How to Use Your Eyes

This book is a series of short chapters, each talking about how to see the details in something we previously would have overlooked. For example, there are chapters on the cracks in paintings, on sand, on grass, on culverts. I had a 60-70% strike rate with chapters, most being found interesting but the occasional one resisting even my stubborn efforts to find delight in the subject matter. This book had the potential to really grab me, but it didn't and I am not sure why. I think it has somethin [...]

Some chapters of this book were better than others, but overall it met my expectations. The author chose topics that interest him and spent 3-5 pages on each one explaining how to see them. Everything from butterfly wings to cracks in a painting to sunsets.I do love the idea of knowing enough about something to really see it, and the author seems to have explored many things to this level of detail. Something I wish I had more time for. I find the more I know about something, the more fascinatin [...]

So-called 'vision' is highly relevant in every important decision we make. Not having clear vision - or having the same vision as everybody else - thus means you run the risk of making sub-optimal or simply stupid decisions.That's the core of what I take away from this book - not some mental toolbox for thinking about art per se, but rather a way of looking at one's own perception and appreciation of subtlety.Work through this book carefully - you may get bored at times, but you'll learn how to [...]

This book won't tell you how to repair your refrigerator or read bar codes. It's not a museum guide, either you won't learn how to understand fine art. And you won't learn how to predict the weather by looking at clouds, or how to wire a house, or how to track animals in the snow.In short, this is not a reference tool. It's a book about learning to see anything, learning to use your eyes more concertedly and with more patience than we might ordinarily do. It's about stopping and taking the time [...]

This is an intriguing and entertaining book. I learned a lot about all kinds of odd things, like culverts and postage stamps. After a while the series of short essays starts to feel a bit repetitive in format, but individually they are quite interesting. It would make a great gift for any curious person.

Such a delightful book, good sober or stoned. Short esssys, full of images, by a wonderful teacher. What is a stamp? How does a culvert work? Why does asphalt crack the way it does? Elkins helps you see what you've already seen, but not always thought about.

A beautiful book, eye-opening

This book is wonderful, but you really only have to read half of it and then you will want to stop reading and go out and use your eyes elsewhere.

I found a lot of inspiring quotes here for my college honors project, and would probably revisit this one for thoughts about observation, visual thinking, and art.

What a fascinating book. Each of the 32 subjects discussed really requires more extensive study to be fully appreciated.