The Spell of the Sensuous

Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World

De: David Abram

Narrado por: Sean Runnette

For a thousand generations, human beings viewed themselves as part of the wider community of nature, and they carried on active relationships not only with other people but with other animals, plants, and natural objects (including mountains, rivers, winds, and weather patterns) that we have only lately come to think of as "inanimate". How, then, did humans come to sever their ancient reciprocity with the natural world? What will it take for us to recover a sustaining relationship with the breathing earth?

In The Spell of the Sensuous, David Abram draws on sources as diverse as the philosophy of Merleau-Ponty, Balinese shamanism, Apache storytelling, and his own experience as an accomplished sleight-of-hand magician to reveal the subtle dependence of human cognition on the natural environment. He explores the character of perception and excavates the sensual foundations of language, which - even at its most abstract - echoes the calls and cries of the earth. In this lyrical work, Abram weaves his arguments with a passion, a precision, and an intellectual daring that recall such writers as Loren Eisleley, Annie Dillard, and Barry Lopez.

©1996 David Abram (P)2017 Tantor

Mind blowing

This book should be added to the top 5 must read book list. Absolutely mind blowing

Be ready to engage your intellect!

This book traces philosophical and spiritual routes that humans have tread over our existence. Not a "fun" read, it is complex and takes attention to listen to, but I found that I could go in and out without losing the thread. I so appreciate the importance of the points made. I highly recommend it.

Life changing!

This book will change the way you interact with and treat the world. It is heartfelt, insightful, creative, and important. The narrator has a unique voice, but he is incredibly good a pronunciation, which is important in this book. Listening to it aloud is helpful, especially because there are many words spelled out to make their sound, which is much easier to understand verbally. Stick with this book until the end- you will not regret it.

Beauty of the language

Such a helpful addition to thinking about the what and why of us. I wonder whether embrace of the subject matter underlies the musical flow of the language. Sometimes I drifted in it oblivious to thought

interesting ideas terrible narration

this is s good book from an ideas, philosophy, and principles perspective. they couldn't have chosen a poorer narrator. if I had it to do over, I would have read the book.

this narrator should president over funerals.