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The I Index

Metazoa: Animal Life and the Birth of the Mind

Next in the queue

66

/100

I Index Overall Rating

Readers

34/100

Critics

67/100

Scholars

96/100

Author:

Peter Godfrey-Smith

Publisher:

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Date:

November 10, 2020

The scuba-diving philosopher who wrote Other Minds explores the origins of animal consciousness.

What The Reviewers Say

Aimee Nezhukumatathil,
The New York Times Book Review
What makes this book shimmer and shine is Godfrey-Smith’s exploration of marine life (drawing on his vast and extensive diving knowledge and field experience) to illuminate the ways in which the animal mind works—and the thoughts and experiences that give it shape.
Barbara Kiser,
The Wall Street Journal
... the scuba-diving historian and philosopher of science tackles these questions with eloquent boldness.
Robert Eagan,
Library Journal
This is no dry, academic treatise; Godfrey-Smith takes care to keep the work accessible by summarizing key points, explaining the work of relevant scientists and philosophers, and punctuating the text with memorable facts. The book is enlivened by the wit and affection with which the author often regards his subjects of study.
David Papineau,
The Times Literary Supplement (UK)
Godfrey-Smith mixes his theoretical themes with first-hand accounts of often surprising animal behaviour.