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On Seeing: Things Seen, Unseen and Obscene
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- GenresNonfictionScience
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 12, 2011
I had thought this would be a book on how the eye works, but it turned out be much more about what it is the eye is drawn to. This included an array of the usual subjects, like sexual imagery, death and physical mayhem. This was interesting enough, but I felt at times that the author was rather reveling in the depiction of things erotic and horrific.
The most interesting section here has to do with a compelling image that resulted from a woman whose fetus needed surgery. While the procedure was underway, a tiny arm flopped out and a normal grasping response resulted in the tiny hand grabbing hold of the surgeon’s finger. This image, of course, was used by anti-abortionists as evidence of a child thanking the doctor for saving it’s life. This is a classic case of seeing what you want to see, as both the mother and fetus were unconscious at the time of the procedure. To anyone with two working gray cells and access to a newspaper or a television, the proper response here is duh-uh.
He delves also into items of historical interest. This included the associations people have had with mirrors over time. I thought this was a stretch and found myself beginning to skim.
Overall, I was disappointed in this book. It is not a bad book, but seems to wander a bit too much. There are bits of intriguing information in these pages, but not enough to warrant much time. It was a bit of fluff with a somewhat amusing collection of anecdotes and summarized stories but generally seemed lacking in seriousness and depth. I would see what else is around.
The most interesting section here has to do with a compelling image that resulted from a woman whose fetus needed surgery. While the procedure was underway, a tiny arm flopped out and a normal grasping response resulted in the tiny hand grabbing hold of the surgeon’s finger. This image, of course, was used by anti-abortionists as evidence of a child thanking the doctor for saving it’s life. This is a classic case of seeing what you want to see, as both the mother and fetus were unconscious at the time of the procedure. To anyone with two working gray cells and access to a newspaper or a television, the proper response here is duh-uh.
He delves also into items of historical interest. This included the associations people have had with mirrors over time. I thought this was a stretch and found myself beginning to skim.
Overall, I was disappointed in this book. It is not a bad book, but seems to wander a bit too much. There are bits of intriguing information in these pages, but not enough to warrant much time. It was a bit of fluff with a somewhat amusing collection of anecdotes and summarized stories but generally seemed lacking in seriousness and depth. I would see what else is around.
April 16, 2014
A fine book of essays in the best FG-C style, a real intellectual pleasure. In it you will learn about such things as sixteenth-century “trials by congress” (that is, by copulation, in front of witnesses); morgue viewing as a popular pastime in nineteenth-century Paris; scientific and quasi-scientific investigations into the “force” produced by the human gaze; and the medieval Confraternity of St John Decpaitated, the members of which comforted condemned prisoners by holding sacred images up to their faces until the very moment of execution.
Having by now read most of F. Gonzalez-Crussi’s oeuvre (the bulk of which is, absurdly, out of print), I’m prepared to make some recommendations. First, for anyone new to FG-C, I think his A Short History of Medicine, published by Modern Library, is a good place to start. The author’s style and humor and peculiar interests come through, toned down just a bit by the focused commission. But it’s a fascinating and illuminating, and tightly structured, read. On Being Born and Other Difficulties should come next. It’s FG-C unchained and at the top of his form. I think it’s my favorite of his books. On Seeing (published, like On Being Born by Overlook Press) is also very good, as is Carrying the Heart (Kaplan), though it’s marred by poor editing.
Having by now read most of F. Gonzalez-Crussi’s oeuvre (the bulk of which is, absurdly, out of print), I’m prepared to make some recommendations. First, for anyone new to FG-C, I think his A Short History of Medicine, published by Modern Library, is a good place to start. The author’s style and humor and peculiar interests come through, toned down just a bit by the focused commission. But it’s a fascinating and illuminating, and tightly structured, read. On Being Born and Other Difficulties should come next. It’s FG-C unchained and at the top of his form. I think it’s my favorite of his books. On Seeing (published, like On Being Born by Overlook Press) is also very good, as is Carrying the Heart (Kaplan), though it’s marred by poor editing.
September 3, 2010
A collection of essays by Professor Emeritus of Pathology, F. Gonzales-Crussi. Some of the content is hilarious, and the understated wit of the writing is a joy too. One of those odd books that take you through refracted views of historical periods with a slant, perspective, fittingly here that of the eya nd of seeing.
August 28, 2010
This book was hilarious. It was compromised of short vignettes which all focused on either vision or our perception of vision. Most of the references were things I've never heard of, but it didn't really matter because the author describes them well. I would recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews