Curiosity Paperback – March 22, 2016

A truly wonderful exploration of western civilization values that Alberto Manguel revisits through Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy.

Terrific book.Very astute.

This is an odd book. Ostensibly about curiosity, Manguel uses this concept as a springboard for whatever takes his fancy, presumably organized by themes that make the title of each of the chapters.On top of this nominal framework, the whole enterprise is diffused through the prism of Dante's Commedia. Why? Apparently Manguel becomes obsessed with various books at different points in his life, and discovering the riches of Dante later in life, he is currently immersed thinking through that great work, and by extension, so are we.His tangents are often fascinating, sometimes less so, often seemingly tethered by the merest thread to the topic on hand. A chapter on the representation of thought by writing veers off into the Inca way of representing thought by a series of knots organized by shape and color known as quipu. A chapter on How Do We Question concentrates on various medieval commentators on the Talmud.This book doesn't rigorously explore the concept of curiosity so much as embody its workings in the author.The reader travels along with him on his intellectual and often literary explorations, sometimes leading to open vistas, sometimes down a cul-de-sac. This is a frequently enlightening, usually entertaining journey, so long as there isn't any place you are in a hurry to get to.N.B. I've been assured no cats were killed in the writing of this book.

Although the core of the book is Manguel's interpretation of Dante's Commedia, the author ranges over a variety of wider topics which he eventually relates to Dante. He relates his life experience to the larger questions raised by Dante. For me, it was the sort of book that articulates more clearly thoughts floating around in my less organized thoughts. At the same time, it expands on them and provides a firm basis for further thoughts. An excellent read!

lovely book well written glad I purchased it

Knowledge acquirement through the centuries before your eyes!!!

Wonderful book

It wouldn't be fair to review an item which I have not yet finished reading. I did read a previous work by Manguel about the history of reading. With this title, Curiosity, I have both a hard copy and digital access with a copy from Kindle.

Good

The book is sometimes a hard read as the author jumps around in Dante's divine comedy. The ideas he writes about on what it is that drives the human mind (curiosity) and how he puts Dante in perspective with earlier and later literature is just marvelous.

Thank you! I Like this book

clever chap

The dumb bells were exactly as advertised and exactly what I wanted. Thank you.