David Abrams first book, Spell of the Sensuous is a meandering book on a mission. Looking at connections between language and culture and what domesticated humans consider the natural world.
Abrams examines in detail, how the connection between the incarnate world and the language of a culture effects how that culture interacts with the world. The abstractness of modern English is examined, with its letters derived from Greek letters adapted from Hebrew letters- so disconnected as to be abstract. Abrams argues that this allows domesticated humans to abstract themselves away from the rest of the world, and then argues his case by pointing to the close connections that traditional languages have to place, from sound to methods of using the language amongst Native American languages.
Although not conclusive, this is Abrams at his thought provoking, unsettling best.
Verdict: Recommended Read
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