Margee Kerr

I had to skip the first few chapters on heights and roller-coasters because I could not handle it. So, needless to say, the writing is pretty evocative. It was so interesting to read about fear from a socialists perspective. Helps put into focus what is going on when we feel fear and what real fear is versus the more thrilling manufactured fear. There were some tough things to face in the book (the inhumanity of solitary confinement being a big one), but the overall tone of the book is a positive one.… (altro)

This was an enjoyable book. I was obviously mistaken in my belief that it would delve a lot deeper into the whys of fear.

Still, for all of that, this part memoir, part investigation into the author's limits when it came to fear, with some science to back up the body's natural (or unnatural) reactions was interesting. But really, it's also very much a travelogue of various scary places around the world, from Toronto's CN Tower Edge Walk to the Suicide Forest in Japan, and quite a few stops in between.

So, it was enjoyable, but I was really hoping for more of a deep dive into what made things scary. Yes, we got some physiological reasons for why roller coasters can be scary, etc, but dammit, I wanted the door thrown open on fear.

Like I said, though, I think this was more an expectation of my own, based on not looking hard enough at the book description first. Still worth the read, though.… (altro)

Comprehensive Look At Pain. This book is a seemingly comprehensive look at pain, what it is, how humans handle it, and why it is in at least some cases necessary for our development. What it is *not* is well documented, having only a scant few page "selected works" section to document its various claims - far short of the more routine 25% ish bibliography section of many science books. It is also *not* a biological-exclusive look at the issue, instead covering all aspects from the biological to the psychological to at times even the metaphysical. Still, for anyone interested in the subject it is a worthy read, and a very approachable read to boot. Very much recommended.… (altro)

Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear is an interesting read full of half experiences by author Margee Kerr as she does research on the issue of fear, and half sociological data/research on the issues of fear. It is the perfect mix of personal and statistical ideas, yet Kerr gets to really exciting parts of her experiences and switches over to the more science driven facts, that although give insight into what she is talking about, at times goes a little long. This is the perfect book to read in order to understand how research can play a part in everyday life, such as Kerr’s use to make improvements in the Haunted House she works with. Overall, this was a great book to win a free copy of from a Goodreads Contest, and is highly recommended especially with the Haunted House season coming up.… (altro)