The author examines each of our five senses to tell how our species developed. She uses personal anecdotes, history, poetry, science, psychology, and folk lore to understand and appreciate each sense. Sometimes personal experience after scientific finding after historical tangent and quotation from The Wise gets a little frustrating, because it is not clear how the information is supposed to hang together. Some information, while interesting, seems a bit a stretch to include, like the extended discussion of music. Also the writing is at times cloying, gushy voluptuous like that radio show about food The Splendid Table. But overall her writing is graceful, holding our attention. It is easy to see why it was a best-seller in 1990.

Much like in A Natural History of Love, Ackerman combines a profound interest in natural science, evolution and the animal world (and humanity's place in it) with a love of language, observation and sense-experience.

Interesting, but a bit more about the senses than I wanted to know. Ackerman does goes on (and on). But still, there's a nice balance between scientific info and her own more poetic take on what -- and how -- we see, smell, touch, hear and taste.

Diane Ackerman's lusciously written grand tour of the realm of the senses includes conversations with an iceberg in Antarctica and a professional nose in New York, along with dissertations on kisses and tattoos, sadistic cuisine and the music played by the planet Earth. "Delightful . . . gives the reader the richest possible feeling of the worlds the senses take in

Great read. Not dry at all, some very interesting facts.

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There are books that seem to let you see the time flying by, and this is one of them.

She will let you feel in your chest the vibrations from the space shuttle when it takes off. She will make you hold your breath in a cavern filled with water. You will smell perfumes from long ago.

Wisdom, knowledge, science, feelings, all weaved with poetry.

Watch yourself or you will feel your own tears coming down your own cheeks.

Yes, it is that good.

This was a beautifully written, informative book about the five senses. Ackerman's descriptive writing kept me engaged and I enjoyed learning about the different ways we perceive the world.

Great read!!!!!!

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