Crying

The Natural and Cultural History of Tears

By: Tom Lutz

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Paperback | 1 January 2001 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
356 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
21.33 x 14.22 x 2.28

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This provocative and indispensable book provides a natural and cultural history of our most mysterious and complex human function: our ability to shed tears. All humans, and only humans, weep. Tears are sometimes considered pleasurable, sometimes dangerous, mysterious, deceptive, or profound. Tears of happiness, tears of joy, the proud tears of a parent, tears of mourning, tears of laughter, tears of defeat --what do they have in common? Why is it that at times of victory, success, love, reunion, and celebration the outward signs of our emotions are identical to those of our most profound experiences of loss? Why We Cry looks at the many different ways people have understood weeping, from the earliest known representation of tears in the fourteenth century B.C. through the latest neurophysiological research. Despite our most common romantic assumptions, what this brilliant book tells us is that tears are never pure, they are never simple.

Industry Reviews

We have a fascination with and inability to understand the unique phenomenon of tears. Our interest is not new; in the earliest written account of crying, from 14th-century BC Canaan, a goddess weeps herself into a state of intoxication at the death of her brother. Lutz traces crying throughout history, in recorded events, literature and the media. The body produces three types of tears, with different compositions, but only one of them is shed to communicate emotion. As well as a detailed account of the anatomical features related to crying, Lutz reviews scholarly theories as to its origins and purpose, though the development of psychology and physiology to current investigations into how the brain works. In a chapter concerning the rituals of mourning, Lutz compares some of the extreme, though often formalized, gestures expressing grief in different societies with modern, Western restraint which can lead to denial and guilt. He also looks at weeping in fiction, referring to writers such as Lawrence and Hemingway and films such as Dangerous Liaisons. Crying is an unusual subject for popular non-fiction but this book, which contains several black and white illustrations within the text, is comprehensive and enthralling. We respect tears as an expression of sincerity but often find it intensely embarrassing to see someone cry. We admire people who exercise emotional restraint but because we like to cry we flock to films like Titanic. Weeping is involuntary but actors can learn to shed genuine tears. Lutz does not tell us why we cry but he offers fascinating insights into this aspect of human behaviour. (Kirkus UK)

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Psychology Psychology: Emotions Physiological & Neuro-Psychology, Biopsychology Society & Culture Cultural Studies The Self, Ego, Identity, Personality

List of Illustrations	p. 13
Introduction: Why Tears?	p. 17
Tears of Pleasure, Tears of Grace, and the Weeping Hero	p. 31
The Crying Body	p. 67
The Psychology of Tears	p. 115
Men and Women. Infants and Children	p. 151
Cultures of Mourning	p. 193
Tears of Revenge, Seduction, Escape, and Empathy	p. 225
Fictional Tears	p. 251
Conclusion: The End of Tears	p. 287
References	p. 305
Index	p. 339
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.

Crying

The Natural and Cultural History of Tears

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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