The World According to Color: A Cultural History

Brilliant, as luminous and perceptive as all the colours it covers. Every page feels like it contains some amazing fact or insight. This could fill a whole series of QI and then some. Most impressive though is that the writing is intelligent and conveys knowledge without getting bogged down in pretention or detail. And while European art and history is covered, there is a real appreciation of art and cultural history across diverse heritages. Loved it, a book that sure will dip into again and again to reread.

An excellent, wide ranging cultural history of color. Fox focuses on seven colors: black, red, white, yellow, blue, purple and green, taking in science (optics, chemistry, biology), perception, meaning and symbolism across cultures and time. There are religious social and ideological considerations, such as history of white’s association with purity, skin color and cleanliness that led to racism. This is also about psychology, sociology, history, philosophy, chemistry, alchemy, politics, art … you name it, James Fox has got it covered
I adore books that leave the reader filled with obscure facts that I can then pass on to everyone I know.. Though filled with fascinating facts this is far from boring or stuffy and does NOT come off show more as a lecture to trudge through as other nonfiction sometimes can read.

I highly recommend this book to absolutely everyone! Its impossible to read this book and not come away with something wonderful. show less

History as seen through a very specific lens is one of my favorite things. Color is another one of my favorite things. Naturally, this book did not disappoint.