Amphibious Soul: Finding the wild in a tame world

Finding the wild in a tame world

De: Craig Foster

An awe-inspiring narrative about the power of nature and our place within it, from the creator of My Octopus Teacher, filmmaker Craig Foster

“Amphibious Soul is an important book. . . . This book isn't about learning how to be wild but rather a guide to recognizing and reconnecting with the wild in and around us. It is a book that will inspire hope.” – Jane Goodall

An adventure story, love story, travelogue, naturalist memoir, and spiritual guide, Craig Foster's Amphibious Soul is a scientist and adventurer’s perspective on “rewilding”—developing a deep connection to our animal selves that can reinvigorate our lives. Told in Craig’s warm and passionate voice, this extraordinary book will change not only the way we interact with the natural world, but the way we fundamentally see ourselves.

A decade ago, living in a city and feeling exhausted and empty, Craig decided to return to his birthplace—the Cape of Good Hope—and dive into the great African Sea forest each day. His daily oceanic adventures not only helped him “rewild”, but helped him come to see his own “amphibious soul” as a powerful metaphor for the human condition. We homo sapiens are by nature wild animals attempting to exist in a docile world. So how can we reclaim our wildness in a world that wants us to stay so tamed?

An extraordinary literary work, Amphibious Soul is a riveting narrative filled with meticulous descriptions of an adventure in the natural world that speaks to readers on an intimate level, challenging us to consider our personal relationship to nature, and inspiring us to realign our daily practices to help save the global ecosystem. Whether we live close to nature or in an urban jungle, Craig shows us how to nurture our individual wildness, tap into our empathy, and deepen our love for all living things. He teaches us to track the wild around us, and by doing so become present in the moment and revel in being wondrously alive.

Featuring breathtaking original photos and QR codes that access mini-videos of never-seen-before animal interactions, Amphibious Soul is a remarkable experience that will transform us and ultimately our world.

(P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Amphibious Soul is an important book. . . . This book isn't about learning how to be wild but rather a guide to recognizing and reconnecting with the wild in and around us. It is a book that will inspire hope” Dr. Jane Goodall

"Craig Foster has spent every day in the ocean for years, tracking underwater animals and finding a deep sense of wildness. Amphibious Soul is about connecting to our humanity in the heart of the world, at the tip of Africa. This book will guide you to find your own wild heart wherever you might live." — James Cameron

"Amphibious Soul will change the way you see the ocean, and your relationship to it. His scientific eye and wild mind are truly revelatory. A much-needed book that just might help us save the planet." — Suzanne Simard, New York Times Bestselling Author of Finding the Mother Tree

"An intimate guide to the wonders and mysteries of the ocean and human nature." — Yo-Yo Ma, Cellist

"The ocean could not ask for a better advocate than Craig Foster. This transformative story is the kind that inspires us towards insight, warmth and deep care for humanity and the planet we share. Amusing, thrilling, and revelatory." — Kathy Sullivan, Former NASA Astronaut, Oceanographer

"Craig Foster’s unique perspective on the natural world is rooted in history, intimate experience, and a deep understanding of the importance of creating our own personal relationship with nature." — Christiana Figueres, Architect of the Paris Climate Agreement, Author of The Future We Choose

“Craig Foster’s powerful yet tender voice enchants in this meditation on what lies beneath, unexplored and unseen—both under the ocean’s surface, and within our own human nature. A wondrous, entertaining, and thought-provoking read.” – Shelby Van Pelt, New York Times bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures

A masterpiece

What a beautifully crafted masterpiece. A story so deeply felt and so generously shared. All the wild experiences are vividly and soulfully explored so as to be riveting and spellbinding. A true gift.

Inspirational love story to wildness

Amphibious Soul is an inspiring and deeply moving work from Craig Foster, the filmmaker and creator of My Octopus Teacher. In it, Foster records his deepening connection to the ocean, animals, and the wildness of nature. He invites us to remember that our true nature is not as outsiders looking in, but as an inseparable part of the living world.

With reverence and respect, he honours the ocean and the creatures he encounters, weaving a love letter to the natural world that is both a spiritual journey and a call to wildness, adventure, and whole-hearted living. His writing urges us to slow down, to pay attention, and to meet the world with wonder.

Reading Amphibious Soul has made me more mindful of the everyday miracles surrounding me. It has inspired me to keep up my daily swims in the beautiful Atlantic, and reminded me that I belong here—rooted in the wildness of this extraordinary planet, at home in its waters and landscapes. I love this book, and highly recommend it.