Tasting the Universe: People Who See Colors in Words and Rainbows in Symphonies: A Spiritual and Scientific Exploration of Synesthesia

by Maureen Ann Seaberg

“Explores a dimension of synesthesia long encountered in reports of its relation to mystical and artistic vision . . . fascinating accounts.”—Patricia Lynne Duffy, author of Blue Cats and Chartreuse Kittens

A violinist sees a scarlet form when he plays a certain note; a rock star sees waves of blue and green as he composes a ballad; an actress tastes cake when she utters the word "table." This mingling of the senses is called “synesthesia,” and the people who possess this amazing gift are called “synesthetes.”

What happens when a journalist turns her lens on a mystery happening in her own life? Maureen Seaberg did just that and lived for a year exploring her synesthesia. The wondrous brain trait is often described as blended senses, but for Maureen, synesthesia is not an idle “brain tick” that can be explained away by science (although it does offer some important clues). It is a unique ability to tap into and reveal a greater creative universe and even the divine.

Join her as she visits top neuroscientists, rock stars, violinists, other synesthetes, philosophers, savants, quantum physicists and even Tibetan lamas in her journey toward the truth.

Step into Maureen’s shimmering alternate universe as she explores this fascinating subject, combining clear explanations of groundbreaking scientific research with an exploration of deeper spiritual truths.

“ Tasting the Universe is not only the brilliant writing of a top, professional journalist looking in on a strange but romantic phenomena, but it is the writing of a person who could embrace the feelings of those she interviews, because author Seaberg herself possesses this remarkable gift of synesthesia. I predict when you pick up this book, you will be unable to put it down, as it will open up for you a whole new world in our universe.”—The Amazing Kreskin

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Science, Neuroscience

Hardcover

First published March 15, 2011

Reviews

[Damien · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much nonsense about spirituality and too many tenuous attempts to make out that synaesthetes are in some way superior advanced beings.

Science is not only left out from the book, but is often looked down upon because it can't fully explain synaesthesia, yet the scientific explanations are far more rational, convincing, and plausible than the 'synaesthete as an evolutionary leap forward' idea comes across as wishful thinking.

The book kept glancing past fascinating topics, such as the music of Billy Joel, but then moving away before anything truly interesting was discussed.

Perhaps more suitable for people who experience synaesthesia rather than those interested in the subject and the science of it.

[Connie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maureen Seaberg has written a very interesting book about synesthesia, a mingling of the senses. Synesthesia occurs more often in artists, poets, musicians, other creative people, and persons with Asperger's syndrome and autism. She writes about how she sees her numbers, letters, days of the week, and some music in color. Theories about what causes synesthesia include greater cross-wiring between parts of the brain, and lack of an inhibitor gene. Brain imaging shows two sensory areas lighting up when one sense is stimulated.

The author interviewed many famous synesthetes, including Billy Joel, Itzhak Perlman, and Marian McPartland who see colors in music. Sir Robert Cailliau, a co-inventor of the World Wide Web chose "www" as a tool because his favorite color was green and the letter "w" lit up green for him. She also interviewed many scientists as well as experts on states of consciousness.

The author wondered if some of the magical realism we have in literature has a relationship to synesthesia. She kept my interest throughout the book because she found so many fascinating people to interview, and because she could add her personal experiences to the book. Maureen Seaberg is a journalist, and the book was written at the level of an educated reader, not for scientists.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into Synesthesia (a condition where one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualisation of a colour). Maureen Seaberg has been a synesthete all her life. Her experience includes, seeing the letters of the alphabet in different colours, having out of body experiences, and seeing colours in her field of vision where there are none. She was 27 before she found out she was a synesthete. This lack of information about the subject, inspired Maureen Seaberg to want to find out as much as she could about it and put a book together, not only to help others but also to satisfy her own curiosity about this extraordinary trait that she and many others live with on a daily basis. In this book, Maureen Seaberg takes us on a journey, spiritual and scientific, examining the current thoughts about Synesthesia, the history of scientific study into the area, and spiritual ideas about it. The author expresses her own views, talks to prominent figures in the scientific world about their views, and also talks to other synesthetes, including famous people, artists and writers, many of whom believe that Synesthesia helps them in their work.

