On Looking: A Walker’s Guide to the Art of Observation by Alexandra Horowitz
Alexandra Horowitz walked with experts from various fields to gain insight into how they perceive the world around them. What she discovered during these interludes formed the foundation of this book.
I enjoyed reading this book for several reasons. Firstly, it was a refreshing departure from my usual reading material—books about business, photography and photographers, and inspirational topics. Even though it’s different from what I typically read, it still touches on elements of all those areas. Secondly, Horowitz not only introduces each expert she walks with, but she also explains their field of expertise in enough detail to make it accessible and engaging.
The only drawback was that occasionally I had to look up some of the words she used to fully understand them—but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing; it just took me out of the moment now and then.
In each chapter, Horowitz provides the context for why she chose to walk with that particular expert. She shares what they observed together, and her vivid descriptions bring each outing to life. Some chapters really made me reflect on how differently people experience the world around them.
Her first walk is with her dog. “It was my dog who prompted me to consider that these daily journeys could be done… better.” That initial curiosity—wondering how her dog experienced the world—set her off on this broader journey to explore how others see their surroundings. Each chapter begins with a quote about observation, ranging from Yogi Berra (“You can observe a lot by watching.”) to Sherlock Holmes (“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.”). By the end of the book, she takes one final walk alone, and reflects, “A simple walk had become unrecognizably richer.” That line captures the essence of what she gained—and what readers can gain—from these shared walks.
If you’re an artist of any kind, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It will help you see (and hear) the world in new ways, which can only enhance your creative work.
I learned quite a bit from this. I only wish it had been a little longer—she walks with so many fascinating people, and I would’ve loved to read even more.