A Natural History of the Senses
by Diane Ackerman
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Book Summary Information
Author: Diane AckermanEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1991-09-10
ISBN: 0679735666
Number of pages: 352
Publisher: Vintage
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780679735663
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Book Reviews of A Natural History of the Senses
Book Review: A Blend of Culture and Science
Summary: 4 Stars
"A Natural History of the Senses" draws the reader into a study of the five senses from the biological and cultural perspectives. Organized sense by sense, it starts with a brief scientific explanation of the sense and then delves into a survey of its cultural variations. Often the human sense is compared to and contrasted with those of infra-human species.
A few examples illustrate the writer's art. In the section on touch, author Diane Ackerman discusses the different reception between the touch of an intimate and that of a stranger. In the sections on sight and hearing, she contrasts the range of perception of humans with that of other animals, some of which have broader ranges than humans and others which have more narrow ranges. In the sections on taste and smell she explores the interplay of the two and gives examples of tastes and smells which are treasured in some cultures and are considered to be repulsive in others.
On the balance this is more of a cultural study than a scientific one. This gives it a balance which makes it an interesting work for a broad range of readers
Summary of A Natural History of the Senses
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. (Literature--Classics & Contemporary)"One of the real tests of writers," notes Ackerman in this liveliest of nature books, "is how well they write about smells. If they can't describe the scent of sanctity in a church, can you trust them to describe the suburbs of the heart?" Ackerman passes the test, writing with ease and fluency about the five senses. Did you know that bat guano smells like stale Wheat Thins? That Bach's music can quell anger around the world? That the leaves that shimmer so beautifully in fall have "no adaptive purpose"? Ackerman does, and she guides us through questions of sensation with an eye for the amusingly arcane reference and just the right phrase.
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