Touch: The Science of Hand, Heart, and Mind

David Linden “Touch: The Sense That Makes Us Human” is an astonishing book about the mysteries of one of our oldest senses.

We are used to believing our eyes and ears, but we don’t always realize that the huge amount of information we receive comes not through them, but through the skin. Touch is the oldest of the senses. Both sight and hearing arose through evolution much later. It has been established that a human embryo is already capable of perceiving the surrounding world by touch inside the mother’s womb. Neuroscience professor and well-known science popularizer David Linden fascinatingly and accessibly—literally “with your fingertips”—explains how complex touch mechanisms work, and at the same time unravels its many mysteries. Why are we afraid of tickling when someone else does it to us, and we don’t react to it when we try to tickle ourselves? How is orgasm fundamentally different from other muscle spasms, such as sneezing, and why does pepper seem burning, while mint feels cold?

Press about the book:

“In this book, fascinating stories about how touch affects our perception of the world are accompanied by precise scientific explanations.”

The scientist

“If you’re interested in what it means to ‘itch’ and what humans share with koalas, Professor Linden will explain it. Believe me, you won’t be disappointed.”

Rockdale citizen

“The best science popularizers are able to infect the reader with love for their subject. Linden manages to do it in full measure.”

BBC Focus