On Looking: Eleven Walks with Expert Eyes
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.71 (772 Votes) |
| Asin | : | B00ANSP15I |
| Format Type | : | |
| Number of Pages | : | 267 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-09-24 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
What they see, how they see it, and why most of us do not see the same things reveal the startling power of human attention and the cognitive aspects of what it means to be an expert observer. Alexandra Horowitz's On Looking confirms her place as one of today's most illuminating observers of our infinitely complex world.. She also walks with a child and a dog to see the world as they perceive it. So turn off the phone and other electronic devices and be in the real world - where strangers communicate by geometry as they walk toward one another, where sounds reveal shadows, where posture can display humility, and the underside of a leaf unveils a Lilliputian universe - where, indeed, there are worlds within worlds within worlds. On Looking is structured around a series of eleven walks the author takes, mostly in her Manhattan neighborhood, with experts on a dive
"Eye Opening" according to traveler. On Looking is a very intelligently written book. There is a saying that 'some people see more in a walk around the block then others see in a trip around the world'. This book reminds us that for the most part we see only what we expect to see. That is why it is so easy to hide something in plain view! It also reminds us that for the most part we sleep walk through our day - which isn't always a bad thing.The author takes walks with experts in geology or sound production or insects and finds that these people are aware of things that she is not - not unless they point them out to her. A delightful book that expands your vision (with some caveats) Dr Ali Binazir A fabulous blogger whom I hold in great respect turned me on to this book. And who was I to resist eleven walks with expert eyes? If the whole point of life is to see a little better, then I'm all for a book that can expand my vision.Here's some of what I really liked about the book:-- The expert walk vignettes are very engaging, and Horowitz has a beautifully poetic writing style. The book is a joy to read. I finished it in two sittings, one of them late into the night. This is thriller-level readability, folks.-- The experts really do have super x-ray vision in their domains. Their. "Expert insight into what you're missing on your walks in the city" according to Bernie Gourley. This is a field guide to getting the most out of walks in the city; though it’s presented through a series of essays. City-centeredness is the book’s niche. There are tons of books that teach one how to get more out of the subtle signs and signals seen in nature, but we tend to miss the nature (and a good deal of the culture) in our city walks because we view them in a utilitarian fashion and because there is so much shouting for our attention that it’s easy to miss nature’s subtle cues.The book consists of 12 chapters—each of which is organized around a