A scientist delves into what disgusts us and why: “For a book riddled with rancid and revolting things, [it] is surprisingly difficult to put down.” —Times Literary Supplement
Every flu season, sneezing, coughing, and graphic throat-clearing become background noise in workplaces. And coworkers tend to move as far—and as quickly—away from the source of these bodily eruptions as possible. Instinctively, humans recoil from objects that they view as dirty and even struggle to overcome feelings of discomfort once the offending item has been cleaned. These reactions are universal, and although there are cultural and individual variations, by and large we are all disgusted by the same things.
In this book, Valerie Curtis builds a strong case for disgust as a “shadow emotion”—less familiar than love or sadness, it nevertheless affects our day-to-day lives. In disgust, biological and sociocultural factors meet in dynamic ways to shape human and animal behavior. Curtis traces the evolutionary role of disgust in disease prevention and hygiene, but also shows that it is much more than a biological mechanism. Human social norms, from good manners to moral behavior, are deeply rooted in our sense of disgust. The disgust reaction informs both our political opinions and our darkest tendencies, such as misogyny and racism. Through a deeper understanding of disgust, Curtis argues, we can take this ubiquitous human emotion and direct it towards useful ends, from combating prejudice to reducing disease.
“Curtis, one of the deepest thinkers and cleverest researchers on this part of human nature, turns revulsion into fascination.” —Steven Pinker
“Great fun.” —Toronto Star
