39 pages • 1 hour read
The Poetics of Space
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Book Brief
304
Book • Nonfiction
1950s
1957
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard explores the human relationship with interior spaces, using phenomenology to delve into how different design elements evoke emotions and reconnect people with deeper parts of themselves. Bachelard examines how physical spaces, like homes, nests, and shells, foster imagination, memory, and consciousness, highlighting the dualities of interior and exterior, miniature and infinity, and their roles in human existence.
Contemplative
Fantastical
Mysterious
Nostalgic
Serene
Reviews & Readership
11,286 ratings
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Review Roundup
Gaston Bachelard's The Poetics of Space is celebrated for its profound exploration of the emotional resonance of spaces, blending philosophy with poetic reflection. Critics laud its insight into the human experience of architecture, but some find its dense prose challenging. Despite this, its innovative perspective continues to inspire readers and thinkers alike.
Who Should Read The Poetics of Space?
A reader who delights in profound philosophical reflections on ordinary spaces, much like those explored in Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own or Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities, will find Gaston Bachelard’s The Poetics of Space captivating. They appreciate introspective and poetic analyses of how intimate environments shape the human psyche.
11,286 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Carl Jung
Carl Jung
A psychologist known for developing the theory of the collective unconscious, referenced by Bachelard when discussing the verticality of the home and its psychological implications.
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
An American writer referenced by Bachelard to illustrate points about sensory perception and detail, using Poe's work to enhance the reader's phenomenological experience of space.
Henri Bosco
Henri Bosco
A French writer whose works are cited by Bachelard to explore the connection between space and the creative mind, emphasizing labyrinthine corridors and the joy of simple household tasks.
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
An American transcendentalist writer whose depiction of a nest symbolizes the concept of home, used by Bachelard to support philosophical assertions regarding the home.
Oscar Vladislas de Lubicz-Milosz
Oscar Vladislas de Lubicz-Milosz
A poet whose work is admired by Bachelard for allowing readers to continue daydreaming, contributing to philosophical ideas about figurative space.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Rainer Maria Rilke
An Austrian poet whose descriptions of spaces and their emotional implications are highlighted by Bachelard, particularly in relation to solitude and the significance of secrets within a home.
304
Book • Nonfiction
1950s
1957
Adult
18+ years
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