A Natural History of the Senses
Encyclopedia
A Natural History of the Senses is a non-fiction book by Diane Ackerman
. In this book, Ackerman examines both the science of how the different senses
work, and the varied means by which different cultures have sought to stimulate the senses. The book was the inspiration for the five-part Nova
miniseries Mystery of the Senses
.
“What is most amazing is not how our senses span distance or cultures, but how they span time. Our senses connect us intimately to the past, connect us in ways that most of our cherished ideas never could.”
Diane Ackerman
Diane Ackerman is an American author, poet, and naturalist known best for her work A Natural History of the Senses. Her writing style, referring to her best-selling natural history books, can best be described as a blend of poetry, colloquial history, and easy-reading science...
. In this book, Ackerman examines both the science of how the different senses
Sensory system
A sensory system is a part of the nervous system responsible for processing sensory information. A sensory system consists of sensory receptors, neural pathways, and parts of the brain involved in sensory perception. Commonly recognized sensory systems are those for vision, hearing, somatic...
work, and the varied means by which different cultures have sought to stimulate the senses. The book was the inspiration for the five-part Nova
NOVA (TV series)
Nova is a popular science television series from the U.S. produced by WGBH Boston. It can be seen on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States, and in more than 100 other countries...
miniseries Mystery of the Senses
Mystery of the Senses
Mystery of the Senses is a five-part Nova miniseries, based on the book A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman, who also presents the documentary. Each episode covers one of the traditional five senses: hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch...
.
“What is most amazing is not how our senses span distance or cultures, but how they span time. Our senses connect us intimately to the past, connect us in ways that most of our cherished ideas never could.”