Montgomery, Sy. The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness (New York: ATRIA Books, 2015).
Montgomery is a wonderful story-teller, seamlessly weaving scientific information with her personal encounters with octopuses. In doing so, she offers a meditation on the nature of consciousness. Thus, the book can be an excellent resource for a variety of courses. For STEAM classes, it offers both for its factual content and aethetic portrayal of these amazing creatures. (A Study Guide is available.) For courses on educational psychology, it can challenge assumptions about the uniqueness of human consciousness and what it means to learn. For environmental studies, it raises important questions about human responsibilities for other forms of life. Beyond such pedagogical purposes, The Soul of an Octopus is an enjoyable read for those seeking a respite from the hectic pace of work and life.