An Immense World

Fascinating! This book makes you realise that what we take for granted as perception of “reality” is only one version. We're such an arrogant species. We think that our view on the world is the world itself. For instance humans see the world through 3 types of photoreceptor cells. We couldn't even imagine what the world looks like to a Mantis shrimp which has between 12 and 16 types of photoreceptor cells! What I appreciated most about this book is the wakeup reminder that perception is not reality by a long shot, and combined with the insights from people like Donald Hoffman that objective truth is a very naive concept.

“Five senses,” they told me. How chauvinistic that seems now. Understandably so, but still.Remember [b:Flatland 433567 Flatland A Romance of Many Dimensions Edwin A. Abbott https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435435775l/433567.SY75.jpg 4243538]? (I like to think everyone read that in grade school but am now wondering if it was only us math geeks?) Anyhow, Immense World brought back those feelings of wonder; of imagining what we know is out there but can never, ever fully understand. A dog navigating the world through smell. The countless ways of arranging color receptors, giving some animals a visual experience we can barely even describe. Touch. Vibration, through air (sound) and through ground. Sensing electrical fields. Magnetic fields! How little we know! And of course, [b:bats 197189543 What Is It Like to Be a Bat? Thomas Nagel https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png 40899183]. All creatures taking their senses for granted, just like we do, but we have that amazing ability to study and learn and devise instruments that help us see-hear-sense farther. And to imagine.“[...] we can try to step into their worlds. We must choose to do so, and to have that choice is a gift. It is not a blessing we have earned, but it is one we must cherish.” Yong, more than anyone else I've ever encountered or heard of, has made me recognize that gift. Has let me glimpse those worlds of sensation. He does so with compassion and humility.

“An Immense World” by Ed Young is a captivating journey through the wonders of the natural world.

Through stunning illustrations and minimal text, Young invites readers to immerse themselves in the beauty and diversity of the planet.

Each page is a visual feast, bursting with vibrant colors and intricate details that ignite the imagination. From the depths of the ocean to the heights of the sky, “An Immense World” celebrates the awe-inspiring majesty of nature in all its forms.

Young's masterful artwork and poetic storytelling make this book a mesmerizing exploration for readers of all ages, reminding us of the boundless wonders that surround us every day.

This book really makes you see... or should I say sense... the world differently. I feel like I have an entirely new sense of awe regarding the world around me, and also has made me full of weird facts about animals (the best kinds of facts).

I highly recommend it. My only conceit is that it is VERY full of information, and I found if I read too much, my brain wouldn't be able to take it in. So I read it in chunks of one to two chapters at a time, and took breaks in between. I also never read for more than maybe half an hour at a time.

Basically an animals documentary in book form. Focuses on interesting examples of extreme versions of many different animal senses including sonar and electric. Overall concept is that different animals experience reality in different ways in proportion to the senses they fuse together to create their sense of awareness, which at the end enables them to direct their consciousness towards sustenance, safety, procreation, etc. The book encourages us to stretch the bounds our own human empathy to imagine stepping into the body of an animal with different senses and priorities. Also discusses impact of human produced sensory pollution such as cargo ship motors.

Writing-wise: captivating for the most part and very clearly explained. But also repeats itself a lot, gets lost in minute details often, and on the whole was longer than it should have been; found myself bored and skimming past a couple parts.

Yong sheds light on unknown worlds
Ed Yong, author, and science journalist, takes us on a guided tour of senses. Along with how the animal kingdom has developed and used these in a variety of ways. The thread running through the book is this: humans are so embedded in our own way of seeing the world. We find it hard not to impose our unique perspective on other creatures. Put differently, humans are trapped in sensory bubbles unique to everyone. Yong demonstrates a knack for vivid similes and peppers the book with brief but astonishing facts. Recommended.