The Man Who Tasted Shapes

by Richard E. Cytowic

Book Overview

The ten people in one million who are synesthetes are born into a world where one sensation (such as sound) conjures up one or more others (such as taste or colour). Although scientists have known about synesthesia for 200 years, until now the condition has remained a mystery. Experiments with more than 40 synesthetes led Richard Cytowic to an explanation of synesthesia - and to conception of the organization of the mind, one that emphasized the primacy...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0262531526
• ISBN13: 9780262531528
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: MIT Press (MA)
• Length: 276 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Oh, wow!

This is an utterly fascinating and wonderfully written book. When I finished it, I immediately looked up and bought two more of the author's books. If you don't have synesthesia, you're likely to find yourself somewhat jealous of those who do -- and also mesmerized by your new understanding of how your own mind works. It's a must-read.

One of the most eye-opening books I've ever read

I love this book. If you've ever noticed that some of your senses mingle - for instance, a food tastes jagged or sharp (and I don't mean something you could photograph), or sounds produce movement and shape and color in your mind's eye - then you will find much to fascinate you in these pages. I suspect that highly creative people have a greater degree of synesthesia than average, because it allows their perceptions to cross-reference and produce new possibilities and insights.

Buy This Book

The Man Who Tasted Shapes is an extraordinary work of research into the human mind that was, to me, only superficially about synesthesia. The information and perspective shared are much bigger than the title would imply. I believe that you'll find it to be fabulously interesting, even if you have zero interest in synesthesia. Most doctors are afraid to write what they truly believe in their hearts lest it be challenged and scorned by their peers. Rarely do scientists allow you to "see the man behind the curtain," preferring to hide instead behind that mysterious veil we called "objective data." In this, Dr. Cytowic is far braver than most, and certainly more honest. Here is just such an example from the book: "My innate analytic personality had been reinforced by twenty years of training in science and medicine. I reflexively analyzed whatever passed my way and firmly believed that the intellect could conquer everything through reason. 'You need an antidote to your incessant intellectualizing,' Clark suggested, 'something to put you in touch with the irrational side of your mind.'... I had never considered that there might be more to the human mind than the rational part that I was familiar with. It had never once occurred to me that a force to balance rationality existed, let alone that it might be a normal part of the human psyche."In another chapter, Cytowic asserts, "Not everything we are capable of knowing and doing is accessible to or expressible in language. This means that some of our personal knowledge is off limits even to our own inner thoughts. Perhaps this is why humans are so often at odds with themselves, because there is more going on in our minds than we can ever consciously know." If you read a lot of medical texts, as I do, you will find Dr. Cytowic to be far more broadminded and much less linear in his thinking than his peers. This makes Cytowic interesting, instead of boring like the others. One final quote: "Neuroscientists have just lately come to realize how important emotion is. Placing reason and the (intellectual) cortex first and foremost is like the Wizard of Oz shouting, "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain." Reason, and an accomplice called self-awareness have deluded us into believing that they have been pulling the strings, but emotion and mentation not normally accessible to self-awareness have been in charge all along." The Man Who Tasted Shapes is a delightful bridge between the hard science of neurology and the mystery that is man. Buy the book. You won't regret it.

Not for the "Close-minded"!

While Dr. Cytowic's book mainly deals with his investigation of the rare neurological phenomena called "synesthesia", his resulting insights on emotions, reasoning and consciousness are really what make this book worth reading. He presents "The New View of How the Brain Works". A view that helps us understand the critical interaction of emotions and reasoning. If you are open-minded and ready to give an alternate point of view a chance, you will find this book to be truly enlightening, absorbing, thought provoking and enjoyable. If you are close-minded and think that science already has all the right answers - don't waste your time - try science fiction instead!

Deliciously intelligent, smooth and funny

This book helped clear up alot of things I've been wondering about, AND help me prove to those who doubted me that Synesthesia is a real thing. I've given up trying to explain what my Synesthesia's like, so I've opted to let them borrow the book. It explaines so many things, and has examples to help 'flesh' out the story. My psychology kids absolutely loved it!

A compassionate physician writes an easy to understand book

Dr. Richard Cytowic is an example of the compassionate physician that I would want to interact with me should I ever require the expert opinion of a Neurologist. His book, The Man Who Tasted Shapes, is a book for both the lay person and the health care professional which covers the condition called Synasthesia. Dr. Cytowic not only thoroughly describes the symptoms of Synasthesia, but he also brings to our attention the indiviual distress that can be actualized in an individual that has Synasthesia but who goes to a physician who is not well versed in this disorder. These individuals have often been put on anti-psychotic medications and thought themselves to be mentally disturbed when indeed this was not the case. Thank you Dr. Cytowic for a marvelous book which I read when it was first released. I am glad to see that it has been reissued and I have recommended it whole heartedly to associates and friends.