The Book of Phobias and Manias: A History of the World in 99 Obsessions

Review This fascinating compendium traces phobias and manias through their rich social, cultural and medical history -- Hannah Beckerman ― Observer This is an endlessly intriguing book, full of extraordinary stories and even the odd cure ... All the bibliomanes (book nutters) I know will love it ― Daily Mail Fascinating ... Summerscale uses the same talent for elaborating on psychological tics that made her non-fiction thriller The Suspicions Of Mr. Whicher a top bestseller -- Simeon House ― Mail on Sunday Endlessly fascinating. It's a tantalising glimpse into the labyrinth of the human unconscious ― The Tablet [An] entertaining compendium ... its tales are judiciously chosen, its factoids toothsome ― The Times We are all, in some way or other, plagued by fears and desires beyond our control ... Fascinating, beautifully written and thoroughly researched ― Irish Times Thought-provoking and such fun -- Ian Mortimer, bestselling author of The Time Traveller's Guides A fascinating book -- David Crystal Fascinating ... Phobias and manias create a magical space between us and the world -- Malcolm Gaskill, author of the No. 1 bestseller The Ruin of All Witches A new book from Summerscale is always a treat. She does vast amounts of research, and then manages to let go of it, and take flight in prose that is both forensic and conversational ... Her sub-title - 'A History of the World in 99 Obsessions' - might echo Neil MacGregor, but this reads more like a book by Oliver Sacks, with dashes of Roald Dahl -- Maggie Fergusson ― Spectator An intriguing guide to human fixations ― Guardian Fascinating... Exquisitely detailed and consistently insightful, this is an entertaining guide to humanity's compulsions ― Publishers Weekly 99 hard-to-stop-reading histories ... from the familiar (homophobia) to surprising fears of eggs, hair, silence and everything (pantophobia) ― Chicago Tribune Informative, witty, and unique ... Summerscale, author of The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher and other well-regarded books, lists 99 fears and compulsions, and the result is a peculiarly engaging book ― Kirkus Magnificent -- Marcus Berkmann Product Description THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR ALL BIBLIOMANES A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR A FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR A SPECTATOR BOOK OF THE YEAR A WATERSTONES BEST POPULAR SCIENCE BOOK 2022 AS HEARD ON BBC RADIO 4 WOMAN'S HOUR AND START THE WEEK Plunge into this rich, surprising and stunningly designed A-Z compendium to discover how our fixations have taken shape, from the Middle Ages to the present day, as bestselling author Kate Summerscale deftly traces the threads between the past and present, the psychological and social, the personal and the political. 'Fascinating ... Phobias and manias create a magical space between us and the world' Malcolm Gaskill, author of the No. 1 bestseller The Ruin of All Witches 'Fascinating' Observer 'An endlessly intriguing book ... All the bibliomanes (book nutters) I know will love it' Daily Mail 'A new book from Summerscale is always a treat ... Her sub-title might echo Neil MacGregor, but this reads more like a book by Oliver Sacks, with dashes of Roald Dahl' Spectator Book Description A captivating A-Z compendium of our fears and obsessions by the bestselling author of The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher About the Author Kate Summerscale is the author of the number one bestselling The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction 2008, winner of the Galaxy British Book of the Year Award, a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and adapted into a major ITV drama. Her debut, The Queen of Whale Cay, won a Somerset Maugham award and was shortlisted for The Whitbread Biography Award. The Wicked Boy, published in 2016, won the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime. Her latest book, The Haunting of Alma Fielding, was shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. She lives in north London.