A Natural History of the Senses
New York: Random House, 1990. 1st Edition. Octavo, publisher's camel cloth over marbled green paper-covered boards, spine and upper board stamped in platinum, patterned endpapers, original illustrated dust jacket.
Inscribed first edition of American poet, essayist, and naturalist Diane Ackerman’s breakout book. Surveying the biological, historical, and cultural dimensions of human perception, the book is divided into five sections–smell, touch, taste, hearing, and sight–with Ackerman contending that no sensory experience exists in isolation due to an evolutionary adaptation that developed for survival. It was adapted into the 1995 PBS Nova miniseries "Mystery of the Senses," hosted by Ackerman. With a postscript, a further reading list, and an index. Inscribed by Ackerman to the half-title: "For Jim and Nancy Maas, / with all good wishes, / Diane Ackerman." James Maas was a social psychologist and "guru of sleep" who popularized the power nap. Dust jacket designed by Robert Aulicino featuring a painting by John William Waterhouse. Stated first edition on the copyright page, with 2 the lowest number in number row, indicating first printing per the publisher's custom. Fine in unclipped dust jacket. Item #12417
$175.00