Touch: The Science of Hand, Heart and Mind.
David J. Linden. Viking Adult. January
2015. 272 pp. Hardback and e-book. ISBN #: 978067001487.
Touch quite clearly is
associated with almost every experience of a human being. This book begins by correlating the times a
person says “I feel” followed by an emotional adjective to indicate that the
tactile sense is wired neurologically to not only our brain but also our
emotions. The author then explores the
difference between what an affectionate or friendly touch can mean to an
encounter and how the recipient of such a touch interprets the future of such a
relationship, whether it be in business, education, or elsewhere.
The author then moves into a
series of complex experiments that have to do with tactile sense of different
experiences, even moving into the field of DNA related to touch, how pain
receptors operate to connect with the emotions, and an actual sharing of the
connection with the euphorically experienced orgasm which is obviously related
to touch. In all of this, however, it is
even more phenomenal how few individuals actually realize that most of their
experiences are related to the tactile sense.
When asked if a person had to lose one sense, which one would the
individual choose, none even referred to touch in their processing the
question!
There is much more in this
text which deserves attention. Each
situation is presented with scientifically based testing and validation. It
offers the reader time to consider the implications of a handshake, a warm hug,
a touch on the shoulder, patting the back or hand of a child, offering someone
a warm drink, and many other examples of making a new awareness of touch a tool
for better communication and relationships with other human beings in need of
this tactile experience. The book is highly readable and laced with stories
that are fascinating, funny and surprising! Very nicely done, David J. Linden!
