Lutz, Tom. Crying: The Natural and Cultural History of Tears. New York: Norton, 1999.

Grinnell library catalog page

“Our best understanding of tears come not from the medical and psychological sciences,” writes Lutz in the introduction to his book, “but from innumerable poetic, fictional, dramatic, and cinematic representations of the human proclivity to weep” (19). He goes on to hint toward the still remaining innumerable analytic questions, and states that “the best we can do is to translate tears into a variety of languages--historical, physiological, psychological, sociological, anthropological, literary, and philosophical” (25). The book’s seven chapters follow these distinctions. As a result, each individual chapter covers a substantial period of time as well as a sweeping considerable geographical area. Though consistently non-linear, the book has a detailed index which makes guided reading or research less cumbersome. A substantial reference list is also helpful. The book is engaging and well-written as well as well-informed.

Entered by Elisa on 27 July 2004 at 3:11 PM.