Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Which of the five main sections—smell, touch, taste, hearing, or vision—resonated most deeply with you, and why? Was there a particular story, scientific fact, or personal anecdote in that section that has stayed with you since you finished reading?

2. How did you feel about Ackerman’s blending of scientific inquiry with poetic language? Have you read other popular science authors like Oliver Sacks (The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Awakenings), who also combine storytelling with science? How does Ackerman’s approach compare?

3. Ackerman identifies as a “sensuist,” someone who rejoices in sensory experience. In what ways, if any, did reading this book change your daily awareness of the world around you? Have you found yourself paying more attention to certain senses since finishing it?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Smell is described as a direct conduit to memory, capable of unlocking vivid experiences from our past. Think of a scent that holds a powerful association for you. How does your own experience with that scent-memory align with Ackerman’s explanation of the olfactory system’s link to the brain’s emotional center?

2. The book makes a compelling case for the biological necessity of touch, citing studies on premature infants and primate development. How does this information make you reflect on the role of touch in your own life and relationships?

3. Ackerman presents food cravings as a form of “body wisdom,” where our subconscious seeks out needed nutrients. Do you ever experience strong craving for particular foods? Do you think these cravings might be your body telling you something important?

4. Is there a piece of music that you feel expresses an emotion more accurately than words ever could? How does your experience with that music support or challenge Ackerman’s idea that music is a non-rational language for our feelings?

5. Ackerman draws a distinction between being a “sensuist” and a “sensory miser.” Where would you place yourself on that spectrum in your everyday life? Are there specific situations where you find yourself embracing sensory details, or others where you tend to tune them out?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The book details a wide range of culturally conditioned responses to sensory information, from the social significance of body odor to perceptions of “attractiveness.” What do these examples suggest about the relationship between our biological senses and the cultural lenses through which we interpret them?

2. Through the profile of perfumer Sophia Grojsman, we get a glimpse into the massive industry that engineers the scents and flavors of countless products. How does learning about this commercial “perfuming” of our world affect your perception of everyday items like detergents or processed foods?

3. Consider Ackerman’s historical examples of extreme sensory indulgence, such as Cleopatra’s perfumed sails or the gluttonous dinner parties held by the ancient Roman elite. How do these ancient attitudes compare to contemporary society’s relationship with sensory pleasure and luxury?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Ackerman structures the book as a tour of the five senses. How did this organization shape your reading experience? Did you find that her arguments built upon each other as you moved from the “mute sense” of smell to the “great monopolist” of vision?

2. A central theme is The Inadequacy of Language to Describe Sensation. How does Ackerman, as a writer, use literary devices like metaphor, simile, and synesthetic imagery when trying to bridge this gap for the reader?

3. What is the function of the various historical and contemporary figures Ackerman profiles, such as Helen Keller, Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, and Vladimir Nabokov? How does each person’s story serve to illustrate a larger point about perception?

4. Another of Ackerman’s well-known works, The Zookeeper’s Wife, also explores the deep connections between humans and the natural world, though through a different lens. If you’ve read it, how does her approach in that book compare to the more essayistic, scientific exploration in A Natural History of the Senses? If not, what does her focus on evolutionary history in this book suggest about her broader view of humanity’s place in nature?

5. The book concludes with synesthesia, the blending of sensory pathways. Why do you think Ackerman chose to end her exploration here? In what ways does synesthesia serve as a capstone for her argument about The Interconnectedness of the Senses?

6. The theme of evolutionary utility runs throughout the book, reframing our senses as survival tools. How does this perspective change your understanding of seemingly simple pleasures, like enjoying the taste of a sweet fruit or appreciating a beautiful sunset?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you were tasked with creating a “sensory kit” to accompany this book. What five items would you include, one for each sense, that you feel best capture the spirit of Ackerman’s writing? What would each item be, and why did you choose it?

2. Ackerman describes the eccentric rituals artists use to “court the muse.” Design your own ideal sensory environment for reading or creative work. What sounds, smells, textures, tastes, and sights would you include to help you focus and feel inspired?

3. The book was published in 1990, before the rise of the internet and virtual reality as we know it today. If Ackerman were writing a new chapter for a 21st-century edition, what modern sensory phenomenon do you think she should explore? How might she analyze the sensory world of social media or online gaming?