Before I read this book, I knew a bit about the subject and was interested to learn more about individual experiences with Synesthesia. I had always thought of it as a condition, which maybe would affect the way people live, but was surprised to learn that it appears to be something that can enhance a person’s life, and indeed the author sees it as a ‘gift’.
The idea behind putting the book together is to educate people as to what Synesthesia is, and how synesthetes view the world. The author puts forward her view that rather than being a 'condition' caused by faulty wiring in the brain, as some scientists believe, it may be in fact a form of extra sensitivity which allows the synesthete to somehow tune into something in a higher realm. The book explains how, in meditation, synesthetic episodes are often recorded in non-synesthetes, and some drugs can induce similar experiences.
It’s an interesting topic, and the book contains some profound views by synesthetes and scientists about the subject.

I enjoyed learning about how each synesthete interviewed by the author had different experiences of Synesthesia, and how varied and individualistic it is.
I agree with the author that it can only help to have more books, like this one, available for information about something which appears to be much more common than was once thought. There are various links to websites and resources included in the book for people who may want to find out more.

Reviewed by Maria Savva as a reviewer for Bookpleasures.com

[Maggie Duval · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read at times. I'm a synesthete (aware of such since 1995) and learned some new things, but was put off by the "breathless/aren't we so special vibe." Too many entitled special snowflakes in the world already.

However, I applaud her work in continued exploration in the area and she covered some interesting facets.

[kimberly_rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing voice is quite off-putting, sounding arrogant and elitist. Synesthesia itself is described basically well; I originally picked up this book to learn more about it. The writer did a disservice to understanding and connection, though, since she seemed to lean toward an elitist, human hierarchy belief, as if people with synesthesia are "chosen" people or something, which is nonsense. Everyone is unique and equally valuable. Other than that, the writing style rambled and grew boring.

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book contained fewer facts and more case studies than I wanted. I found the prose to ramble and there was less objectivity than expected. The author also seemed to focus on her own particular form of synesthesia, rather than give time to other types. I learned more about this topic from five minutes on the Internet than from hours with this book.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing study of "Synesthesia", people who see colours in words and rainbows in symphonies. Really intteresting but relied heavily on 'famous' people's testimony from Itzack Perlman to Marilyn Monroe rather than everyday people. It's these people who would be more interesting to discuss as something that famous people have that adds to their 'famousness' often has the opposite effect on people who are just going through their everyday lives. Then this 'condition' can make them freaky or weird. One idea was very interesting that synesthesia people have the ability to retain more info and focus it better. NLP: Neuro-lingistic programming in children. Four corners to success and in the middle is the sweet spot - the child's destiny. On the left is the hobby, on the right is what they are interested in, at the front is the teacher and at the back are the parents. To help this happen we need to change the curricula around the world as not all children are visual learners, some use sound and others use touch, taste and smell. But there's not enough science in here to really explain how this works in the brain.
Synethetes love music, food, colour, art and multi sensory stimulation. Notes have colours, pieces of music and composers have colour, Mozart is bright yellow, Beethoven is deep blue. Makes sense to me.

[YarnCatsNBooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting subject, but poorly written. Goes over the same points again and again with slight variations. Very self congratulatory.

[Betsy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I quit reading this about halfway through. Although synesthesia is a real thing, I found this book beyond the pale. The author seemed to be using it as a soapbox on which to praise synesthetes above all other human beings. She claimed that synesthete are more empathic, likely to have eidetic memories and possibly perfect pitch. She also claimed that synesthetes are eight times as likely to be involved in the arts as in other disciplines. Her main focus was on color related synesthesia although there are many other kinds.. I finally gave up when she began going on about The Amazing Kerskin and the relationship between synesthesia and mysticism. If you want a serious study of this phenomenon look elsewhere.

[G. Tramaine Peoples · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally loved every second of this book.. Being born with music --->color synesthesia, it has always been hard to explain to someone who has never experienced it. After reading the book I finally had a group I could relate to and was able to learn about the Synesthesia List and Facebook groups.. Makes me feel not so different..

[Michelle Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to put I liked it okay, but apparently that would would be between 2.5 stars and I don't know how to make a half star. Anyway, this book was interesting but I ended up not finishing it because the formatting really bothered me. There was something about the super long paragraphs that made it difficult to read. The topic was interesting, but I also found her chapters confusing at times.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful book by Maureen. Captured so many of my feelings and memories of growing up synesthete, and I learned so much more about the worlds of others!

[Claude · Rating 3 out of 5]

M-Tear liked it at first, but then as she kept on reading, in started to bore her and she skipped about 6 or 7 stories.

[Lydia Roman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book. I enjoyed it more towards the end. Loved reading what pharell williams had to say.