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odurant8's review
4.0
An entertaining chronicle of different phobias and manias, some you've never heard of, and some you'd rather forget! Ergophobia (fear of work), haphephobia (fear of being touched), and more will fascinate you with historical details and anecdotes. This is a thoroughly researched and accessible to anyone, and readers can pick and choose the chapters they're interested in or plow straight through. I confess to skipping any chapters involving insects, and wish I had skipped the one on fear of heights. You may even discover a long buried phobia while you read. Recommended for anyone with a curious mind.
cayleejanet's review against another edition
idk this is just a list i think it might have been better had it been grouped into sections of things that are related to each other but it also bothered me that some of the entries are way longer than others
ahomelibrary's review
“The Book of Phobias and Manias: A History of Obsession” by Kate Summerscale is an “easy to read” nonfiction characterized by its brief sections and concise writing.
Pub Info — Currently has a 3.68 average and almost 500 ratings on Goodreads. September 2022, Penguin Books @penguinbooks
Categories — Nonfiction, Psychology, History, Phobia/Anxiety & Fear, Trivia, Cultural History & Analysis
The Author — I really enjoy Summerscale’s books. She’s written the popular ‘The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher’ and award winners like ‘The Wicked Boy’ among others.
Quick Summary — This book is a collection of 99 obsessions from the well-known to the more obscure. The author provides case studies, connections to popular culture, and basic foundational info for each.
More Info & My Thoughts ⤵️
Pub Info — Currently has a 3.68 average and almost 500 ratings on Goodreads. September 2022, Penguin Books @penguinbooks
Categories — Nonfiction, Psychology, History, Phobia/Anxiety & Fear, Trivia, Cultural History & Analysis
The Author — I really enjoy Summerscale’s books. She’s written the popular ‘The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher’ and award winners like ‘The Wicked Boy’ among others.
Quick Summary — This book is a collection of 99 obsessions from the well-known to the more obscure. The author provides case studies, connections to popular culture, and basic foundational info for each.
More Info & My Thoughts ⤵️
jennyjc's review against another edition
Just couldn’t make myself read this like a “real book.” It doesn’t feel linear, and it’s certainly not a narrative. This is more like a coffee table book.