The Geography of Madness
Penis Thieves, Voodoo Death, and the Search for the Meaning of the World's Strangest Syndromes
Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Human Geography, Anthropology, Travel, Adventure & Literary Travel
| Author: | Frank Bures | ISBN: | 9781612193731 |
| Publisher: | Melville House | Publication: | April 26, 2016 |
| Imprint: | Melville House | Language: | English |
| Author: | Frank Bures |
| ISBN: | 9781612193731 |
| Publisher: | Melville House |
| Publication: | April 26, 2016 |
| Imprint: | Melville House |
| Language: | English |
Why do some men become convinced—despite what doctors tell them—that their penises have, simply, disappeared. Why do people across the world become convinced that they are cursed to die on a particular date—and then do? Why do people in Malaysia suddenly “run amok”?
In The Geography of Madness, acclaimed magazine writer Frank Bures investigates these and other “culture-bound” syndromes, tracing each seemingly baffling phenomenon to its source. It’s a fascinating, and at times rollicking, adventure that takes the reader around the world and deep into the oddities of the human psyche. What Bures uncovers along the way is a poignant and stirring story of the persistence of belief, fear, and hope.
Why do some men become convinced—despite what doctors tell them—that their penises have, simply, disappeared. Why do people across the world become convinced that they are cursed to die on a particular date—and then do? Why do people in Malaysia suddenly “run amok”?
In The Geography of Madness, acclaimed magazine writer Frank Bures investigates these and other “culture-bound” syndromes, tracing each seemingly baffling phenomenon to its source. It’s a fascinating, and at times rollicking, adventure that takes the reader around the world and deep into the oddities of the human psyche. What Bures uncovers along the way is a poignant and stirring story of the persistence of belief, fear, and hope.
