STRANGE TOOLS Art and Human Nature

Tom Perkins is a very listenable narrator, and that's especially valuable when the material calls for some relistening, and gradual absorption. Noë's text is accessible, and he uses familiar references for all his points. But even the sophisticated listener will find his distinctions between art and perception--which often defy current theories of neuroscience and evolutionary biology--surprising, and difficult to take in the first time around. The extra time is well spent, however, and Perkins is especially effective at conveying demanding texts, for which the skill lies not in expressiveness but in steady pacing, precise enunciation, and a sure instinct for the value of every word. Provocative and thought provoking, Noë's contention that art objects are tools of perception opens up a broad new understanding of art, aesthetics, and human cognition. D.A.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award [Published: JANUARY 2016]