Friday, January 15, 2016

The Letter and the Cosmos: how the alphabet has shaped the Western view of the world by Laurence de Looze

★★★★★  The publisher provided a copy for review before publication.
The alphabet as architecture, communication, sculpture, and song. This book examines the development and delights of language in the alphabet.

The researcher explores the philosophy, history, and influence behind letter forms, shapes, calligraphy, and standardization. During three millennia of alphabet development, letters themselves have taken on meaning. They've been used to organize ideas, assist memorization, and sculpt how people think. Christians, humanists, and moderns have invested the symbols with their own values.

The alphabet both anticipates and expresses the concepts of its culture. The book is informative. It brought together history and philosophy in the most delightful way. The authors explore how letters contain artistic as well as arbitrary significance.

It's interesting research and a fascinating book. The endnotes and illustrations add to its charm and data.

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