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A review by swhuber
Proust Was a Neuroscientist by Jonah Lehrer
4.0
Proust was a Neuroscientist is a wonderful first glance at the scientific world of art. However, it is nothing more than a first glance. It is perfect for those interested in the artistic aspect (not the scientific aspect). If you'e never read Marcel Proust, Stein or Whitman, much will be lost on you. If you don't each mushrooms or have never listened to Stravinsky beyond the dinosaur segment of Fantasia, then this is not the book for you.
Essentially, this is still a book for the artists of the world, not the scientists. It provides a surface though not a probing look at the different subjects of neuroscience. Too much attention is paid to certain subjects (Gertrude Stein) and too little is paid to others (Escoffier and Stravinsky) but the overall treatment of the subjects was thoughtful and interesting.
If nothing else, it made me want to reread Leaves of Grass, listen to Rites of Spring and eat a lot of umami rich foods.
Essentially, this is still a book for the artists of the world, not the scientists. It provides a surface though not a probing look at the different subjects of neuroscience. Too much attention is paid to certain subjects (Gertrude Stein) and too little is paid to others (Escoffier and Stravinsky) but the overall treatment of the subjects was thoughtful and interesting.
If nothing else, it made me want to reread Leaves of Grass, listen to Rites of Spring and eat a lot of umami rich foods.