Sentient

Sentient by Jackie Higgins is a captivating exploration into the amazing world of animal senses and how they can transform our understanding of human perception. Embark on a journey through Earth’s diverse habitats, as Higgins delves deep into the lives of extraordinary creatures whose sensory abilities far exceed our own. With every chapter, discover how these zoological marvels reveal the hidden powers lying dormant within us and challenge our conventional understanding of reality.

The peacock mantis shrimp, for example, boasts a punch so powerful that it can shatter aquarium walls. The great grey owl possesses acute hearing capabilities, detecting sound at decibels much lower than what the human ear can perceive. Astonishingly, the star-nosed mole’s highly sensitive nose allows it to catch prey in mere milliseconds. Each of these creatures showcases an aspect of the animal kingdom that offers profound insights into our own sensory potential.

In Sentient, Higgins introduces us to a fascinating array of animals: the four-eyed spookfish and its unique vision adapted for the deep ocean's darkness; the vampire bat with its exceptional sense of touch; and the multifaceted sensory world of the common octopus, among others. Through these stories, Higgins makes the complexities of popular science accessible and engaging, weaving a narrative that is both lyrical and lucid. Her ability to translate intricate scientific concepts into gripping storytelling is acknowledged by the Observer, which describes her prose as "lyrical and lucid."

The narrative is enriched with compelling examples such as the Goliath catfish, which uses its remarkable ability to sense electrical fields to navigate murky waters, and the duck-billed platypus, whose sensor-laden bill can detect even the faintest movements in the water. Each animal in the menagerie is meticulously chosen to highlight the surprising sensory powers that lie beneath the surface of everyday existence.

Renowned for its insightful and thought-provoking content, Sentient has earned a place among the Financial Times' Best Books of the Year, described as "spellbinding" and praised for its ability to provoke new ways of thinking about the world. Jackie Higgins' thorough research and engaging writing draw readers into a transformative experience, challenging them to reconsider what it means to be human in an awe-inspiring sensory world.

Prepare to have your senses awakened and your imagination ignited as you discover that the boundaries between humans and other creatures are more fluid than ever imagined. Sentient is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the natural world and the hidden dimensions of perception that shape our reality.