Secret Language of Color: Science, Nature, History, Culture, Beauty of Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, & Violet - Hardcover

Eckstut, Joann; Eckstut, Arielle

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1579129498 ISBN 13: 9781579129491

Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal, 2013

Synopsis

The Secret Language of Color celebrates and illuminates the countless ways in which color colors our world.

Why is the sky blue, the grass green, a rose red? Most of us have no idea how to answer these questions, nor are we aware that color pervades nearly all aspects of life, from the subatomic realm and the natural world to human culture and psychology.

Organized into chapters that begin with a fascinating explanation of the physics and chemistry of color, The Secret Language of Color imparts a beautiful and thorough investigation into the nature of color, such as how and why we see color, rainbows, animals with color vision far superior and inferior to our own, how our language influences the colors we see, and much more. Between these chapters, authors Joann Eckstut and Ariele Eckstut turn their attention to the individual hues of the visible spectrum -- red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violent -- presenting each in fascinating, in-depth detail.

Including hundreds of stunning photographs and dozens of informative and entertaining graphics, every page is a breathtaking demonstration of color and its role in the world around us. Whether you see red, are a shrinking violet, or talk a blue streak, this is the perfect book for anyone interested in the history, science, culture, and beauty of color in the natural and man-made world.

About this title

About the Author

Joann Eckstut is a leading color consultant who works with a wide range of professionals including architects, developers, and manufacturers of name brands. She is founder of The Roomworks, a prominent NYC interior design firm and is one of twelve designers chosen by the Color Association of the United States to create the yearly interior/environmental forecast that is bought by major industries to keep up with color trends. She is the author of Room Redux: The Home Decorating Workbook and The Color Palette Primer: A Guide to Choosing Ideal Color Combinations for Your Home. She lives in Rensselaerville, New York.

Arielle Eckstut is the author of eight books including The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published. She is co-founder of The Book Doctors with her husband David Henry Sterry, a company dedicated to helping writers successfully publish their books. She is also co-founder of the iconic company, LittleMissMatched, which has become a national brand with stores all over the United States including Disneyland, Disney World, and Fifth Avenue in New York City. She lives in Montclair, New Jersey.

Reviews

Starred Review. Where does the phrase blue blood come from? Why do most doctors wear green scrubs? These and other questions are answered in the Eckstut&'s fascinating study of color. After throwing readers into the deep end with scientific explanations about how our brains process information and declarations like wavelengths of light do not exist as color until we see them, the authors move on to more accessible and lively examinations of colors and the roles they&'ve played in history as well as evolution. Each hue gets a biography of sorts, as the authors examine its cultural (the Egyptians placed a high value on blue and it was one of the first synthetic pigments) and in some cases biological significance (different colors attract different animals). The science behind rainbows and why they never appear the same way to two people; why the grass is always greener across the street (you&'re not seeing the imperfections); and a litany of other color-related trivia round out the book. The book&'s dynamic design and short entries make it easy to skim, but it&'s likely that those intending just a casual perusal will find themselves engrossed by this terrifically entertaining and informative volume. Illus. Agent: Jim Levine, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency. (Oct.)

Edition details

• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1579129498
• ISBN 13: 9781579129491
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 240