LIFE IN FIVE SENSES

The author of The Happiness Project examines the five senses.

As in her previous books about personal transformation and well-being, Rubin once again combines elements of memoir with scientific data. Following a distressing trip to the eye doctor, the author realized she had been taking her senses for granted. For years, writes the author, she felt stuck inside her head, disconnected from the world, other people, and herself. “I wanted to appreciate the moments of my life more fully; I wanted to get out of my head and into my life; I wanted to deepen my knowledge of the world, of other people—and of myself,” she writes. For each of the five senses, Rubin shares her research on their mechanics. “By immersing myself in strong sensations for this experiment,” she writes, “I hoped I’d sharpen my five senses for the rest of my life.” Living in New York City, she visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art every day for one year to help heighten her awareness of her senses. The author also engaged in other exercises, often including her family and friends. These included decorating part of her home with “a mass of color out of objects” she found; attending the traveling “Immersive Van Gogh” exhibit; curating an “Audio Apothecary” playlist of her favorite music; living in her “Silent Home Retreat” for three days; learning perfumery; organizing a tasting party; lying in a “sensory enhancement” tank; and, most adventurously, experiencing ayahuasca with a guide. As her journey progressed, Rubin evolved: “I felt more awake, more serene, more present in my body.” She also discovered that she was noticing and connecting with other people to a greater degree. The takeaway is that we can actively shape our sensory experiences rather than passively enduring them.

For active seekers, Rubin again provides simple insights for becoming more aware of place, self, and others.