The Art of Lying Down

December 23, 2013
In this airy, Calvino-esque collection of essays, the history, science, and engineering of sleep is examined in great depth. Brunner, author of several whimsical nonfiction treatises (Inventing the Christmas Tree) divides the supine position we spend one-third of our lives in into a kind of cubist portrait, first scrutinizing its subject but then "The History of the Mattress" flows dreamily into "The Archaeology of Lying Down." Readers looking for ground-breaking or provocative philosophy on sleep may be disappointed: instead, Brunner incorporates a vast body of extant knowledge and history of sleep, its traditions, superstitions and accessories, into a kind of handbook for those curiosity-sleepers who drawn to cultural history. Though, for a book that calls itself the "Guide to Horizontal Living," sex and dreaming, two enormous aspects of the perfectly nicknamed horizontal life, are conspicuously absentâthough perhaps, we may hope, these are secondary and tertiary volumes. Nevertheless, this is a sweet, somnolent bookâa lovely premise, chock full of interesting history, and guided by a charming narrative voice, sure to be beloved by whichever lucky reader leaves it on their bedside table.

February 1, 2014

German scholar Brunner (Inventing the Christmas Tree) concisely but thoroughly examines, yes, lying down and the activities we perform in this position. Those include working, loving, healing, dying, and dreaming. He studies his topic in short chapters that succeed as historical accounts, how-to manuals, and philosophical queries. For example, we don't simply lie down in bed to sleep; we also lounge during the day, we pursue "horizontal socializing" such as eating, we may practice sunbathing, feng shui, and more. Brunner, translated by Lantz, includes thoughtful questions that examine cultural norms, such as why some Western societies may view a person who is lying down as lazy, vulnerable, or unwell. He also explores the environments we lie down in and the internal or external factors that affect our ability to relax, dream, or perform other horizontal activities. He refers helpfully to relevant historical and archaeological records and quotations from literature and drama, as well as references to artworks. Likewise he includes contexts from numerous other cultural and social perspectives. VERDICT Highly recommended for fans of eclectic histories, cultural anthropology, the socials sciences, and all readers enjoying a new look at a common undertaking they may not have seen as so complex.--Jennifer Harris, Southern New Hampshire Univ. Lib., Manchester

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