Topographies

by John Sallis

"Philosophers have become increasingly concerned with the places and spaces of our Earth. They are finally coming to acknowledge their situatedness, and to be grateful for it. Sallis's wonderful book evokes in word and image the power of places that bring him―and now us―to think, feel, imagine, and write." ―David Farrell Krell, DePaul University

How does it feel to get caught in a violent storm in the high Alps? What does a visitor think while ascending the sacred way in Delphi? How does a rock garden in Kyoto challenge one's sense of self? What comes out of a face-to-face encounter with deer in the woods? In Topographies, John Sallis invites readers to open their imaginations to the power of evocative places. Written in the style of a travel diary, Sallis responds reflectively and receptively to experiences that are beyond the carefully prepared tidbits of the exotic that often characterize tourism. On this venture into the foreign, Sallis discloses a unique power for drawing from place as he allows himself and readers to be drawn into it. Forty illustrations grace the book and enhance our sense of what it means to understand and connect to our world.

184 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2006

About the author

John Sallis was an American philosopher well known for his work in the tradition of phenomenology. From 2005 until his death, he was the Frederick J. Adelmann Professor of Philosophy at Boston College. He previously taught at Pennsylvania State University (1996–2005), Vanderbilt University (1990–1995), Loyola University of Chicago (1983–1990), Duquesne University (1966–1983) and the University of the South (1964–1966).