Sensational is a deep dive into our senses and how they both inform and shape our lives. It was published in 2023 by Profile Books in the UK, and by Allen & Unwin in ANZ. In the US it was published by Basic Books under the title, Where We Meet the World.
It has subsequently been translated into Korean, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and Turkish
Our senses are what make life worth living. They allow us to appreciate a sip of an ice-cold drink, the sound of laughter, the touch of a lover. But only recently have incredible advances in sensory biology given us the ability to understand how and why our senses evolved as they did. In Where We Meet the World, biologist Ashley Ward takes readers on a breathtaking tour of how our senses function. Ward looks at not only the five major senses—vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch—but also a host of other senses such as balance and interoception, the sense of the body’s internal state. Drawing on new research, he explores how our senses interact with and regulate each other, and he uncovers what we can learn from how other animals—and even bacteria—encounter the world.
Praise for Sensational/Where We Meet the World
“A vivid exploration of the science behind sight, hearing, touch and smell that shows us we should take nothing for granted” – The Guardian
“A cultural, historical and neurobiological tour of the sensorium” – The Spectator
“Infectiously enthusiastic…but underneath the entertainment this is a serious and thoughtful book” – The Sunday Times
“a future classic of popular science” – Daily Mail
“This eye-opening pop-science treatise… rhapsodizes about the power of the senses…[Ward] packs in innumerable fascinating details… The science illuminates the complex processes through which creatures make sense of their surroundings, and the delivery benefits greatly from the author’s stylish, evocative prose…This will change how readers see the world.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“[a] jaunty, reader-friendly tour of the senses.” – Natalie Angier, The American Scholar
“a rollercoaster combination of science, cultural history, romance, philosophy and schoolboy humour.” – Katy Guest, Guardian (UK)
“a dazzling account of how we use sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell to navigate the world… The chapters on smell and taste showcase an eye for the extraordinary and a flair for explanation.” – Anjana Ahuja, Financial Times
“a wide-ranging and highly engaging read.” – The Observer (UK)
“illuminating and amusing” – The Mail on Sunday (UK)
“infectiously enthusiastic” – James McConnachie, Sunday Times (UK)
“Enjoyable popular science.” – Kirkus
“Absorbing, surprising and at times profound. After reading this, reality will never be quite the same.” – Dave Goulson, author of Silent Earth
“It is nearly impossible to grasp what other animals smell, see, or feel. Ashley Ward’s dive into the way we and other species interpret the surrounding world offers astonishing insights.” – Frans de Waal, author of Mama’s Last Hug
ASHLEY WARD 