The Tyranny of the Normal: An Anthology

Literature and Medicine

by Carol C. Donley (Editor), Sheryl L. Buckley (Editor)

Most cultures ostracize people who do not fit within their norms. They pressure abnormal people to change their appearance, fix what bothers others, or stay out of sight -- a pressure Leslie Fiedler has named "The Tyranny of the Normal". This anthology examines the experiences of those who live outside social norms for attractiveness, size, and shape; it also explores the reactions of "normal" people to those who seem grotesque.

Genres: Disability

406 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1995

Reviews

[Lea]

I read this for a class by the same name that I took in college and which was taught by Buckley. It is a great collection of short stories ranging in scope from circus freaks to eating disorders.

[Nwad]

I picked this book up used somewhere, stuck mainly by its bold title, and smiled thinking how wonderfully surreal it would look in my office collection. No one ever said a word about it. LoL.

When I finally took it home and began reading, I was surprised when, after a few chapters of dated but thoughtful and mostly still relevant textbook style writing, it branched out into the long series of fiction pieces. I really enjoyed them though and, in retrospect, it makes total sense. (;