First published 1990
Diane Ackerman takes readers on an exploration of human sensation that spans continents and cultures. She converses with an iceberg in Antarctica and interviews a professional nose in New York City. The book examines intimate human experiences like kissing and body modification through tattoos. Ackerman investigates culinary extremes that border on cruelty and discovers the musical frequencies our planet generates. Her richly detailed writing transforms scientific observation into sensual experience. The work moves between personal encounters and broader investigations of how we perceive our world. Ackerman reveals how our five senses shape not just what we know but who we are. The book offers readers an expanded awareness of the sensory richness surrounding them daily.
Genres: natural-history, anthropology, non-fiction, biology, academic, cultural-studies
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, personal-encounters
Setting: Antarctica, New York City
331 pages · Hardcover · Random House