A WATERSTONES BEST BOOK OF 2022: POPULAR SCIENCE
AN iNEWS BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2022
A TELEGRAPH BIG IDEAS BOOK 2022

How we interpret emotions and act on them has been heavily gendered, as far back as Ancient Greek and Roman times, and - despite improvements in societal equality - continues to be today.

In Hysterical, Dr Pragya Agarwal delves into history and science to determine the truth about our notions of innate differences between the male and female experience of emotions. She examines the impact this has on men and women - especially the role it has played in the subjugation of women throughout history - and imagines how a future where emotions are ungendered might look.

"In her latest fascinating book, Agarwal investigates the gendering of human emotions . . . The result is an impassioned and highly convincing book" - * Observer *

"Agarwal debunks well-worn myths in this fascinating account of gendered emotions" - * i *

"Are women really more emotional than men? Pragya Agarwal answer[s] precisely that question in almost all the ways it could be answered. Fun . . . Persuasive" - * The Times *

"Analytical and wide-ranging . . . Agarwal reaches back to the medieval era to show how entrenched gender ideologies are in our society" - * New Statesman *

"Fascinating and ambitious . . . Will resonate with many" - * Daily Telegraph *

"Enlightening . . . [Agarwal] makes her point clearly [and] is at her best when relating the impact of gendered emotion on her personal life (something that comes up time and time again as the mother of twin girls), and making insightful pop culture references" - * Independent *