An Exhibition at Oxford Highlights the Sensorial Splendor of Books
“Sensational Books,” at the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford, celebrates the physical book in all its exquisite and unusual forms.
By Mara Fisher
October 12, 2022
10 minute read
- Share:
In 1940, Dorothy Kunhardt published a book that would forever change the way young children read. Pat the Bunny, an interactive book full of activities such as touching the sandpaper of “Daddy’s scratchy face,” playing peekaboo with a piece of cloth, or gazing in a mirror, imbued the act of reading with a new form of sensory engagement. Today, “touch and feel” books for babies and children are almost required reading—their cellophane stuffing produces a satisfying, A.S.M.R.-level crunching sound, while the use of faux rabbit fur or horse hair offers an exhilarating tactile experience. As we age and our reading comprehension sharpens, the books we pick up prioritize a single sense—sight—their stories seemingly locked away in lines of text.
Subscribe to get exclusive access to our stories, newsletters, events, and more.
Already a subscriber? Sign in
Keep Reading
At New York’s Climate Week, a “Climate Science Fair” Cultivates Optimism and Future-Forward Thinking
7 minute read
David W. Orr on the Inextricable Links Between Climate and Democracy
30 minute read
William Hanley on Media That Adds a Bit of Whimsy to the Everyday
16 minute read
A Dynamic, City-Defining Riverfront Park Grows in Memphis
8 minute read
The Vibrant, Kaleidoscopic Color Theory of Christopher John Rogers
26 minute read
Desiring Beauty, Even If It Kills Us
8 minute read
Eddie Stern on the Physiological and Spiritual Power of Pranayama
29 minute read
vanessa german on Art as a Way of Life and Love as a “Human Technology”
43 minute read
The Go-To Routines and Rituals of Daphne Javitch
11 minute read
Beverly Nguyen’s Highly Tactile Taste in Media
19 minute read
In “Look,” Christian Madsbjerg Celebrates the Slow, Patient Act of Observation
8 minute read
Sara Auster on Fine-Tuning Your Life Through Sound Therapy
19 minute read
A Herzog & de Meuron Exhibition Emphasizes Architecture as Collective, Not Egocentric
5 minute read
Priya Khanchandani on the Media That Inspires Her Curatorial Work
10 minute read
Vivian Rosenthal on the Profound Power of Holotropic Breathwork
12 minute read
Pedro Gadanho on How Architecture Must Adapt to Our Ecological Emergency
24 minute read
In “Ordinary Notes,” Christina Sharpe Weaves a Profound Portrait of Black Life
7 minute read
The Alchemy of David Adjaye’s Architecture
32 minute read
Millana Snow’s New Well-Being Plan
12 minute read
5 Exhibitions You Must See This Summer
8 minute read
Jaé Joseph on Broadening Notions of Luxury and Well-Being
11 minute read
The Poetic, Humanistic Architecture of Lina Ghotmeh
29 minute read
Chris Impey on the New Space Race and Exoplanet Habitation
17 minute read
Norman Teague on How He Keeps His Finger on the Pulse
16 minute read
With His Monumental Bronze Sculptures, Thomas J Price Honors the Everyday Features of Black Life
6 minute read
In “Not Too Late,” a Vital, Kaleidoscopic View on the Climate Crisis
6 minute read
From “WET” to “Wabi-Sabi”: Leonard Koren’s Adventurous Aesthetic Journey
31 minute read
Rachelle Robinett’s Science-Backed Approach to Herbalism
9 minute read
An Intellectual African Revolution Comes to the Venice Architecture Biennale
8 minute read
A Breathwork Practitioner Making Space for Black Women to Feel Free
16 minute read
Paola Navone’s “Take It or Leave It” Objects, as Seen in Their New Homes
5 minute read
Tom Delavan on What He Watches to Laugh, Relax, and Unwind
11 minute read
John Pawson’s Approach to Making Life Simpler
23 minute read
Daniel Humm’s Giant, Thought-Provoking, Plant-Based Pivot
15 minute read
15 Standouts From Milan Design Week
13 minute read
Our Milan Design Week Exhibition as a Celebration of Paola Navone’s Prolific Practice and Generous Spirit
8 minute read
Daniel Rozensztroch on Curating “Take It or Leave It”
12 minute read
Live From Our “Take It or Leave It” Exhibition
2 minute read
Frances Moore Lappé on Fifty-Plus Years of Plant-Based Eating (and Living)
19 minute read