So I found this book about curiosity to be dull, which seems to me antithetical to a book on curiosity (also, I keep typing curiousity because the English language and I are having issues today). Even as the book traveled between psychology, neuroscience, and history, all subjects I have levels of curiosity about, I just did not care. Maybe it was the writing style, which is neither dry and scientific nor really pop-science chummy, but somewhere in between (I really didn’t need to know, for instance, that the author skyped with certain interviewees in the book)? Maybe it was the lack of narrative, since I’m a sucker for narrative and reading non-fiction books that don’t have a story-line is often difficult for me? Maybe there was too much talking about Feynman in the book, who while brilliant, always makes me feel very uncomfortable. Maybe I’m just plain incurious about curiosity? I can’t say. But the book left me not wanting more, so I can’t say that, in the realms of curiosity, it was a success.
Also, if anyone can explain to me why we don’t spell it curiousity, it would be greatly appreciated.
Addendum: Levi is a physicist. Every other book I’ve reviewed by a physicist, said physicist has contacted me to point out flaws and/or disagree with my review. So I have that to look forward to, I suppose :p
Why? by Mario Levi went on sale July 11, 2017.
I received a copy free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.