Danna Staaf is a science writer and educator with a PhD in marine biology. She spent six years studying Humboldt squid at Stanford University, and her first book, Squid Empire: The Rise and Fall of the Cephalopods, was named one of the best science books of the year by National Public Radio’s Science Friday.
"""Beautifully written and illustrated.""---Marc Bekoff, Psychology Today ""This is a really excellent book. Please take the time to read it and get to know some of Planet Earth's most absorbing creatures. You'll be glad you did.""---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds ""This book is a wonderful introduction to octopuses and their relations . . . . Great pleasure can be obtained by just opening at random, being amazed by whatever stunning cephalopod you find an image of, and learning about it.""---Angela Colling, Ocean Challenge ""The author has a compelling writing style, though you could buy this book only to look at the pictures, because the quality of underwater photography is impressive. . . . Staaf covers a lot of ground with a light touch, and this is a book I would happily read and revisit.""---Steve Weinman, Divernet ""This book covers a lot of ground but does so in an extremely accessible way. Whether you are searching for information about a specific species or just browsing, you will end up spending hours pouring over the images and the astonishing facts about these charismatic animals.""---Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown, Scubaverse ""[Beautifully] illustrated. . . . A must read for anyone interested in the lives of these intelligent and diverse creatures.""---L.T. Spencer, Choice ""[An] entertaining and enlightening read.""---Geoff Carpentier, North Durham Nature Newsletter"