God Is An Octopus: Loss, Love and a Calling to Nature

Struggling to comprehend the shocking death of his teenage daughter, Iris, Ben Goldsmith finds solace in nature by immersing himself in plans to rewild his Somerset farm.

In July 2019, Ben Goldsmith's beautiful fifteen-year-old daughter, Iris, died in a tragic accident on their family farm in Somerset. Iris was sparkling, charismatic and intelligent, and, like Ben, she had a lifelong love of nature. Iris was the centre of her family's world, and her death left them devastated.

In the aftermath of losing Iris, Ben found solace in nature. The time he spent in nature became a vital source of meaning, hope and even joy. In Iris' honour, he began to rewild their farm, further strengthening his connection with the natural world. He restored natural meanders to streams and removed the hedgerows and fences that divided up the farm. Further afield, he met the people championing the benefits of rewilding in the UK to learn what else he could do to return the farm to its more natural state.

As the seasons passed and the world carried on without Iris, Ben sought ways to come to terms with his grief. Struggling to understand his loss, he connected with friends and family who had also lost children. He met Buddhist monks, an orthodox rabbi, his local vicar and a spiritual medium. Ultimately, though, it was the continuous lure of the natural world that allowed Ben to find hope and healing. He came to realise that the overriding meaning of his life, and the most fitting tribute he can make to his nature-loving daughter, is working and campaigning tirelessly for humankind's harmonious coexistence with nature.

In his first book, Ben tells a powerful, immersive and inspiring story of finding healing, comfort and strength through nature after suffering loss and despair.