A Natural History of the Senses
by Diane Ackerman
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1371)
Read in April, 2008
Well, the title is quite misleading. Each chapter (Smell, Touch, Taste, Hearing, Vision, and Synesthesia) seems to be a loose assemblage of thoughts, often only tenuously tied to the sense supposedly being discussed. For example, I'm still trying to figure out why she wrote about quicksand in the hearing chapter. In the Synesthesia chapter, she starts a section by talking about some writers who had synesthesia, but then it devolves into pages and pages of quirks writers had (who liked to write s...more
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Read in January, 1994
recommends it for:
everyone!
Over a decade ago I picked up a book that changed my life. It was Diane Ackerman's "A Natural History of the Senses", and her humanist, holistic, sensitive approach to that most basic of subjects; how we sense the world, was a revelation. Her writing was inclusive and funny, at once deep and yet accessible. She loved to explore complex issues like the olfactory system, or the sounding of whales, and to take the reader along on that exploration. Science was no longer dry and I was n...more
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Read in September, 2007
The more I read of this book, the more I wanted it to be over. I enjoyed the small tidbits of information and etymology facts dispersed far and too few between her grandiose anecdotes but I really couldn't get over how proud of herself Ackerman seems to be. It was just exhausting hearing about all the wonderful sensory experiences she's had. I get it. I've had my own, even if they weren't while exploring Antarctica or vacationing in the exotic middle-east as a college student. Uhg.
She d...more
She d...more
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Read in February, 2001
Curl up with a blanket and cocoa to read my favorite piece of nonfiction.
Diane Ackerman writes:
“We need to send into space a flurry of artists and naturalists, photographers and painters, who will turn the mirror upon ourselves and show us Earth as a single planet, a single organism that’s buoyant, fragile, blooming, buzzing, full of spectacles, full of fascinating human beings, something to cherish. Learning our full address may not end all wars, but it will enrich our sense of wonde...more
Diane Ackerman writes:
“We need to send into space a flurry of artists and naturalists, photographers and painters, who will turn the mirror upon ourselves and show us Earth as a single planet, a single organism that’s buoyant, fragile, blooming, buzzing, full of spectacles, full of fascinating human beings, something to cherish. Learning our full address may not end all wars, but it will enrich our sense of wonde...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
everyone
first time i think when i saw the book from the bookstore , it just let me feel maybe its bland stories . but i really must to say i was wrong . coz when i read the book , it really bring me start to know my senses again , so much time we easy to used our senses to feeling everything or touch , but maybe never think about the deep senses and more care everything from natural world . for example: some people maybe like winter , the winter always for people the point maybe is cold or show and some...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommended to Amberly by:
Sounded great in theory.recommends it for: literate apes
I'm only halfway through this piece of crap, so I'll update my review and add some wonderful quotes later. But so far, Ackerman is totally condescending and writes as if her audience has the mental capacity of a horny teenager who works at Taco Bell. The topic is interesting enough, there's no need to include salacious anecdotes to keep your audience interested.
Ackerman could learn a thing or do about translating science into the language of the general public from Oliver Sacks. I mean, w...more
Ackerman could learn a thing or do about translating science into the language of the general public from Oliver Sacks. I mean, w...more
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I guess it's not really fair to say I read this book... I guess I read about 85% of this book. The book itself went through a series of accidents... It got rained on, snowed on, coffee spilled on it... ran over, went through the laundry... you should see it. It truly looks USED in the true sense of the word. Anyway, at first I was in love with the writing, I thought it was fascinating. But by the end I was kind of tired of Ackerman's flowy over the top language usage and it seemed like every &qu...more
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Lush, evocative writing. Lots of fun or fascinating trivia about our thrilling senses, and information for the curious about the lack of them.
One of the things I like best about this edition is the book jacket, which I find soothing. It's a soft, satiny cover, very touchable, with a bit of texture for interest. The colors and patterns on the front are also soothing, like dappled sunlight through a cool leafy canopy.
I had this book on my nightstand for a long while, because it *seems* l...more
One of the things I like best about this edition is the book jacket, which I find soothing. It's a soft, satiny cover, very touchable, with a bit of texture for interest. The colors and patterns on the front are also soothing, like dappled sunlight through a cool leafy canopy.
I had this book on my nightstand for a long while, because it *seems* l...more
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Read in July, 2007
this one had me going for a while, but i got exhausted with ackerman's far-reaching metaphors and frequent digressions. they always say digression in nonfiction is good, it allows the reader to make a deeper connection; it was intriguing at the beginning of this book but i reached the penultimate chapter, on vision, and she's hardly expounding on vision at all--just describing one fantastic sight after another, and that only does half the job in achieving her goal of exploring the senses. so, on...more
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Read in February, 2008
I read this book through several marathon tub soaks. The subject matter somehow seemed appropriate. Ackerman always kept me engaged until the water turned lukewarm. Her knowledge of sensory/sensual experience in humans and many other species is encyclopedic. And her writing, if often tangential, is also rather poetic and beautiful. But the book was so chalk full of interesting of facts, that I'm left wondering how much of it I will carry with me over time. In fact, I feel I forgotten much of the...more
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Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
someone looking for bedtime story
Still working on it; it's a bit of a slog. It's full of interesting tidbits of info, but they are thrown together haphazardly along with random snippets of free-association by the author. Very sloppy.
