Customer Reviews

The Mirror: A History

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Even though mirrors are a commonplace of everyday life and an essential part of modern technology, suprisingly little has been written about them, making this charming little book a welcome addition. It might more accurately have been subtitled "A history of the mirror in France" since it concentrates almost exclusively on that country. Subjects include the manufacture of mirrors, their use in decoration, art, literature, theology, and most especially their psychological effect on self-image - and of course their erotic implications. The author says virtually nothing about optics or technology, and the illustrations are few and poorly done. This is not a must-have book, but if you are interested in mirrors, French culture, or cultural history, it is worth reading, and would be an appropriate gift for the mirror-obsessed individual in your family.

For anyone given to introspection, this is a gem. It exposes places in the heart by sourced authors from centuries ago, when human nature was far more commonly understood than it is today. The corporate rivalries in seventeenth century Europe are of interest if only to show that commerce flourished without the gasoline engine, air freight, UPS, or asphalt roads. And rivalries the size of Microsoft/Apple are not new. I enjoyed this book immensely.