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Monarchs of the Sea: The Extraordinary 500-Million-Year History of Cephalopods Paperback – Illustrated, September 15, 2020

by Danna Staaf (Author)

4.7 262 ratings

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From the author of Nursery Earth, a “nimble, fast, surprising, smart, and weird in the very coolest sense of the word” (Sy Montgomery) exploration of the sometimes enormous, often bizarre creatures that ruled the seas long before the first dinosaurs―a Science Friday Book Club Pick

Cephalopods, Earth’s first truly substantial animals, are still among us: Their fascinating family tree features squid, octopuses, nautiluses, and more. The inventors of swimming, cephs presided over the sea for millions of years. But when fish evolved jaws, cephs had to step up their game (or end up on the menu). Some evolved defensive spines. Others abandoned their shells entirely, opening the floodgates for a tidal wave of innovation: masterful camouflage, fin-supplemented jet propulsion, and intelligence we’ve yet to fully measure. In Monarchs of the Sea, marine biologist Danna Staaf unspools how these otherworldly creatures once ruled the deep―and why they still captivate us today.

Publisher’s Note: Monarchs of the Sea was previously published in hardcover as Squid Empire. 33 B&W photographs and illustrations

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

The Experiment
Publication date

September 15, 2020
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
ISBN-10

1615197400
ISBN-13

978-1615197408
See all details

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From the Publisher


	Monarchs of the Sea	Nursery Earth

Customer Reviews	262	35
Price	$13.93	$18.50

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A Science Friday Book Club Pick

"Cephs rule! [Monarchs of the Sea], like its protagonists, is nimble, fast, surprising, smart, and weird in the very coolest sense of the word. What could be more fun than jetting back in time to primordial seas with the monsters who really ruled our planet? In these pages, Danna Staaf makes every dino-lover and every undersea adventurer’s dream come true. It’s a fabulous read with squishy, slimy delight on every page."
― Sy Montgomery, New York Times–bestselling author of The Soul of an Octopus

"This crystal-clear book will open your world to wider horizons and much deeper times. . . . Long before vertebrates evolved anything like higher intelligence, squids and octopuses were on a separate track to versatility, problem-solving, individual recognition, and deceit. Before we can know who we are, we must know who we are here with, and who has come before us."
― Carl Safina, New York Times–bestselling author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel

"I loved this book. . . . Staaf’s approach is short and sweet, well-illustrated and strong on playful narrative."
― Nature

"It is a treat to come across a writer with such specialized training who is able to turn esoteric knowledge into a page-turning read for all audiences. . . . Staaf captures what is rarely seen outside the ivory tower: scientists talking among themselves with a touch of irreverence. Researchers everywhere will surely relate."
― Science

"This engaging book may do for early cephalopods what paleontologists did for dinosaurs in the 1960s: spark a public renaissance of appreciation for these magnificent creatures who once ruled the seas."
― Jennifer Ouellette, author of Me, Myself, and Why and The Calculus Diaries

"Intriguing . . . This in-depth coverage of an often neglected but ecologically vital group will change your view of squid, octopuses, and their relatives."
― New Scientist

"A book like [Monarchs of the Sea] is a reminder that in any scientific narrative, there are always two stories at play. There is the history of the subject you’re studying, and then there is the history of its discovery."
― New Republic

"Fiendishly readable."
― The Inquisitive Biologist

"Fresh and fascinating."
― The Times Literary Supplement

About the Author

Danna Staaf earned a PhD in biology from Stanford University with her studies of baby squid. She is the author of Monarchs of the Sea and The Lady and the Octopus, and she has written for Science, Atlas Obscura, and Nautilus. She lives in California with her human family, a cat, and a garden full of grubs, caterpillars, maggots, and innumerable other babies.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Experiment; Illustrated edition (September 15, 2020)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1615197400
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1615197408
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #347,528 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #92 in Marine Biology (Books)
- #162 in Marine Life
- #581 in Zoology (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.7 262 ratings

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Danna Staaf

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When Danna Staaf met an octopus at the age of ten, it changed her life. She set up a saltwater aquarium to keep eight-armed pets in her bedroom, learned to scuba dive off the coast closest to her home in Southern California, and eventually earned a PhD in the biology of squid babies. Currently working as a science writer, she also wields words in the world of fiction, and helps her husband raise two story-hungry children.

