PHOBIAS: Fighting the Fear

Combining a scholarly approach with a self-help writing style, freelance science and medical journalist Saul attempts to explain the roots of phobias. Beginning with a historical overview on how such obsessional fears were once understood, she describes theories that now sound amusing, if not downright odd—fear of spiders, for example, was thought to be caused by excess fluids in the body. Mainly, however, the book seems meant to soothe those who either suffer from phobias or have someone close to them who does. Although Saul draws on academic research for background, her greatest strength is in describing the thoughts of those who have phobias and explaining why, to put it bluntly, they're not crazy. Real-life examples, such as a description of a flight taken by a group of people afraid of flying, give the kind of uplifting tone usually found in self-help volumes, but without the checklists and straightforward declarations that are common in the genre. At times, Saul's writing may be too simple and plainly crafted for readers who yearn for an in-depth exploration into phobias. Sentences like, "Genes are the template from which we develop," or "The more we understand why people become vulnerable to anxiety disorders, the better the advice will become," are frequent, but are often followed by more rigorous thought. This mix of generality, case studies and historical background make Saul's work an excellent primer for those who suffer from phobias or know someone who does. (Dec.)