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Landscapes of fear
To be human is to experience fear, but what is it exactly that makes us fearful? Here is one geographer's striking exploration of our landscapes of fear as they change throughout history. Yi-fu tuan investigates landscapes of the natural environment which are threatening, and landscapes filled with the dark images of the mind; fears of drought, flood, famine, and disease, shared by all members of a community, and fears of the particular ghosts which haunt the individual imagination.
In this lucidly written ground-breaking survey, Professor Tuan delves into many cultures and reaches back into our prehistory to discovery what is universal and what is particular in our inheritance of fear. Starting with fear in animals, he raises and explores a variety of questions. What is specifically human about fear? To what extent are we born with certain fears? Is there or has there ever been a 'fearless' society?
Professor Tuan examines the specific forms fear takes in the mind of the child, among hunters and agriculturalists, inside the walls of a medieval Chinese city, among Navaho Indians and American immigrants. He explores the ways in which authorities create landscapes of terror to instill fear in their own populations; and he proves the most basic of all contradictions between the need for human security and the fear of human nature.
In this lucidly written ground-breaking survey, Professor Tuan delves into many cultures and reaches back into our prehistory to discovery what is universal and what is particular in our inheritance of fear. Starting with fear in animals, he raises and explores a variety of questions. What is specifically human about fear? To what extent are we born with certain fears? Is there or has there ever been a 'fearless' society?
Professor Tuan examines the specific forms fear takes in the mind of the child, among hunters and agriculturalists, inside the walls of a medieval Chinese city, among Navaho Indians and American immigrants. He explores the ways in which authorities create landscapes of terror to instill fear in their own populations; and he proves the most basic of all contradictions between the need for human security and the fear of human nature.
262 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
30 people are currently reading
340 people want to read
About the author
Yi-Fu Tuan
58?books119?followersFu Tuan (Traditional Chinese: 段義孚, born 5 December 1930) is a Chinese-U.S. geographer.
Tuan was born in 1930 in Tientsin, China. He was the son of a rich oligarch and was part of the top class in the Republic of China. Tuan attended University College, London, but graduated from the University of Oxford with a B.A. and M.A. in 1951 and 1955 respectively. From there he went to California to continue his geographic education. He received his Ph.D. in 1957 from the University of California, Berkeley.
Tuan was born in 1930 in Tientsin, China. He was the son of a rich oligarch and was part of the top class in the Republic of China. Tuan attended University College, London, but graduated from the University of Oxford with a B.A. and M.A. in 1951 and 1955 respectively. From there he went to California to continue his geographic education. He received his Ph.D. in 1957 from the University of California, Berkeley.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 1, 2011
I enjoyed reading this book though I really didn't agree with everything the author claimed.
He occasionally made some pretty generalised claims as to the intentions or motivations of various peoples or societies throughout history, without backing much of it up.
The book is really interesting and often very informative, shining light on communities and beliefs I never knew existed, though I think that any reader would benefit from bearing in mind that this is a reasonably dated approach to the subject of fear in the history of human life.
I feel that it’s commendable because there aren't heaps of books out there attempting to do what Yi-Fu Tuan has done. And by all means read it but do so with a grain of salt.
He occasionally made some pretty generalised claims as to the intentions or motivations of various peoples or societies throughout history, without backing much of it up.
The book is really interesting and often very informative, shining light on communities and beliefs I never knew existed, though I think that any reader would benefit from bearing in mind that this is a reasonably dated approach to the subject of fear in the history of human life.
I feel that it’s commendable because there aren't heaps of books out there attempting to do what Yi-Fu Tuan has done. And by all means read it but do so with a grain of salt.
March 22, 2025
An erudite historical study of fear in human society, and the different things humans have been afraid of, from witches and ghosts to criminals and foreigners. There are times when the erudition and sheer volume of comparative examples rather swamps the analysis, but the combination of history, anthropology, sociology and psychology remains engrossing.
January 13, 2025
Paisagens do Medo, de Yi-Fu Tuan, é uma obra interessante que nos convida a explorar as rela??es humanas com o espa?o ao longo da história, sob o prisma do medo. Após a leitura integral é possível perceber como nossa percep??o do mundo é moldada por experiências culturais, sociais e psicológicas - do passado a contemporaneidade - revelando um intrincado jogo entre a geografia e as emo??es. Tuan conduz o leitor com maestria, equilibrando pesquisa histórica e reflex?es filosóficas que instigam nossa imagina??o. Fiquei especialmente impressionado com a maneira como ele desvela o impacto do medo nas paisagens que habitamos, transformamos, mas nem sempre as percebemos em sua completude. ? uma leitura envolvente, repleta de insights, que recomendo tanto para estudiosos da geografia quanto para aqueles que desejam compreender mais profundamente o vínculo humano com o espa?o. Um livro que amplia horizontes e instiga reflex?es.
April 26, 2020
This book is an extraordinarily beautiful literary journey that explores the essence of fear. I’m enamoured with the way the author eloquently narrates the progress of humanity based on what humans fear, providing historical context. It is utter joy to read the fruits of brilliant minds, especially when they are as well-written as The Landscapes of Fear.
July 11, 2021
Damn, my review was deleted already five times so I am getting frustrated to rewrite this. but okay. ? I really recommend this book for it's unusual take on the topic. Geography is a great disciple to look at things with a fresh eye. The author is an excellent researcher! It seems that he has a deep understanding of how to map fears in the context of individual's life stages, society and physical locations of place.
A very lucid book that invites to stop romanticizing the history as times of simple living and that nature is just fragile beauty.
A very lucid book that invites to stop romanticizing the history as times of simple living and that nature is just fragile beauty.
March 9, 2023
A very interesting read. I feel like I want to go back and read it again but take notes as there are lots of interesting little facts in there. Overal the structure of the book is clear and well ordered although I feel like perhaps he was stretching for topics towards the end.
I really appreciated the use of world examples throughout, although again the book suffers a little from Eurocentrism towards the end, but a very good effort was made to include a wide range of cultures which was very interesting.
Four stars only because it is a little dated in places and I wouldn't necessarily jump to read it again.
I really appreciated the use of world examples throughout, although again the book suffers a little from Eurocentrism towards the end, but a very good effort was made to include a wide range of cultures which was very interesting.
Four stars only because it is a little dated in places and I wouldn't necessarily jump to read it again.
September 15, 2022
What a strange but delightful book. Part history, part anthropology, and part psychology, it takes the reader on a journey exploring one of the most universal human experiences: dread. The examples are detailed and thorough without being salacious.
September 25, 2015
原書名「Landscapes of Fear（恐懼的景觀）」，主要是以人文地理學的觀點闡述環境對人類與生俱來的危機恐懼感所產生的影響。恐懼感在某種程度上，是人類得以合作團結、增進情感的重要情緒，人類恐懼後代無法延續，所以男女成對合力撫養，恐懼非我族類，所以血緣聚居，人類社會安全感越強，人際關係反而就越容易淡泊。所以我們說，人類征服了環境，有時也失去了什麼。從人文地理學的觀點來看，書中沒有探討到中國人的風水迷信，我頗感失望。
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February 20, 2014Not rating because I mainly skimmed it.
May 26, 2018
Read this and Topophilia and i liked them, they opened my views to geography. I also later read escapism and loved that as well, great ideas about man and the environment, space and place, temporality etc.
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