The Poetics of Space

By Gaston Bachelard, Maria Jolas (translator),

Book cover of The Poetics of Space

Book description

Beloved and contemplated by philosophers, architects, writers, and literary theorists alike, Bachelard's lyrical, landmark work examines the places in which we place our conscious and unconscious thoughts and guides us through a stream of cerebral meditations on poetry, art, and the blooming of consciousness itself.

Houses and rooms; cellars and…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Poetics of Space as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I’ve tried to explain this book to people for years, with varying degrees of success. It’s odd considering I’ve read it ten times. Bachelard was a philosopher but this is a work of deeply-rooted poetry. It’s not really philosophy or analysis, this book. It’s more of a seductive, lyrical invitation inside Bachelard’s dreamy, passionate imagination.

It explores the concept of “home” and the distinctions of inside and outside. It has nothing to do with cities or urbanism at first glance, but the second time I read it I tried to superimpose it onto the urban context. The idea of a…

Want books like The Poetics of Space?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Poetics of Space.

Browse books like The Poetics of Space

Book cover of A Moveable Feast
Book cover of An Attempt at Exhausting a Place in Paris
Book cover of Energy and Equity

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,189

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in spacetime, imagination, and urbanism?

Spacetime 65 books
Imagination 106 books
Urbanism 11 books