Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear

Scream: Chilling Adventures in the Science of Fear by Margee Kerr Summary: No one studies fear quite like Margee Kerr. A sociologist who moonlights at one of America’s scariest and most popular haunted houses, she has seen grown men laugh, cry, and push their loved ones aside as they run away in terror. And she’s kept careful notes on what triggers these responses and why. Fear is a universal human experience, but do we really understand it? If we’re so terrified of monsters and serial killers, why do we flock to the theaters to see them? Why do people avoid thinking about death, but jump out of planes and swim with sharks? For Kerr, there was only one way to find out. In this eye-opening, adventurous book, she takes us on a tour of the world’s scariest experiences: into an abandoned prison long after dark, hanging by a cord from the highest tower in the Western hemisphere, and deep into Japan’s mysterious “suicide forest.” She even goes on a ghost hunt with a group of paranormal adventurers. Along the way, Kerr shows us the surprising science from the newest studies of fear—what it means, how it works, and what it can do for us. Full of entertaining science and the thrills of a good ghost story, this book will make you think, laugh—and scream. Angie’s comments: Scream is an interesting look at fear, mostly through the experiences of Margee Kerr. It is a very personal look at fear, especially the last few chapters, when it veers into memoir territory. There is plenty of science, especially at the beginning, that is explained simply but thoroughly. The book is part scientific, part memoir, and part essay. And I winced when she mentioned the Bermuda Triangle. As a scientist, she should know that the triangle has been debunked many times.  Recommended for readers who want a more personal take on fear.  Request this item