Synaesthesia: The Strangest Thing [Hardcover]

John Harrison (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0192632450 | ISBN-13: 978-0192632456 | Publication Date: June 7, 2001 | Edition: 1

Synaesthesia is a confusion of the senses, whereby stimulation of one sense triggers stimulation in a completely different sensory modality. A synaesthete might claim to be able to hear colors, taste shapes, describe the color, shape, and flavor of someone's voice or music, the sound of which looks like 'shards of glass'. Throughout history, many notable artists and writers have claimed to suffer from synaesthesia, including, Arthur Rimbaud, Wassily Kandinsky, Vladimir Nabokov, and David Hockney. The condition remains as controversial now as when first brought to the public eye many years ago--one notable scientist dismissing it as mere 'romantic neurology.' In Synaesthesia: the strangest thing, a world authority on synaesthesia takes us on a fascinating tour of this mysterious condition, looking at historical incidences of synaesthesia, unraveling the theories for the condition, and additionally, examining the claims to synaesthesia of the likes of Rimbaud, Baudelaire, and others. The result is an exciting, yet scientific account of an incredible condition--one that will tell us of a world rich with the most unbelievable sensory experiences.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A new look at the strange world of synaesthesia."--Time Magazine

"A treat.... investigates...brains that have a weird and unexplained propensity to mix up senses." New Scientist

"[P]rovides a useful account of a phenomenon that in recent years has come to receive increasing serious attention from cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists alike. Harrison presents the material in a way that makes it accessible to novices as well as experts."--Contemporary Psychology, APA Review of Books

About the Author

John Harrison has held research posts at the University of London and the University of Cambridge. He has authored or co-authored more than 30 scientific articles, and is the editor, with Simon Baron-Cohen, of 'Synaesthesia: Classic and contemporary readings', and most recently 'Cognitive dysfunction in brain disorders'.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (June 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192632450
• ISBN-13: 978-0192632456
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,395,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Synaesthesia: The Strangest Thing, January 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Synaesthesia: The Strangest Thing (Hardcover)

This book was more of an "Introduction to Everything" textbook than what it was supposed to be about...Intro to Psychology, Intro to Genetics, Intro to Statistics, Intro to Neuroscience...The topics may have been somewhat interesting at times, but not necessary to understanding Synesthesia. He certainly hopped, skipped, and jumped all over the place.