
65 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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jenniferw88
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😂

60 likes1 stack add
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jenniferw88
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1. 🐙🐚🦀🦐🦑
2. Not in my eyes.

@rockpools @TheSpineView #two4tuesday

Tagging @kezzlou85

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 😊 5y
rockpools How is Other Minds? Been interested in that one forever! 5y
jenniferw88 @rockpools it's good. Some of the science goes over my head, but it's not dry and is making me laugh! 5y
rockpools @jenniferw88 Oh that‘s good! I really should bump it up my list (that and everything else 🙄) 5y
55 likes4 comments
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rwmg
Mehso-so

I must admit I found the Precambrian and Cambrian a bit of a slog to get through but other parts were fascinating and thought-provoking.

However, there is no excuse these days for an ebook not providing links between the endnotes and the portion of the text being discussed further.

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rwmg
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Baby octopus gunkan

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sparrowssavvy
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Pickpick

This book was fantastic! I honestly learned so much and it was truly fascinating!

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ravenlee
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Pickpick

Very interesting look at what consciousness is and how it developed three separate times (vertebrates, and probably separately in octopuses and squid/cuttlefish). I‘m not sure I understood it all, but a good read. Thanks to @jmofo who gave me this one!

I‘m at 2:44 so far for #24B42020, nowhere near where I‘d like to be but the readathon is young! I also took a break to get a haircut and a mini-facial.

@TheReadingMermaid @jb72 @Andrew65

Andrew65 It‘s still a good start and there are five days. 😊👏👏 5y
41 likes1 comment
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ravenlee
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About 2/3 through this one (was halfway at readathon start), and around 1.5 hours so far. Unfortunately I‘m having trouble concentrating on it because kiddo got exactly what she wanted from Santa and has this fascinating non-stop play narration going on. 😆 She‘s been giving her dolls makeovers with the new beauty kit for three days now.

#24B42020

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WildQuibble
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#adventrecommends day 20!

This is absolutely fascinating, and at times hilarious. I can thoroughly recommend it - unless you really enjoy calamari.

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llwheeler
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Pickpick

Very much enjoyed this book on cephalopods, blending biology, psychology, and philosophy - and learned quite a few new things! E.g. how their skin colours work. I would have liked a conclusion that brought more of the elements discussed all together, but each section was very interesting.

Pic: me with an octopus at the Quebec aquarium in 2011

Lindy That‘s a large octopus! 5y
llwheeler @Lindy It was! so cool to watch 5y
Lindy @llwheeler 🐙❤️ 5y
batsy Yes, awesome 🐙 photo! The book sounds super fascinating... Adding it to the infinitely expanding TBR 5y
llwheeler @batsy Thanks! Hahaha gotta love infinitely expanding tbrs... sounds like mine too lol 5y
48 likes5 comments
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llwheeler
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1. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings; Other Minds; The Loneliest Magician; la petite poule d'eau
2. Probably will be Other Minds (tagged), I'm really enjoying and definitely will finish before the end of the month
3. Hmm... not sure! Maybe Dune

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

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WildQuibble
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Pickpick

Fascinating read which has a good mixture of data and funny anecdotes. I really enjoyed it - but maybe avoid it if you love calamari.

7 likes1 stack add
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WildQuibble
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Onto my fourteenth book of the #summersendreadathon ( @Clwojick )

rwmg How is it? I nearly bought it in Waterstones last Christmas, and regret not doing so. 6y
Clwojick ♥️♥️♥️ love the #bujo 6y
WildQuibble @rwmg I really enjoyed it. Lots of interesting stuff and anecdotes (I also almost picked it up in Waterstones last year, but didn‘t, then it came up on audible so I snapped it up). 6y
WildQuibble @Clwojick Thanks! ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
8 likes4 comments
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SpaceCowboyBooks
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Reading and enjoying this fascinating book about cephalopod intelligence.

Megabooks Sounds cool! Welcome to Litsy! 👍🏻📚 6y
SpaceCowboyBooks Thanks! Happy to have found a place for people who love books. 6y
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BookwormAHN Welcome to Litsy 😺 6y
SW-T Welcome to Litsy 🙂 6y
rretzler Welcome to Litsy! 📖 6y
Kaylamburson Welcome to Litsy!!! Hope you love it here. 6y
wanderinglynn Welcome to Litsy! 👋🏻 Sounds like a fascinating read. 6y
tpixie Welcome to Litsy!! 🥳📚🥳 6y
CoffeeNBooks Welcome to Litsy! 📚 6y
DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy!! 🎉📚🎉Hope you enjoy it here! 6y
LitsyWelcomeWagon Welcome to Litsy! Hope these #Litsytips by @RaimeyGallant http://bit.ly/litsytips and #LitsyHowTo videos: goo.gl/UrCpoU are helpful. #LitsyWelcomeWagon
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StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 💖📖💖 6y
Nute Awesome first post! Welcome to Litsy! It‘s a warm and friendly community. I know that you will enjoy yourself here. I‘m looking forward to getting to know you!🙂 5y
34 likes3 stack adds15 comments
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bookwrm526
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating look at the world of cephalopods and the difficulties that are inherent in attempting to understand a mind that is so alien to our own, but I didn‘t feel like the author really got very far with the discussion of consciousness - I don‘t think he even successfully defined it! This was my book about nature for #ReadingWomenChallenge

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academiconbreak
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Pickpick

I've given this book away 2x and now own my 3rd copy. Godfrey-Smith is the kind of academic that can make his topic as engaging for the layman as the specialist. But then, what's more fascinating than octopuses and consciousness? He investigates the history of cephalopod evolution as a way into the philosophy of consciousness on the premise that cephalopods developed intelligence not because they are like us but thru an entirely parallel process.

academiconbreak The diagram shows the vast evolutionary distance between us and octopuses. And yet, they are intelligent in recognizable ways to us. Fascinating. The last chapter is his scuba diving expedition to the underwater city of octopuses. Very cool. 6y
Crazeedi Welcome to Litsy !!🎉🎉you will love it here 6y
thereadingowlvina Welcome to Litsy!!! 📚💛🤗 6y
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Welcome to Litsy!! 6y
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17 likes6 comments