I've always found Octopuses (yes, that's the correct plural) to be fascinating creatures. After reading this book I'm even more fascinated. The author's research, including personal contact and ultimately "friendships" with the 8 armed residents of the New England Aquarium in Boston as well as encounters in the wild while working with other researchers. Each of the aquarium's specimens had distinct behaviors and personalities that demonstrated a consciousness beyond what most people expect of cephalopods. The captive octopuses, named Athena, Octavia, Kali, and Karma, were curious about the people taking care of them and expressed a kind of affection by gently using their suckers to explore the hand and arms of their caretakers. Octopus ingenuity is exhibited in a number of online videos showing large specimens exploring and escaping through the tiniest of openings as did one at the aquarium who unfortunately died from being out of water for too long. One even managed to steal an entire bucket of food by distracting the humans present with tentacle cuddles. This book makes me want to find an aquarium with opportunities to "pet the octopus." Highly recommended.
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