The Poetics of Space: Gaston Bachelard (Penguin Classics)

It's amazing what Bachelard has as his ability. Showing how we limit our imagination or, better yet, how we expand it. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's difficult at times but so worthwhile. The chapter on immensity blows the mind.

This is a beautifully written and inspiring book about the house as a locus for the imagination. I could live without the introduction, which is a bit academic. You might find it interesting if you are an academic or want to delve into the thinking behind the book but my recommendation would be to jump straight in to the first chapter (and maybe read the introduction after.

French cultural theory is known for its wordiness and complexity, and yet in 'The Poetics of Space', Bachelard largely transcends these potential pitfalls and instead produces a meditative, poetic book that was not what I expected. It is still theory, and so not a light read, but the daydreams and thoughts this book inspires whilst reading make it far from an arduous text. What makes this book special is its amazingly straightforward subject matter: the spaces in which we live - cellars, corners, wardrobes, shells - and reading it makes you wonder why there has been so little theoretical consideration of such an important aspect of human life. The synthesis of theory, literature and architecture in this book is an unusual one, but fascinating in its originality.Bachelard approaches philosophy from the angle of poetry, using a number of different poets and writers to illustrate and expand upon his discussion of how people experience and think about the spaces we inhabit. Quite a different tack from most theory, but as he writes, "How much philosophers would learn, if they would consent to read the poets!" I'm not a fan of poetry, but I'll certainly be following up on a few poets quoted, especially Rilke - Bachelard discusses their work with real insight. Nonetheless, he writes phenomenology rather than literary criticism, yet the extensive use of quotation does not feel at all extraneous to his argument. 'The Poetics of Space' is perhaps aesthetic philosphy that integrates creativity and thought better than anything else I've read.Why not five stars? It takes a little while to get into Bachelard's style, and the theory-dense introduction is not the easiest of openings. Nonetheless, as you acclimatise to his way of thought, the book gets better and better; the penultimate chapter on "intimate immensity" is a beautiful consideration of human fascination with deserts and the sea. I think it is a book I will be coming back to, and I suspect it will reveal itself more with each reading.

This book had totally captured my imagination and has become the inspiration for my artwork. How we look at the spaces of everyday items has evoked memories long hidden in the subconscious. It has opened my eyes to the simplest of spaces that I live, sleep and daydream in. I can't recommend this book highly enough to make you appreciate the things you may take for granted and enter homes and rooms with an awakened consciousness.

I loved this book, very inspiring, and I will buy other books by this authour.

Immaculate condition, wonderful book ... would reccomend to anyone

The book was in good order and was delivered as stated.What was advertised was what I got.The content of the book is exactly as I expected and very interesting.

This seems like an interesting book, it's not really for me at the moment but maybe I'll come back to it. Bizarely it was recomeded to me by A.I. Chat for a project that I was working on but wasnt quite what I was needing at the time

I LOVE this book. I’m a freshman in college now(and holy crap @ that) and an art major, and when I read the first excerpts from this for my favorite class, I bought it immediately— despite not needing to. Gaston Bachelard speaks to the root of poetic experience, how we perceive and affect the spaces around us; in effect, that our perceptions and memories *create* places in our existence that are both “real” memory and that filter of subjectivity.Look, I’m exhausted and I can’t really express both how fascinating and fantastic this book is and WHY it’s fantastic. But if you are a writer, a poet, a musician, or any kind of artist, or really, if you’re a thinking and perceptive human being, take the chance on reading this. It lifted my soul up, I swear to god: it reads like a scientist had a completely immersive acid trip and devoted the rest of his life to looking for the meaning of art— and thus, life.A note: at first, the language may seem super-dense and off-putting. STICK WITH IT. It finds its own almost poetic rhythm.

het boek is prima! de bezorging is waardeloos: de eerste nooit ontvangen, geklaagd, opnieuw gestuurd en het tweede per ongeluk bij iemand anders afgeleverd!

Este libro revivió tantas memorias de mi infancia, y ahora las veo desde otra perspectiva, que me ayudó a entender mi mirada del presente, se convirtió en un libro talismán al que vale la pena regresar y revisitar. Ampliamente recomendado para arquitectos con intereses fenomenología.El papel y la tipografía hacen muy agradable la lectura de este libro.

Hard to say why this book was even written.

Poetics of Space is a wonderful book - relaxing, and occasionally inspirational.However, there is a BIG problem with this particular edition - Mark Danielewski. Danielewski wrote a new Foreword for this edition, and it's terrible - pretentious, needlessly complex, and tedious. I didn't know who he was prior to this, so I've learned something new today.Bachelard's writing is actually very easy to read, and he delivers his (very) complex thoughts in a warm, simple, nuanced, and engaging way. He delivers his points very well, and each reader is invited to come to their own understanding.By contrast, Danielewski reminds me of an art student who hands out copies of his so-called "mind-blowing" poetry to strangers on the subway. (Maybe I'd like it if I took drugs? It wouldn't make it more understandable or necessary, but possibly less painful?)Bachelard does just fine on his own. He doesn't need a lesser writer like Danielewski to supposedly "explain" things for him so arrogantly and ineffectively.