An Immense World by Ed Yong

An Immense World by Ed Yong

Hamlet was definitely on to something when he said, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” If you are looking for some of those things, you need look no further than “An Immense World” by Ed Yong.

This book takes you into realms you never knew existed. Well, maybe if you are a practitioner of hallucinogenics you might have an insight into different ways of experiencing our world. (“Dude, I can taste colors!”)

Drug addicts and synesthetes aside, most of us will never understand our planet the way our fellow inhabitants do.

What is it like to be so attracted to fire that you fly for miles just to hook up at flaming rager? It sounds super romantic to me, but for the Fire Chase Beetles is it just another Friday night? 

Sure, we think black light is super cool at the night club. But take a UV flashlight out into your backyard and you’ll see what your neighbors are really up to.  

What if for part of your life you DIDN’T EVEN HAVE A MOUTH?????

It doesn’t hurt that this book starts out with my favorite dog lady, Alexandra Horowitz. It then goes on to introduce you to a bunch of really cool people doing really interesting things. 

By then end I was reevaluating what and where my place was in the Grand Scheme of Things. I don’t have an answer yet, but I do have tons of captivating things to think about.

Having the book is great because this is one of those books that you will want to have a conversation with. It made me wish I could scribble comments and questions in the margins.

 However, being an ostrich, it is easier for me to listen to books, not to mention it is impossible to scribble in books. (Thanks, great, great, great, great, etc. grandfather T Rex.) I also love hearing authors read their own books. Ed Yong’s matter of fact voice only underscores the craziness of what he tells us. (Wait. He said WHAT?)

Either way of interacting with this book is great. Heck. You may as well get both!