What We’re Watching
Eight-Legged Teacher
Octopuses rank among the most intelligent of the ocean’s invertebrates. These eight-armed cephalopods, with rows of suction cups on each limb, display remarkable problem-solving abilities, camouflage skills and independent limb coordination. Many species live relatively short lives—often one to two years—and spend much of that time avoiding predators while hunting crustaceans such as crabs. The Netflix Original documentary My Octopus Teacher follows South African filmmaker and naturalist Craig Foster as he undertakes a regimen of daily free-diving in a kelp forest and gradually develops an intimate relationship with a female common octopus. Foster is welcomed into the animal’s world: he observes her den, watches her behavior while she sleeps, and witnesses how she evades persistent predators like pyjama sharks. The film is as much a portrait of curiosity and patience as it is a study of the animal’s intelligence. Foster’s encounters with the octopus become a meditation on vulnerability, resilience and the deep ways humans can reconnect with the natural world when they slow down and pay close attention.
More Salty Reads
Private Enterprise
The story of America’s naval beginnings often highlights the official fleet and its battles, but an equally important chapter involves privately owned vessels that took part in the Revolutionary War. Historian Eric Jay Dolin examines this lesser-told history in Rebels at Sea, arguing that privateers—seafarers who operated under letters of marque—played a crucial role in disrupting British commerce and supporting the Continental cause. Though privateers were sometimes viewed as opportunists or mistaken for pirates, Dolin presents them as integral contributors to the war effort, combining daring raids with commercial motivations. The book mixes narrative accounts of dramatic engagements on the high seas with careful analysis of how private maritime enterprise influenced the outcome of a nation’s fight for independence. (Price listed as $33, Liveright in the original publication details.)
Checkmate Escape
Captain Grey’s Gambit, a new historical novel by J.H. Gelernter, blends naval adventure with espionage and high-stakes diplomacy. Set in 1803, the story opens as a French fleet prepares to cross the English Channel, while one of Napoleon’s inner circle, disillusioned with the regime, seeks to defect. The plot revolves around a clandestine escape arranged through an unlikely meeting at a chess tournament in Frankfurt. Britain dispatches Captain Thomas Grey, an intelligence officer and accomplished chess player, to escort the would-be defector to safety. Complications arise when the defector insists his politically attached daughter accompany them, creating tension between mission objectives and human loyalties. The book marries period detail, geopolitical tension and a chess-themed subplot to create a fast-paced maritime thriller. (Price listed as $26, W.W. Norton & Company in the original publication details.)
PODCAST
They Chose Poorly
Many recreational boaters—especially those new to the water—misjudge weather, tides or navigation and end up in perilous situations. The podcast mentioned here, produced under the title noted in the original copy, delves into maritime misadventures and rescues through firsthand interviews and veteran perspectives. Across dozens of episodes, Coast Guard veterans and maritime experts recount harrowing rescues, courageous responses to violent storms, encounters with piracy and other dramatic incidents at sea. These stories offer both gritty, real-world accounts and practical lessons about seamanship, preparedness and the hazards unique to coastal and offshore sailing. Episodes are available through major podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Play for streaming or download.