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Loading... A Natural History of the Senses (original 1990; edition 1991)by Diane Ackerman
Work InformationA Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman (Author) (1990)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. This went back and forth from being fascinating to being something of a slog. Ackerman meanders through facts, histories, and her personal experiences as they relate to the five senses, covering a wide range of topics. The author is a poet—and I’m not a big fan of modern poetry—and that really came through in certain sections. Sometimes I really liked the way she turned a phrase, like this one, toward the end of the book. What a strange lot writers are, we questers after the perfect word, the glorious phrase that will somehow make the exquisite avalanche of consciousness sayable. But often enough, I just felt like I was punching my way through lots and lots of words. I’m glad I read it—I never would have known about miraculous fruit or the greater honeyguide and lots of cool other things if I hadn’t. On the other hand, if I’d never read it, I never would have heard of the sadistic cook Mizald, who I imagine has been burning in hell these many years. Anyway. This was written about 30 years ago, and I don’t know if the way she referenced her sources was typical or not. She’s got a Further Reading section at the end, listing the books she used for research (presumably), but there are no footnotes or endnotes with more specific citations. I looked things up that I cared enough about to verify. I heard about this book from a brief reference in The Other End of the Leash, and thought it sounded intriguing. Lots of it was, but if I were a skimmer, I probably would have had a better reading experience. no reviews | add a review
Diane Ackerman's lusciously written grand tour of the realm of the senses includes conversations with an iceberg in Antarctica and a professional nose in New York, along with dissertations on kisses and tattoos, sadistic cuisine and the music played by the planet Earth. "Delightful . . . gives the reader the richest possible feeling of the worlds the senses take in." --The New York Times No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)152.1Philosophy and Psychology Psychology Emotions And Senses SensesLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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Diane's book is a joyous romp, but don't read it in one sitting. If you wish to discover little worlds you have forgotten, read one chapter daily. Savour the material and let it sink in.
Remember, this book is not a thriller. Enjoy it and read it again after a few years. ( )