Many Things Under a Rock

A riveting new exploration of the octopus from the world-leading expert, marine biologist David Scheel. For fans of 'My Octopus Teacher' and Other Minds.

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A riveting new exploration of the octopus from the world-leading scientific expert. For fans of Netflix's 'My Octopus Teacher' and Other Minds by Peter Godfrey-Smith.

'Enchanting.' MAIL ON SUNDAY
'Abounds with wonders.' KATHLEEN JAMIE, NEW STATESMAN
'Brings the world of the octopus vividly alive... a sense of what it might be like to live in their skins.' FINANCIAL TIMES
'The deepest of octopus books.' PETER GODFREY-SMITH

AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4'S TODAY PROGRAMME
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What is it like to be an octopus?

The octopus is a highly intelligent and deeply mysterious creature. It can change colour as quickly as it can move, 'think' with its tentacles and communicate in sophisticated ways.

Marine biologist David Scheel's lifelong preoccupation with these animals has led to a career of groundbreaking research, from finding previously unknown species to the discovery of signaling communication. In Many Things Under a Rock, Scheel shares his deep scientific understanding of octopuses and recounts his intrepid adventures with these mysterious, charismatic creatures.

He investigates four major mysteries about octopuses: what can we know about such elusive and camouflaged creatures? Why are they so extraordinarily resilient? How do their bodies work? And what kind of relationships do they have? In unravelling these mysteries, Dr Scheel shows octopuses to be complex emotional beings and reveals what they can teach us about ourselves.