This is a special bookBarwich does philosophy that is empirically directed and historically informed. It teaches readers a lot about olfaction. It teaches us even more about what philosophy can be. -- Rachel Fraser * Times Literary Supplement *
Seeks to banish entrenched prejudice against the nose. Barwichargues that we could discover far more about consciousness if we would only relinquish our old-school fixation on sightRather than mapping the external world and constructing an accurate representation of it in the brain, our sense of smell seems to involve a continuous, ever-shifting negotiation between our interior and exterior lives. * Harpers *
Lively, authoritativeAims to rehabilitate smells neglected and marginalized status. -- Mike Jay * Wall Street Journal *
Barwich writes with charm and precision about our preconceptions of how the olfactory system works and how it is different from the other sensory mechanisms that keep us alive and (relatively) safeAn illuminating discussion of the interface between the logical coherence of philosophy and the empirical disciplines of science. -- Michael Bywater * The Spectator *
Barwich melds a philosophical perspective with a rich history of olfactory science, tackling big questions with layers of perceptual, psychological, and neurobiological explanationsShe offers rich discussions of olfactory perception, the conscious and subconscious impacts of smell on behavior and emotion, and the physical and behavioral details that determine what odors we inhale, furnishing broad insights into the psychology of olfaction. -- John P. McGann * Science *
A beguiling analysis of olfactory experience that is fast becoming a core reference work in the field. -- Joe Humphreys * Irish Times *
Barwich takes us deeper into the human stories, key advances, and dead ends of olfaction science, interspersed with philosophical theoryA timely dispatch from the research trenches, surveying a field in flux. -- Barbara Kiser * Issues in Science and Technology *
An impressive workUndoubtedly one of the most comprehensive and accessible studies of olfactionBarwich brilliantly dovetails psychology with neurophysiology, detailing how olfaction operates by markedly distinct principles of neural representation in comparison with vision, audition, and somatosensation. -- Ekin Erkan * Perception *
Barwich guides the reader into the fascinating science (both historical and contemporary) of odors and olfaction. -- Brad Thompson * The Philosophers Magazine *
Finding out why mint smells different from a skunks spray turns out to be a much harder problem than why red looks different from blue. Barwich tells the fascinating story of why the science of smell has gone down many a false trail, and why the sciences of vision and audition made breakthroughs while olfaction remained mired in mystery. Smellosophy taught me a lot about my brains smelly world. -- Patricia Churchland, author of Conscience: The Origins of Moral Intuition
A. S. Barwichs new book, written with passion and infectious delight, unites history, art, philosophy, and in-depth interviews with pioneers in modern olfaction science. The result will enhance every readers appreciation for the role of smell in human life. -- Gordon M. Shepherd, author of Neurogastronomy: How the Brain Creates Flavor and Why It Matters
Lewis Thomas famously remarked that smell contains all the mysteries of biology; figure it out and you will have solved most of them. A. S. Barwich is a superb documentarian of the science behind how the brain detects an enormous range of odorous molecules, while also capturing the wonder of perceiving complex smells that form lasting emotional memories. Smellosophy is a unique and wondrous blend of the science of smell, the art and practice of research, the philosophy of consciousness, and all the mysteries in between. -- Stuart Firestein, author of Ignorance: How It Drives Science
This is the book on perception we have been waiting for: a scientifically-informed and philosophically astute treatment of our elusive sense of smell. A. S. Barwich skillfully guides us through the history of its study, recent discoveries, and philosophical theorizing about smell, and, in doing so, makes a significant contribution to all three. -- Barry C. Smith, Centre for the Study of the Senses, University of London
Fabulous[A] serious work that [has] brought me a great deal of pleasure. -- Victoria Moore * Daily Telegraph *
A love letter to olfaction. This book effortlessly blends science and philosophy and is a must-read for anyone with a sense of smell. -- Leslie B. Vosshall, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and The Rockefeller University
Well-written and engaging, Smellosophy transforms the breakdown of complex concepts into a really good read. This book is an astonishing integration of all aspects of olfaction, relevant to scientists across disciplines as well as to any reader interested in the aromas of wine, coffee, and other scents hidden in our daily experiences. -- Ann Noble, creator of the Wine Aroma Wheel
Barwich brings the curious science of smell to life through interviews with many of its key players. If you relish mysteries and constructing the logic to solve them, read Smellosophy. -- Terry Acree, Department of Food Science, Cornell University
Makes a strong case for rethinking the scientific study of odor perceptionSmellosophy works to shape olfaction studiesand neuroscience writ large. -- Nedah N. Nemati * History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences *
Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, when many people temporarily lost their ability to detect smell (and the closely connected sense of taste), this books topic is an impetus for important scientific explorationSmellosophy makes a strong case for rethinking the scientific study of odor perception. -- David Upegui * American Biology Teacher *
