Customer Reviews

Wednesday Is Indigo Blue: Discovering the Brain of Synesthesia

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Dr. Richard Cytowic and David Eagleman serve up a feast for the senses in this wonderful synesthesia book.

Not only is it full of scientific and anecdotal evidence for the condition, it is also highly readable, features eye-popping graphics and rings true for those of us who experience the condition.

With an afterword by Dmitri Nabokov and a rare interview with artist David Hockney (both synesthetes) those who appreciate both the sciences and the arts will find something to love here.

In the spirit of Dr. Oliver Sacks, their empathy and caring for their subjects shines through with great humanity.

Unbelievable! This is a whole new world I never knew existed. The chapter on art and creativity is fascinating in its discussion of synesthetic artists.The section on David Hockey (complete with an interview!) is worth the price alone. The book is loaded with gorgeous color illustrations. I wish I had this ability. I'm still walking around stunned at the scope of Cytowic and Eagleman's work. The writing is beautiful, too, with a strong voice. You'd never guess it was written by two people.

This book provides a detailed examination of the science of synesthesia. Cytowic and Eagleman are leading synesthesia researchers. In this book, they present a detailed description of synesthesia, providing a catalog of synesthesia experiences and an overview of current theories of how these experiences come about. Types of synesthesia experiences are enumerated in the first part of the book, with separate chapters devoted to graphemes provoking colors, sounds provoking colors, spatial sequences provoking forms, sensations involving taste, and emotional triggers and synesthetic sensations. The authors also discuss the connection of synesthesia experiences to metaphor and art before delving into the neuropsychology and science behind synesthesia. The book is well documented with endnotes citing numerous published studies and an extensive bibliography.

This book is a very formal description of synethestic phenomena, but still accessible to general readers. I didn't find the first part of the book, in which the various kinds of synthestic experiences are described in detail, particularly engaging, but others, especially those who experience synesthesia themselves may be reassured in finding that synesthesia is indeed a recognized and normal part of the human experience for many people. I found the last part of the book, in which the authors describe the varying theories behind synesthesia quite informative and thought-provoking. The authors argue that "synesthesia is a latent capacity in everyone." They remind us that seeing is a matter of perception in the brain, not a direct reflection of the physical environment. And finally, they point out that synesthesia may only be the tip of the iceberg for cross talk within the brain, noting "What would be the consequence of increased cross talk between brain regions that are not sensory--for example, between frontal areas involved in cognition or moral reasoning? What happens when areas involved in memory and planning express higher than normal interaction? Could this be the basis of increased creativity, intelligence, or madness? Our future understanding of the mechanism of synesthesia may shed light on mental, cognitive, and emotional talents or disorders."

This is an extremely well written book about the science and experience of Synesthesia. It offers a great introduction into the bioanatomical components of the brains of synesthetes. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a more in-depth introduction to the intriguing phenomenon.

This handsome book is well written and I feel will appeal to both the casual reader and more techincally minded reader as well. Wednesday Is Indigo Blue, tells how we all can "see" the same "something," share about it, but really have percieved this "something" quite differently often on several levels. The human brain is fascinating... but this book gives us new perceptions on how we understand as individuals.

Science and the arts converge to provide an in depth look at this fascinating condition. The anecdotes used in the book serve to illustrate the endless expressions of synesthesia, and build a bridge to the more technical discussions. I've gained a new perspective to view the world!

I have read many books on Neuroscience- but none have kept me as entertained as "Wednesday Is Indigo Blue"
Cytowic and Eagleman have accomplished what so many others have tried- turning a scientific text into a page turner- I could not put this book down- IT IS A WONDERFUL WORK !!!

I read this book, and watched Videos of Dr. Eagleman on this topic. I have a personal interest in Synesthesia, and I find it amazing how common it really is. I often wonder why no one really talks about it. I definitely think that people should take more interest in Neuroscience because it does pertain to who they are...really are.

"Wednesday is Indigo Blue" explodes off the pages with vibrant color and fascinating personal accounts to wonderfully illustrate this bizarre medical mystery!

I actually bought this book as a gift for one of my psychology students who is extremely interested in synesthesia. He has been a voracious reader on the topic and loves this book. He tells me that it is the best that he has read on the role of cognitive neuroscience in understanding the phenomenon. I can't wait to borrow it back!