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From Amazon
"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.
From Publishers Weekly
Physiology and philosophy mesh in this poetic investigation of the five senses; essays explore synesthesia, food taboos, kissing and the power and diversity of music. "Rooted in science, enlivened by her own convincing sense of wonder, Ackerman's essays awaken us to a fresh awareness," said PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Nothing is more memorable than a smell. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
Nothing is more memorable than a smell. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book changed my life...,
By S. M. Bennett "epicures-mistress" (Western Massachusetts, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: A Natural History of the Senses (Paperback)
I read "A Natural History of the Senses" about ten years ago just a few months out of art school. I thought that I was fully engaged in the world and was aware of all that was around me. I soon learned that I was mistaken. I had been moving through the world virtually half-asleeep, just pushing my way through crowds and not really paying attention. I began opening myself fully to all experiences (through my senses) and I started to feel alive in a new way. I began a slow but steady transformation that has meant everything to me. Touch moved me most and eventually I went back to school and became a Massage Therapist. I am able, not only to experience my world in a new way; but I am also able to share something as comforting as massage with someone else. That is truly amazing!!Diane Ackerman's style is enlightening and poetic. A Natural History of the Senses is one of those books that you share with good friends and read over and over again. I still have my very first paperback copy (now autographed and a bit tattered) and it inspires me to be aware every day!
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Blend of Science and Culture,
By
This review is from: A Natural History of the Senses (Paperback)
"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
5.0 out of 5 stars
A cultural, creative, and sensory delight,
By
This review is from: A Natural History of the Senses (Paperback)
After reading a few of Ackerman's New Yorker pieces, as well as The Moon by Whale Light and her contribution to Sisters of the Earth, I knew I would eventually read all of her books. A Natural History of the Senses does not disappoint. It flows like cool water through literature, history, music, politics, philosophy, and poetry. As a writer, I appreciate this book as a resource of my own, a way to deepen my understanding of our sensory appreciation of the world - but also as an example of beautiful writing by a master of the craft.In a nutshell, I wish Diane Ackerman lived next door to me.
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