The Feeling of the Form: On the Nature of Taste
There’s no accounting for taste.
Why do some images stop us in our tracks, and some annoy us?
Why does some art stir or hook into the lonely crook of our deepest internal essence, which we can’t otherwise access?
Music does this also.
Books too.
For instance:
Why this
But not this?
Both are by the same artist and feature trees, which I love. So why does only one reach me while the other doesn’t?
Perhaps it’s down to color or the different materials used. Maybe it’s something altogether different that I can’t quite name. I don’t always know why I like something, but I always know what I like.
As I recover from hand surgery and cannot work as I want, I’m looking at art and book covers, which stir the places writing does.
Today, I’m sharing the book covers that reach me in vague and/or profound ways and wondering if they also reach you.
BOOK COVERS
This is an impossible-to-find book, which I am fortunate to own.
Until next week, I will remain…
If this work makes you feel less alone, please consider supporting the hundreds of hours that goes into writing and maintaining it. (There’s a 7-day free trial!)
Amanda
P.S. Thank you for reading! This newsletter is my passion and livelihood; it thrives because of readers like you. If you've found solace, wisdom or insight here, please consider upgrading, and if you think a friend or family member could benefit, please feel free to share. Every bit helps, and I’m deeply grateful for your support. 💙
Upgrade
Share
Quick note: Nope, I’m not a therapist—just someone who spent 25 years with undiagnosed panic disorder and 23 years in therapy. How to Live distills what I’ve learned through lived experience, therapy, and obsessive research—so you can skip the unnecessary suffering and better understand yourself.
Some links are affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Every bit goes straight back into supporting this newsletter. Thank you!