OD11 digital HR - Flipbook - Page 74
BOOKS
How might we reclaim the souldeepening wildness that grounds
us and energises us when so much
of the modern world seems designed
to tame us?
So asks filmmaker Craig Foster
in his new book, his highest-profile
project since he leapt to international
stardom with the Academy Awardwinning documentary My Octopus
Teacher. Taking readers on an
immersive journey into the heart of
nature and the depths of the Great
African Seaforest, Amphibious Soul
is both a memoir and a reflection
on what it means to be human – and
wild – in a world in which wildness
is encountered less and less.
Craig, who was dunked by his
father Keith (1961O) in the cold
Atlantic Ocean on the day he was
born, has continued his daily ocean
rituals since the release of his Netflix
hit in 2020. He has now logged well
north of 4,000 dives in the waters
72 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
of False Bay. Through encounters
with marine life – from whelks and
octopuses to stingrays and great
whites – and a growing awareness
of our shared animal nature, Craig has
developed the concept of “rewilding”,
a process of reconnecting with the
untamed world both around and
within us.
Written in a warm, contemplative
voice, Amphibious Soul is part
adventure story, part philosophical
guide. It invites us to rethink our
place in the greater ecosystem
and challenges us to embrace
the wild rhythms of life, no matter
where we live. Featuring original
photography and QR-linked minivideos of rare animal interactions, the
book is a multisensory experience.
“Amphibious Soul is the story
of finding wildness in a world
gone tame, and feeling the hearts
of animals beating inside our own…
[It] will guide you to find your own
wild heart wherever you might live.”
– James Cameron, filmmaker
Amphibious Soul is
published internationally
by HarperCollins Publishers,
and was launched with
a book tour in the US and
UK. The book shares more
than a “wild” link with Spirit
of Africa on the previous
page; Scott Ramsay took
the photograph of Craig
on this page. For more info
visit seachangeproject.com.
PHOTOGRAPH SCOTT RAMSAY
Amphibious Soul
by Craig Foster (1985F)
HarperCollins Publishers
