Scared Stiff: Everything You Need to Know About 50 Famous Phobias

Phobias—we’ve all heard of them. Some of us dreaded them while others procrastinated about them, and some even laughed at them. However, when was the last time you reflected upon them? Scared Stiff, by Sara Latta, is a delightful glimpse at a common malady that affects many people for varied reasons.

The volume is more like an encyclopedic reference work rather than a book to simply read. The book provides a little history of each phobia. The table of contents simply lists the fifty phobias in alphabetical order. The appendix provides phobia remedies, as well as pertinent information for each fear. In addition, the book provides pages of notes plus a comprehensive index.

I must admit that the book was a delightful read and taught me much about the nature of phobias. While the book won’t soon win any literary contests, it does yield valuable information. It is definitely entertaining and quite useful as a reference. The reader of Scared Stiff will experience hours of insightful enlightenment. Put it on your summer reading list.