Dick Barbour writes: "I got The Secret Lives of Color on your recommendation and am really enjoying it. I got the Kindle version but am thinking about also getting the hardback, just to see all of those beautiful colors on the printed page. The author is a historian and she has some great stories about historical and artistic figures and their relationship with the colors. Good reading. Thanks for pointing it out!"
Anybody else get this book? What do you think?
I think it's a lovely thing. I'd be thinking about getting the hardback too, except for belt-tightening (budget overruns on the pool shed...). I should think color photographers whose work relates to color would be all over it. It's just a good book for reading, too, although it's certainly not a practical necessity. (The Book of This Week will be changing on Sunday, that is if Mike the ADDled Editorial Assistant can keep one plan going for as long as three weeks.)
Published in 2016, Secret Lives has gotten attention from all over since then. A few blurbs collected by the publisher:
"The history of colors, it turns out, is the story of science as well as art. Kassia St. Clair’s entertaining book brings them both into vivid relief." (The Wall Street Journal)
"The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair presents readers with [an] opportunity to relish in otherwise mundane aspects of reality.... An engaging mix of aesthetic analysis and optical science, it could make anyone a keen observer of our kaleidoscopic world." (Popular Science)
"A kaleidoscope of charming, discursive essays.... A light and lively guide [that] offers plenty of fresh clues for the brain’s colorful calculations." (The Economist)
"Beautifully written and thoughtfully produced.... Full of anecdotes and fascinating research, this elegant compendium has all the answers." (NPR's Best Books of 2017)
"What The Secret Lives of Color offers really is, in some sense, a flash portrait of human civilization, a zigzagging and unpredictable exploration of how significantly color has shaped histories and disciplines, fueled empires, changed the nature of war and caused species to flourish or face extinction." (Chemistry World)
"A work of art in its own right, The Secret Lives Of Color is a beautiful tactile book." (The Pool)
Mike
Book of interest this week:
The Secret Lives of Color by Kassia St. Clair
(clicking on the links above takes you to Amazon)
(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Jim Couch: "Went to Amazon just now and ordered the book. The hardbound is on sale for [a low price]! Could not pass that up..looking forward to reading the book."
Ed note: Sorry for the awkward edit but Amazon does not like me mentioning prices.
Michael Badalamenti: "I really enjoyed The Secret Lives of Color. I had no idea there were such interesting stories behind each one. Seeing the colors in the physical book adds immensely to the enjoyment. I checked it out at my library. ;-) "
Santasimage: "If you have an iPad get the Apple Books version...the color is wonderful!"
Mike replies: Kindle version works on the iPad too.
Ray Hunter: "I bought the book (hardcover) on your recommendation and am really enjoying it. There are some publishers and individuals whose taste I've come to respect in a manner that amounts to 'blind faith.' David R. Godine was, and is, an example of this quality. I have added M. Johnston to the list, as I have not been disappointed by any of your book recommendations. Thanks!"
Mike replies: You're welcome, and thank you, and I hope I can live up to that!
My hardback copy (very unusual for me to order a printed book today, a hardback even more so) arrives tomorrow. Thanks for the recommendation! I hope you get to use Amazon U.K. links again at sone point.
Posted by: Bahi | Saturday, 02 January 2021 at 11:06 PM
I've had the book for a year - possibly a bit longer. I've dipped in and out of it at various times and it is full of fascinating information and insight.
'Six Facets of Light' by Ann Wroe is in my pile of books to read - looks interesting.
Posted by: Mark Cotter | Sunday, 03 January 2021 at 07:27 AM
Ordered it through your link last week. Will probably arrive in 3-4 weeks.
Posted by: Ronny A Nilsen | Sunday, 03 January 2021 at 03:24 PM
Re the Kindle vs hardback vs ipad, Kindle books can be viewed in colour using the free Kindle app for Android or by visiting the Amazon site on your PC's web browser (navigate to "manage my content").
I would have mentioned the free Windows Kindle reader app too but that seems to have stopped working some time ago.
Posted by: Rick | Monday, 04 January 2021 at 11:28 AM
Many thanks Marc Cotter for that recommendation on the Ann Wroe book. I had a quick look and it's exactly the sort of book I'm looking for.
It seems there's been a mini boom regarding books on color, but far less so on light (except for technical works on e.g. lighting sets).
For anyone else interested in a broader treatment of light, Arthur Zajonc's "Catching the light" provides a fascinating historic overview.
Posted by: Richard T | Monday, 04 January 2021 at 12:01 PM
I’ve been reading and enjoying it. I do think it would be more interesting with illustrations here and there. More expensive and difficult to put together, but I kept wanting to turn the page and see a color in use.
Posted by: John Krumm | Monday, 04 January 2021 at 10:33 PM