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Object Lessons
Earth
Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things.
In Earth , a planetary scientist and a literary humanist explore what happens when we think of the Earth as an object viewable from space. As a “blue marble,” “a blue pale dot,” or, as Chaucer described it, “this litel spot of erthe,” the solitary orb is a challenge to scale and to human self-importance. Beautiful and self-contained, the Earth turns out to be far less knowable than it at first appears: its vast interior an inferno of incandescent and yet solid rock and a reservoir of water vaster than the ocean, a world within the world. Viewing the Earth from space invites a dive into the abyss of scale: how can humans apprehend the distances, the temperatures, and the time scale on which planets are born, evolve, and die?
Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic .
In Earth , a planetary scientist and a literary humanist explore what happens when we think of the Earth as an object viewable from space. As a “blue marble,” “a blue pale dot,” or, as Chaucer described it, “this litel spot of erthe,” the solitary orb is a challenge to scale and to human self-importance. Beautiful and self-contained, the Earth turns out to be far less knowable than it at first appears: its vast interior an inferno of incandescent and yet solid rock and a reservoir of water vaster than the ocean, a world within the world. Viewing the Earth from space invites a dive into the abyss of scale: how can humans apprehend the distances, the temperatures, and the time scale on which planets are born, evolve, and die?
Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic .
- GenresNonfictionScience
144 pages, Paperback
Published March 9, 2017
3 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 15, 2017
This was my Valentine's day read. What greater love story is there than between humans and their home planet. Earth is taken for granted, abused and expected to be there forever, just taking it. Ok, so this isn't that sort of book, no sarcasm. This is more of a philosophical discussion set in an epistolary form about how humanity might feel about the world around them and why. Philosophical in a way that there questions are answered with questions, leaving reader to ponder them if they are so inclined. There is actually some science here, which is what I was hoping for, but it is primarily philosophy. Decent enough for a quick read and by far strongest in the Object Lessons series, which, while conceptually intriguing, has been dramatically disappointing. Thanks Netgalley.
April 9, 2017
I loved the sound of Earth by Jeffrey Jerome Cohen and Linda T. Elkins-Tanton (one of the Object Lessons series published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic). Object Lessons is an essay and book series about the hidden lives of ordinary things - however, this book takes a different approach to the others. We don’t often consciously think of the earth as an object, and certainly it seems incongruous listed among the other objects in the series – Bookshelf, Egg, High Heel, or Tumour for example. Earth is more philosophical than factual, a thoroughly human depiction of the Earth in the form of letters between a planetary scientist and a medievalist.
It is rare to find a truly co-disciplinary approach to any subject, but the form of this book – a back and forth of letters/skype/FB messages between Elkins-Tanton and Cohen – allows viewpoints equal weighting of disciplines while creating an interplay of ideas. Both share a fascination with the wonder of the pale blue dot we call home, and it is a pleasure to ‘eavesdrop’ on their correspondence, which is increasingly personal as a friendship develops. This book really helped me to visualise the beauty and complexity of the Earth as they examine it from different scales and perspectives, veering off into asides on beauty, perception, creativity and the imagination. The writers describe this as a “little book about an impossibly large subject”, albeit a subject every reader will view with fresh eyes for having read it. I was expecting more facts, less philosophy (although there are some science bits) but this is my favourite of the Object Lessons series I have read so far.
(thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the copy of the book in exchange for a review)
It is rare to find a truly co-disciplinary approach to any subject, but the form of this book – a back and forth of letters/skype/FB messages between Elkins-Tanton and Cohen – allows viewpoints equal weighting of disciplines while creating an interplay of ideas. Both share a fascination with the wonder of the pale blue dot we call home, and it is a pleasure to ‘eavesdrop’ on their correspondence, which is increasingly personal as a friendship develops. This book really helped me to visualise the beauty and complexity of the Earth as they examine it from different scales and perspectives, veering off into asides on beauty, perception, creativity and the imagination. The writers describe this as a “little book about an impossibly large subject”, albeit a subject every reader will view with fresh eyes for having read it. I was expecting more facts, less philosophy (although there are some science bits) but this is my favourite of the Object Lessons series I have read so far.
(thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the copy of the book in exchange for a review)
March 16, 2017
Another volume in the wonderful Object Lessons books, a series of short books about everyday things. For me personally this wasn’t one of the most interesting, being more philosophical than factual. In the form of a protracted epistolary conversation it raises questions about humanity’s relationship with the earth, and how we view it. It felt as though I were eavesdropping on a conversation between two scientists who were talking slightly above my head. My problem, perhaps, rather than the book’s, but as I’ve enjoyed many of the others in the series, this one was a bit disappointing.
February 25, 2017
I think this odd little book sums itself up well enough: "This entire book is a reflection of the ways that humankind constantly grapples with whatever is in front of it, with whatever object there is.”
I was expecting something more along the lines of a treatise on the earth or maybe a defense of ecostudies, but this book is messy; it constantly switches between genres and modes, and it is much more centered around humans than I thought it would be. Is that a bad thing? No. Do I have more questions than answers after reading this? Yes, and I’m glad. I could see this as a perfect object to close read the first week of a grad seminar or something to anchor an undergrad class.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I was expecting something more along the lines of a treatise on the earth or maybe a defense of ecostudies, but this book is messy; it constantly switches between genres and modes, and it is much more centered around humans than I thought it would be. Is that a bad thing? No. Do I have more questions than answers after reading this? Yes, and I’m glad. I could see this as a perfect object to close read the first week of a grad seminar or something to anchor an undergrad class.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
February 12, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. The dialogue between a scientific and humanities perspective (while also acknowledging the two are not always so different) was really engaging for me. Reminded me a bit of some of the best kinds of conversations I have had.
That said, the intention of the book was.. a little unclear at times - the authors seem to want to suggest tangible action in response to the damage done by the Anthropocene, but still continue to speak in abstractions.
I happen to like abstractions, so I didn't always mind, but there was some tension in terms of the books goal. Not a deal breaker for me though.
That said, the intention of the book was.. a little unclear at times - the authors seem to want to suggest tangible action in response to the damage done by the Anthropocene, but still continue to speak in abstractions.
I happen to like abstractions, so I didn't always mind, but there was some tension in terms of the books goal. Not a deal breaker for me though.
April 16, 2018
Fascinating insight into our planet. There is still plenty we don;t know about Earth, so any book covering our collective home is an interesting read to me! I particularly enjoyed chapter 3 with it's emphasis on water and how it got here. The author's are right, now that we know how much water our planet contains (roughly), the planet should be called Water! Lol. Anyone interested in out planet and how it works, even the armchair enthusiast, will find this book an interesting read. The reader will find it raises many more questions along the way- more to ponder intellectually! Good book!
I received a Kindle ARC i exchange for a fair review from Netgalley.
I received a Kindle ARC i exchange for a fair review from Netgalley.
March 23, 2018
Imagine you're sitting around your local brewery with two of your pals, just chatting. Now imagine your two pals are experts in their field--like Cohen, a Medievalist, and Elkins-Tanton, an earth scientist--and you're that pal who listens and nods and follow about 70% of what they're saying, but completely awe struck by their discourse. That is what reading "Earth" feels like.
"Earth" is broken up into 8 chapters which are communicated to the reader the way the authors communicated to one another--through letters, texts, and conversations in offices and outdoors. The structure of the book reminds the reader of the very phenomenon that we earthling share: communication.
The book is mindful to differentiate between the anthropocentric and the object-ness (you other Object Lessons junkies get me when I say "object-ness;" non-junkies, pick up "Refrigerator" or "Luggage" now). We humans focus on the Earth's mapping, image, and quality of those who inhabit it, yet forget that Earth is not Earth only because we gave it its name. The letters and text bring in the human while the sections on our inability to understand the scale and size (and how to accept this inability) call the reader to take note that Earth is its own object, with or without us.
I switched back and fourth between giving Earth a 3 or 4 rating and settled on 3. I liked it. I probably won't read it again, but I would recommend it for those interested in object-ness. I enjoyed the structure and philosophical aspects of the book, such as:
-Earth time vs human time
-human's apparent attachment to Earth yet their alienation from the natural world
-the experience of feeling the passage of time
-Earth as a crusty mantel vs Earth as a planetary pond
-the typical image of a lonely Earth vs a nuance image of Earth surrounded by other matter
-the change in human's visual understand of Earth from pre-Medieval times to present day
-is beauty guarded against becoming too familiar?
more than I did the actual Earth science discussed in the book.
The structure is definitely one to be admired, but maybe not copied. The collaboration between two different disciplines is one to be admired and copied, and so is the poetic and understandable language these academics write and speak in.
All in all, I dig it.
"Earth" is broken up into 8 chapters which are communicated to the reader the way the authors communicated to one another--through letters, texts, and conversations in offices and outdoors. The structure of the book reminds the reader of the very phenomenon that we earthling share: communication.
The book is mindful to differentiate between the anthropocentric and the object-ness (you other Object Lessons junkies get me when I say "object-ness;" non-junkies, pick up "Refrigerator" or "Luggage" now). We humans focus on the Earth's mapping, image, and quality of those who inhabit it, yet forget that Earth is not Earth only because we gave it its name. The letters and text bring in the human while the sections on our inability to understand the scale and size (and how to accept this inability) call the reader to take note that Earth is its own object, with or without us.
I switched back and fourth between giving Earth a 3 or 4 rating and settled on 3. I liked it. I probably won't read it again, but I would recommend it for those interested in object-ness. I enjoyed the structure and philosophical aspects of the book, such as:
-Earth time vs human time
-human's apparent attachment to Earth yet their alienation from the natural world
-the experience of feeling the passage of time
-Earth as a crusty mantel vs Earth as a planetary pond
-the typical image of a lonely Earth vs a nuance image of Earth surrounded by other matter
-the change in human's visual understand of Earth from pre-Medieval times to present day
-is beauty guarded against becoming too familiar?
more than I did the actual Earth science discussed in the book.
The structure is definitely one to be admired, but maybe not copied. The collaboration between two different disciplines is one to be admired and copied, and so is the poetic and understandable language these academics write and speak in.
All in all, I dig it.
May 31, 2017
I love books that make me think. This is one of those books. So many wonderful moments sprinkled throughout to be discovered, considered, and personalized. Writing at once immense beyond one's ability to grasp it and intimate beyond one's ability to admit it--rather like the planet at its center. Demands attention, inspires insight, asks you to go beyond discipline and to embrace thinking for thinking's sake and act on that thinking in whatever form that action takes. Simply profound.
December 19, 2017
Unexpectedly enjoyed this brief look at our home planet, which we inhabit but probably don't think about as much as we should. Thi book makes the reader appreciate it from two different perspectives, that of a scientist and a medievalist, in an exchange of letters.
Review of an advance digital copy from the publisher.
Review of an advance digital copy from the publisher.
August 16, 2018
A brilliantly executed casual tete-a-tete between one of the nation's leading planetary scientist's and a medieval English professor, this pocket sized gem explores our planet and the practice of science through both lenses. With lovely prose, creative framing, and authentic openness, the authors share their conversations about the microscopic and the cosmic, the mundane and the sublime.
April 18, 2020
A deeply thoughtful dialogue about our planet and the universe between two scholars- a fun, unique twist on the object lessons traditional book format.
March 21, 2017
Recensione
Review
Con Earth mi aspettavo di trovare un testo di stampo scientifico, in realtà è più una riflessione filosofica sul rapporto tra la Terra e i suoi abitanti ,impostato come scambio epistolare.
Purtrppo non mi ha convinto molto, avrei preferito che il testo avesse un taglio diverso.
Ringrazio l’editore per avermi fornito la copia necessaria per stendere questa recensione.
Review
Con Earth mi aspettavo di trovare un testo di stampo scientifico, in realtà è più una riflessione filosofica sul rapporto tra la Terra e i suoi abitanti ,impostato come scambio epistolare.
Purtrppo non mi ha convinto molto, avrei preferito che il testo avesse un taglio diverso.
Ringrazio l’editore per avermi fornito la copia necessaria per stendere questa recensione.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews