God Is an Octopus
Loss, Love and a Calling to Nature
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God Is an Octopus
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Narrated by:
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Simon Bubb
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By:
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Ben Goldsmith
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.
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What listeners say about God Is an Octopus
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lara Arnott
- 23-09-24
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- CARYS LOCKWOOD
- 23-05-23
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ms. Elizabeth M. Scott
- 23-05-23
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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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- missfitz
- 14-01-25
excellent book from any angle
I began listening to this book without any knowledge of what it was about, who the family were (publicly or privately) or that the content was set so emotionally and geographically close to my heart. I'm pretty sure I heard it mentioned on the Jeremy Vine show in the context of the current developing interest in psychodelics as healers, and on that basis alone thought I'd have a listen.
Anyway, it turned out that while the psychodelic interest may have been paramount for the author in terms of drive, direction, ambition, recovery, meaning and enlightenment, it coveres a relatively small chunk of the book. The contents are largely a wonderfully honest and emotional journey through love and grief and healing, running alongside a passion and reverence for nature with the desire to support, recover, honor and respect the amazing planet that we live on .
As a book, it's actually beautifully written, flows well, never wanes in interest, and the audiobook is just as beautifully read.
I've found myself evangelically telling everyone I know that they should read it and many have, only to then also gush on about how brilliant and moving it is. The approach to environmentalism is refreshing and practical in a respectful, loving and non preachy manner, and even if you think you've heard it all before, you haven't! A very dear friend of mine in her eighties was moved to tears when she read the book, and quite taken back by what she didn't/hadn't known.
I highly recommend this book to absolutely anyone and everyone 🙏💫✨
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- Cassie
- 27-09-23
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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2 people found this helpful
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- A. J. Bellamy
- 02-11-24
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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- B
- 22-05-23
Beautiful
I loved this book, beautiful and sad but ultimately hopeful. Well written and good narration.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Tom tom
- 13-05-23
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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- Deborah
- 04-10-23
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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2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 16-06-23
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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