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4.7 out of 5

262 global ratings

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Susan E Dix

To octopi or not to octopi

Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2023

Verified Purchase

This book is packed with a lot of information about cephalopods, more than I ever even knew existed. A scientific look at the evolution of and future of octopuses and squid and nautiluses and others, but written in a very accessible format. Who knew they were so prolific and so ancient?

4 people found this helpful

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B. Bolton

Fantastic Book!

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2021

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Honestly, I've never given cephalopods a second thought--until I read this book. Absolutely fascinating small volume about absolutely fascinating creatures. Who, for example, would think of designing an animal able to swallow food in a tract between its eyes? Everything you've ever believed about how animals work goes right out the window with these beasts. Amusingly written, too. Highly recommended.

6 people found this helpful

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Kathleen Hornstuen

Great book to learn about Cephalapods!

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2023

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Very Scientific, but she laces it with humor, keeping me interested. I learned so much about ancient squid!

One person found this helpful

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K. Murphy

Not all exciting fossils are dinosaurs!~

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2020

Verified Purchase

Dinosaurs often get all the fossil love. Here is a terrific exploration of the ancient history of cephalopods (invertebrates like octopuses and squid) through the fossil record. The author has a lighthearted, accessible tone without compromising the details of the topic. Moving through geologic time, this book traces the evolution and changes in cephalopods and the effects their niche in the ocean ecosystem had on other living creatures.

11 people found this helpful

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readsalot

Excellent reading! Even for someone who knows little about cephalopods.

Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2021

Verified Purchase

Often what carries me along in reading a book is the author's enthusiasm and knowledge of subject, this book exemplifies that idea. Touching story of cephalopod evolution, possible reasons for the directions and outcomes of that fossil saga. Up dates about current Paleontology, and living studys.

7 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Such a fun read.

Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2020

Verified Purchase

This book takes to the history of squid-family animals with a storytellers flair. I pre-ordered it on a whim and am very glad I did. I hope Dana becomes a star in her field if she isn't already, but I also hope she dips her toe back into general audience nonfiction again.

4 people found this helpful

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The Largest Octopus Fan Club!

OctoNation - The Largest Octopus Fan Club APPROVED!

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2020

Verified Purchase

I was unaware of how EPIC ancient cephalopods were! Danna is an incredible tour guide through 500 million years of evolutionary history.... Did you know that ammonites has shells SO big you could fit an adult HUMAN in em!?

The enthusiasm & curiosity Danna has for these creatures shines through and now I'm hooked!

11 people found this helpful

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Daryl Carpenter

Fascinating, but ends way too abruptly

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2023

Verified Purchase

I've always been mildly fascinated by cephalopods (they're just so weird!), but I've always been disappointed that there are so few accessibly written books on them (okay, maybe a little TOO weird). This book is unique in that it focuses almost entirely on the evolution of the Class, including theories on how they may have moved about, fed, and reproduced, how they lost their heavy outer shells and developed jet propulsion, their sketchy fossil record, and so on. Danna Staaf is a fairly good writer and the book moves along at a fairly good pace, even if the occasional attempt at humor falls a little flat. The Kindle version is pretty good and is generally free of typos and editing errors, and the numerous sketches and photographs are nicely reproduced.

Unfortunately, as a connoisseur of doorstops-sized books, "Monarchs of the Seas" feels oddly truncated, as if it were the first book in a two-volume set, or the editor suffered from extreme ADD and insisted on removing the entire second half. After spending a good amount of time describing the 500-million-year evolution of cephalopods, there's a brief afterword talking about modern-day species, and the book abruptly ends then and there. If I'd turned off the percentage remaining on my Kindle, I'd have assumed I was only halfway through. I know it's marketed as an evolutionary history, but I can't help but feel I'd have enjoyed it a bit more if it'd spent a little more time focused on the last 100 million years, or if it'd wrapped up a bit more gracefully.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Kelly

Enjoyable read

Reviewed in Canada on February 21, 2021

Verified Purchase

Great engaging book

Anne

Fascinating, yet accessible

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2021

Verified Purchase

Written with wit and humour, this book is delving into the history of cephalopods and their evolution.
I enjoyed the first chapter as an introduction to cephalopods, the author was very funny. The other chapter were very interesting and with the help of Google image, I was able to picture the many creatures Staaf mentioned.
I am so glad I read this book cover to cover! Definitely worth the buy