Meeting an octopus is, in many ways, the closest we're likely to get to meeting an intelligent alien 
 4.5 stars. 
 This book was absolutely fascinating. It discusses a wide variety of subjects concerning biology and philosophy, including the evolution of consciousness, the uniqueness of intelligence in octopuses and other cephalopods, and what it means to have a subjective experience as a living creature. 
 I appreciated the authoraEUR(tm)s efforts to respect the animals he observed and their habitats, using minimally invasive methods to study the octopuses and cuttlefish. The photographs and personal anecdotes included made for a great balance with the scientific research and explanations.