6/13/07
Finally finished the book. I have concluded it's perfect bedtime reading. Those free-associations and tidbits of data about the senses helped me to drift off into a pleasant sleep.
Overall, the book is full of interesting details, but I couldn't get over the sloppy way they were ...more
6/13/07
Finally finished the book. I have concluded it's perfect bedtime reading. Those free-associations and tidbits of data about the senses helped me to drift off into a pleasant sleep.
Overall, the book is full of interesting details, but I couldn't get over the sloppy way they were ...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
ackerman fans
Although all te essays were interesting on their own, sometimes they extended the theme a little farther than what I wanted to read. I really wanted to focus on the senses and to read a more scientific perspective. The essays therein were more fluid than that.
I've read other Ackerman books and have enjoyed them thoroughly. I think it is best, however, to approach Ackerman with no agenda. At times, I would get a little frustrated with some of the essays; "what does sky have to do with si...more
I've read other Ackerman books and have enjoyed them thoroughly. I think it is best, however, to approach Ackerman with no agenda. At times, I would get a little frustrated with some of the essays; "what does sky have to do with si...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
All
This was yet another re-read. I love books that make you hyperaware of things as you read them...neurology books make you ponder your own thought patterns etc. While reading this book, each section is going to make you breathe deeper, listen closer, etc. Ackerman's style is a little florid--she tends to meander off on tangents and some of the science/history behind her "facts" is a little quesitonable--but it's still an enjoyable read and I guarantee you'll have at least one "Neat...more
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Read in January, 1992
I remember her passages on smells and taste, Very evocative. Another one to jump into where the book falls open, not one i consumed from front to back. I enjoyed it tremendously and it awakened my perceptions for awhile, but lost interest in the middle of the Hearing section. My copy is well worn and appears to be soaked with water, oddly enough becoming a sensual document itself. Great reminder here. Maybe I'll pick it up again.
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This is a tough book to rate. I've read it cover to cover and found myself returning to it many times. In fact there are two copies in our bookshelf because I bought a copy for my wife before we were married.
All that being said, I've always wished there was something more to it. Obviously the book is sensual - that's the point. But I wish that it was all as interesting as the passages on the Song of Solomon and the one page devoted to kissing. 1 page!
I guess I just like the dirty bits.
All that being said, I've always wished there was something more to it. Obviously the book is sensual - that's the point. But I wish that it was all as interesting as the passages on the Song of Solomon and the one page devoted to kissing. 1 page!
I guess I just like the dirty bits.
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Diane Ackerman says in this book that Virginia Woolf, William Faulkner, and James Joyce all had synesthesia, which makes sense, the way their writing looks. But I'd never seen confirmation before, so I emailed her to ask her where she'd found this out. She wrote back -- and very quickly, within an hour -- and said that she could just tell. She has synesthesia, too.
This book was plenty interesting, though the descriptions of some of the Roman feasts creeped me out.
This book was plenty interesting, though the descriptions of some of the Roman feasts creeped me out.
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Read in January, 2004
Sometimes we just need a book to remind us to enjoy the passage of time and the day-by-day rhythm of being a human. Breaking bread, breathing air, washing a teacup, watching a cloud take on a different meaning after reading this wonderfully evocative book. All of her books and poetry are filled with life and breathe richness. I wish I could have a cup of tea with Diane Ackerman - it would be just the ticket. This book and a reread will have to suffice.
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Read in July, 2005
recommends it for:
Everyone!
Diane Ackerman's writing is beautiful, fluid, and descriptive, but not over-abundantly flowery (which I can find annoying). Here she writes a natural history of our 5 senses, linking our interactions with our senses of smell, taste, touch, sight, and hearing with historical figures, famous objects, and brings in a little brain science as well. This is an immensely clever book that I enjoyed the whole way through and learned alot as well...enjoy!
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Read in December, 2005
Ackerman's command of language and writing skill made this book. The topic is interesting and made me think about how taking the time to focus on sensory awareness can enrich life. From the perspective of cognitive science, the book was pretty weak -- I found myself mentally asking the author "how do you know that?" (because I thought it was opinion, which is okay for me in nonfiction only if it is acknowledged as such).
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Read in August, 2004
recommends it for:
artsy scientists
This book consists of 6 essays: one for each of the senses + one on synesthesia. It's a goldmine of interesting facts + the descriptions of how we use our senses to check out this world are hedonistic, even carnal. You'll iterate between "hmmmm!" and "oooooh!" I'll be reading this one over and over until my eyes stop working.
(When you get to the part about eating a goose, trust me and SKIP IT. I'm serious.)
(When you get to the part about eating a goose, trust me and SKIP IT. I'm serious.)
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