Kraken!

Upon hearing that PZ Myers was reading Kraken by Wendy Williams, I decided that I should read it too. And what a good decision that turned out to be! Kraken, a book about squid, is so much more than that. Not only does she discuss squid, but she also looks briefly at other cephalopods like cuttlefish and octopus. More than that, the book is an insight into the kinds of research underway, from aquariums where cephalopod intelligence is studied to Monterrey Bay where Humboldt squid are tagged to track their movements and try and shed a little light on their behavioral practices. Even further, this is a whirlwind tour through evolution, looking at fossils, ancestors, and the parallel evolution of intelligence in the five hundred million plus years since squid and (what are ultimately) human ancestors diverged. It is a fascinating journey, and very brief at two hundred pages.

Perhaps most interesting of all is the section looking at how research into cephalopods, whether octopus or squid, has helped advance medical technology. Given the current state of research, we may expect further benefits from these inquiries. This should prove a striking rebuttal to those who mock "useless" research done with government funding. So much for that; one never knows when a bit of information gleaned from the world may prove useful.

Even if you have only a passing interest, this book is for you. It covers a wide breadth of information and is well worth reading.