Passing Strange and Wonderful: Aesthetics Nature And Culture.

Washington DC Island Press: Shearwater, 1993. Hardcover First Edition; First Printing indicated. First Edition; First Printing indicated. Very Good+ in Near Fine DJ: Book shows indications of very careful use: just a hint of slight spine lean; minimal wear to the lower extremities; foxing at the outside edges; binding secure; text clean. DJ shows only the mildest rubbing; unclipped. Overall, remains clean, sturdy, and quite presentable. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 8vo. 288pp. Hardback with DJ. Tuan, a geography professor and author ("Topophilia"), persuasively argues that aesthetics is "not merely a dimension or aspect of culture, but its emotional-aspirational core, both its drive and its goal." His analysis progresses from the individual and the physical world as accessed through sense experience to complex human creations of beauty in various media. Tuan also examines social contributions to aesthetics, especially as found in four disparate cultures: Australian Aboriginal, Chinese, medieval European, and America today. His work emphasizes positive aspects of social environmental issues, but it does not deny the human folly that has contributed to problems of the environment. Highly recommended.