In these elegant, short essays, revered nature writer Richard Mabey attempts to marry a Romantic's view of the natural world with that of the meticulous observations of the scientist. By Romanticism, he refers to the view that nature isn't a machine to be dissected, but a community of which we, the observers, are inextricably part. And that our feelings about that community are a perfectly proper subject for reflection, because they shape our relationship with it. Scientists eshew such a subjective response, wanting to witness the natural world exactly, whatever feelings subsequently follow. Our feelings are an extension of our senses - sight, taste, smell, touch and sound - and here, in a sextet of inspiring meditations, Mabey explores each sensory response in what it means to interact with nature. From birdsong to poetry, from Petri-dish to microscope, this is a joyful union of meandering thoughts and intimate memories.
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'Nature writing at its best' --Independent on Sunday
Book Description
Inspiring meditations through the author's rich store of memories
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This little gem is a collection of talks given by Richard Mabey on the BBC and here turned into essays that can be carried around and read and re-read. Mabey takes the senses - 5 of them plus what he calls the map of the world. This last he tries to describe as a sense of direction that comes from pottering around in nature. He then endeavours to explain "how powerful our unassisted senses are when guided by the imagination". I am now an addict for Mabey's writing and try to purchase everything he publishes. This book was a surprise as I had heard the talks on 'iplayer', but was so pleased at the perfect production of this little volume - delightful cover, creative illustrations by Michael Kirkman and, of course, Mabey's sublime literary discourse on his subjects - as the blurb says: to marry a Romantic's view of the natural world with the meticulousness of the scientitst. Profile Books have produced a small wonder.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By SCM
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
This short book - only 110 pages - contains 6 chapters, each devoted to an investigation of how the senses help us interact with and understand the natural world.
At first I had a rather unfortunate sense of déjà vu as I read the first few pages of the book. Here were the Barn Owl, the Field behind Mabey's old home and John Clare - all subjects that he has covered elsewhere. But the book soon moves into fresher areas.
In essence this book is a plea for people to understand that romance, or at least flights of imagination, is a vital part of scientific discovery. Mayey makes the case for the idea that feeling and understanding are linked, and that while we can sail too close to the wind in terms of imposing our feelings and reactions on to the natural world, the very least we can do is admit that we can never really be impartial observers.
An excellent little book on a worthwhile subject.
Recommended.
At first I had a rather unfortunate sense of déjà vu as I read the first few pages of the book. Here were the Barn Owl, the Field behind Mabey's old home and John Clare - all subjects that he has covered elsewhere. But the book soon moves into fresher areas.
In essence this book is a plea for people to understand that romance, or at least flights of imagination, is a vital part of scientific discovery. Mayey makes the case for the idea that feeling and understanding are linked, and that while we can sail too close to the wind in terms of imposing our feelings and reactions on to the natural world, the very least we can do is admit that we can never really be impartial observers.
An excellent little book on a worthwhile subject.
Recommended.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A collection of short meditations considering how our senses -- sight, taste, smell, sound and touch -- influence our interactions with, and attitudes towards, Nature. Mabey's books are always a delight to read, and this melange of scientific reflection and personal memories is no exception.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deep in nature
More pourings from the master of the highest order marrying the brain and the soul. He is a class act
Published 16 days ago by JohnHB
4.0 out of 5 stars
The scent & sound of nature
This beautifully produced and illustrated collection of little essays is like a small appetiser for the real thing: Mabey's more substantial titles. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sentinel
5.0 out of 5 stars
I only wish there was more.
A terrific little gem of a book. Mabey is a Renaissance man, skilfully negotiating poetry, anthropology, biology, ecology. Read more
Published 11 months ago by ZPQA
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