150 Facts About Colours

A golden opportunity!

A book like a paint set to read, browse, and be amazed at: Why Bees Do Not See Red and We Sometimes Feel Blue

Enjoy the paint boxes in the world around us – with her witty and humorous style, Joanna Zoelzer reveals the secrets many colors conceal, why they have taken on certain meanings over time, and why they surround us in both a visual and literal sense, often exerting an unconscious influence on us.

A healthy human eye can differentiate about 200 different colors, as well as 500 different levels of brightness and white gradation for each color. In our vocabulary, colors are used not just as names, but also as metaphors. In addition, everyone is shaped by how his or her culture and era experiences color. But was pink always for girls and blue for boys? And since when have brides worn white? Do people react to colors as individuals, or does orange really make everyone feel hungry?

This book contains 15 chapters on the most striking colors, arranged like a paint box, from white to black (including gold and silver), complemented by vivid color photographs and clear design. Along with the biological explanation for why bees cannot see red, there are 149 other fascinating stories covering language, culture, science, and nature. They clearly show that color is an integral part of our lives and a defining factor in our vocabulary, and that they have had a long and mutable history. Fun facts and amazing findings about the effects and associations of color also provide insight into the field of color psychology. Reading this book will not only give you a new perspective on the world around you, but also answer many questions you may (or may not) have asked yourself. For example, everyone knows what the White House is, but did you know it has only had that name since 1901? Or that it is painted with a creamy white silicate paint called “Whisper White” made in Germany by—who knew?—Keimfarben (www.keim.com) in Diedorf, near Augsburg?

Fascinating, entertaining, and educational: an overview of the cultural history of color
Fun facts about art, nature, psychology, and science
Extraordinary photos combined with modern design make this photo book a highly enjoyable read