Questions About An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us

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Answered Questions (4)

Would it be possible to read selected chapters and still get the experience of the book? My book club doesn’t have a lot of patience with too much information, but on the other hand everybody is really open minded and curious. It’s very weird. I think we might vote to read it if we could read chapters to equal about half of the book, and I am super excited to read it.

Biblio Files (takingadayoff) Yes! Each chapter can stand alone. In fact, you could open the book to any random page and almost certainly find a few fascinating facts immediately. …moreYes! Each chapter can stand alone. In fact, you could open the book to any random page and almost certainly find a few fascinating facts immediately. Science and nature are not my strong subjects but I found myself getting caught up in these stories of how various creatures experience their surroundings. It's not written in science-y language so I think any age would find something to enjoy in this book.(less)

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Are there photos in the U.S. version of this book (both paperback and hardcover? I can't find a definitive answer online. Thank you.

Bobbi Galler There are photos in the paper back. As a non-scientist they are adquate for my needs.

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Does anyone have book club discussion questions for An Immense World? I am having a hard time finding any online. Thank you

Robert Poyourow Our group meets tomorrow, and I penciled out a few questions. One can always ask about which chapters impressed and which animals astonished. Beyond t…moreOur group meets tomorrow, and I penciled out a few questions. One can always ask about which chapters impressed and which animals astonished. Beyond that, here are a few ideas, in no particular order:

How did you feel reading the book? How did the author intend for you to feel.

What does the title mean: “An Immense World?” Immense for whom or what?

How does our sense of sight dominate our culture, language, civilization, aesthetics. (I.e., terms like "bright,” “dark,” or “light”)? (Pp. 11-12)

How did the small part of the world we can sense make you feel? Insignificant? Democratic towards other species? Humble? Reverent? Did any one become ill at ease about our presence and behavior in the world? Is the world sublime, brutal, soul-less, mechanical.

How is our umvelt ordered? Is the world ordered? Is our world ordered? What orders our world?

How can we appreciate the sensory diversity without the many senses we lack?

What are the implications of the development and disappearances (and then even the reappearances) of several animal sensory faculties?

Implications. What is consciousness? What is its relationship to our senses? To our umvelt? What are the limits of our consciousness.

Is transposing our sensory world on to others inevitable (anthrocentrism and anthromorphism)? There is light and wonder beyond our senses; what if we cannot sense it? What then is it? Is it the same as when dogs dream?

Was it Aristotle who posited that human is an animal that thinks? After reading this book, was he right? Given the limitations of our umvelt, can we be confident that we the only animal with thinking? With consciousness?

Is there some other way we could be thinking about our shared existence?

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Is the hardback book better on photos ???

Connie For a book like this, yes get the hardcover to enjoy the photos!

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