See What I'm Saying: The Extraordinary Powers of Our Five Senses - Softcover

Rosenblum, Lawrence D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0393339378 ISBN 13: 9780393339376

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, 2011

Synopsis

"Eye-opening...memorable...Rosenblum's enthusiasm is contagious and his prose accessible." ―Kirkus Reviews

In this revealing romp through the mysteries of human perception, University of California psychologist Lawrence D. Rosenblum explores the astonishing abilities of the five senses―skills of which most of us are unaware. Drawing on groundbreaking insights into the brain's plasticity and integrative powers, Rosenblum examines how our brains use the subtlest information to perceive the world. A blind person, for example, can "see" through bat-like echolocation, wine connoisseurs can actually taste the vintage of an obscure wine, and pheromones can signal a lover's compatibility. Bringing us into the world of a blind detective, a sound engineer, a former supermodel, and other unforgettable characters, Rosenblum not only illuminates the science behind our sensory abilities but also demonstrates how awareness of these abilities can enhance their power.

About this title

About the Author:

Lawrence D. Rosenblum, an award-winning Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, is the recipient of multiple National Science Foundation and National Institute of Health grants for his research on lipreading and multimodal integration and a grant from the National Federation of the Blind for his research on the audibility of hybrid cars. Rosenblum’s work has been featured in The Economist, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and on National Public Radio. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

Review:

"In his new book Rosenblum provides hundreds of fascinating examples of the ways in which our sensory entanglements influence our daily lives and make us, well, us." --Scientific American

"After reading Rosenblum's captivating book, you will be surprised at how much your senses are capable of." --New Scientist Magazine

"Rosenblum describes in language accessible to lay readers a quirky collection of sensory wonders, which he then explains scientifically and also describes how to duplicate easily. ... Fans of Steven Pinker's How the Mind Works will find a cousin in this science book for non-scientists" -- Library Journal

"This is the first book I've seen that expertly draws the non-scientist into the fascinating world of sensory experience and perception. Rosenblum engages the reader with many stories of intriguing individuals and he does this while melding in lucidly explained hard science." -- Rachel Herz, author of The Scent of Desire

"This terrific book combines extraordinary cases, classic studies and the latest reports from the laboratory, See What I'm Saying exposes the psychological dynamics of perception." -- Robert Remez, Professor of Psychology, Barnard College and Columbia University

About this edition

• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0393339378
• ISBN 13: 9780393339376
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368