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God Is an Octopus

Loss, Love and a Calling to Nature

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God Is an Octopus

By: Ben Goldsmith
Narrated by: Simon Bubb
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About this listen

Bloomsbury presents God Is An Octopus by Ben Goldsmith, read by Simon Bubb.

'Intensely readable, poetic, truthful, wise and wonderful.' STEPHEN FRY
'An extraordinary book.' SUNDAY TIMES

Struggling to comprehend the shocking death of his teenage daughter, Ben Goldsmith finds solace in nature by immersing himself in plans to rewild his farm.

In July 2019, Ben Goldsmith lost his fifteen-year-old daughter, Iris, in an accident on their family farm in Somerset. Iris’s death left her family reeling.

Grasping for answers, Ben threw himself into searching for some ongoing trace of his beloved child, exploring ideas that until then had seemed too abstract to mean much to him. Missing his daughter terribly and struggling to imagine how he would face the rest of his life in the shadow of this loss, Ben found solace in nature, the object of a lifelong fascination. As Ben set about rewilding his farm, nature became a vital source of meaning and hope.

This book is the story of a year of soul-searching that followed a terrible loss. In an instant, Ben’s world had turned dark. Yet, unbelievably to him, the seasons kept on turning, and as he immersed himself in the dramatic restoration of nature in the place where it happened, he found healing.

In God is an Octopus, Ben tells a powerful, immersive and inspiring story of finding comfort and strength in nature after suffering loss and despair.

©2023 Ben Goldsmith (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Biographies & Memoirs Grief & Loss Nature & Ecology Inspiring Feel-Good Heartfelt Thought-Provoking
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What listeners say about God Is an Octopus

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Brilliant and touching

This is more than a story of hope in the midst of grief… more than an an exploration into rewilding. This book touched my soul deeply. It shone a light onto the spiritual mystery of life and beckoned me to bathe in the waters of soul-quenching love. Thankyou

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3 people found this helpful

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Beautiful, inspiring, deeply moving, hopeful

Powerful and thought provoking. Will resonate with anyone seeking meaning in life and nature and anyone hoping to find connection and hope during life’s darkest times

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Amazing

From such grief comes hope.

Iris will always be with you,
Love will always survive.

I sore in you myself as a mother nearly 30 years ago.

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3 people found this helpful

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A beautiful teacher

I hope the world is to be blessed with more writings and insights of the sublime world you see and what you cannot, you kindly pass along to those that truth seek whom will find it in the small details of the natural world you note and write so very well But I hope it is without heart break to you and with a gentle stroke to your hand. I am so grateful I got to listen to this book.

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I hope he is in so many ways

as a 50 odd year-old naturalist, I often find it hard to have optimism in the ecological future of this planet this however holds a jar a door and through it one day, I would like to find Hope

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Beautiful

I loved this book, beautiful and sad but ultimately hopeful. Well written and good narration.

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A must listen for every parent, every nature lover out there

This book has taken me through a poetic rollercoaster of feelings from moments of despair and sadness to moments of joy, inspiration and hope. It draws a paralysing line between the human journey, human relationship, and our relationship with nature. how beautiful it all is and how complicated and devastating at the same time. How simple yet unfathomable. God is an Octopus is a must read for every parent, every explorer, every person who wants to learn and grasp why humans need to save nature for humanity’s sake.

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Brilliant

As someone who lost her husband suddenly and unexpectedly this year I was drawn to this book. My husband was a true eco warrior and so Ben’s passion for nature and his deep love of Iris and his family found a home in my heart. Highly recommend this book which delivers on so many levels .

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Gut wrenchingly sad yet full of hope

Don’t think I have ever cried out loud at a book before - painful. But I had to keep reading to find the solace in the wonderful outcome of a father’s grief. Beautiful Iris. Thanks for writing this book. I now am questioning my own attitude to nature.

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Deeply moving and inspiring

Highly recommend to anyone interested in nature, Rewilding or who would like to understand more about life beyond our normal daily lives. Beautiful, honest and profound.

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