Nostalgia: A History of a Dangerous Emotion

by Agnes Arnold-Forster

A dazzling history of a dangerous emotion, by acclaimed historian Agnes Arnold-Forster.

In Nostalgia: A History of a Dangerous Emotion, Agnes Arnold-Forster blends neuroscience and psychology with the history of medicine and emotions to explore the evolution of nostalgia from its first identification in seventeenth-century Switzerland (when it was held to be an illness that could, quite literally, kill you) to the present day (when it is co-opted by advertising agencies and politicians alike to sell us goods and policies).

Nostalgia is a social and political emotion, vulnerable to misuse, and one that reflects the anxieties of the age. It is one of the many ways we communicate a desire for the past, dissatisfaction with the present and our visions for the future. Arnold-Forster’s fascinating history of this complex, slippery emotion is a lens through which to consider the changing pace of society, our collective feelings of regret, dislocation and belonging, the conditions of modern and contemporary work, and the politics of fear and anxiety. It is also a clear-eyed analysis of what we are doing now, how we feel about it and what we might want to change about the world we live in.

'Absorbing' - The Guardian
'Illuminating' - Vogue
'Fascinating' - Pandora Sykes
‘Beautifully compact, wide-ranging and enjoyable’ - TLS

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Psychology, Audiobook, Essays, Sociology, Science

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2024

Reviews

[Sarah ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgia: A History of a Dangerous Emotion- Agnes Arnold-Forster


يستكشف الكتاب تطور النوستالجيا من مرض قاتل تقريبًا عند التعرف عليه لأول مرة في سويسرا في القرن السابع عشر، إلى يومنا هذا حيث تستغله وكالات الإعلان والسياسيون لبيع السلع والسياسات للجماهير.

كتاب جيّد ويستعرض في فصول طويلة ومقالية ومدعمة بأبحاث ودراسات تحول هذه العاطفة من شكلها الأكثر مأساوية إلى مجرد عاطفة استهلاكية لدغدغة مشاعر الجماهير العريضة.

[Rainbow Goth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. However, there were times when it became overly repetitive, which took away some of the excitement. Although a few aspects of the book were really fascinating, it was written in a dry manner, making it seem more like an academic paper. This isn't a negative aspect of the book, but it wasn't what I was expecting when I picked it up to read.

One of the most intriguing things I learned from the book was about how nostalgia was considered an illness that had the potential to kill people in the past. I had never heard of such a concept before, and it certainly left me with a lot to think about and because it was well referenced through I can read more about this as and when I wish.

What I especially appreciated about the book was its well-balanced approach. For instance, in the chapter that talked about politics, the author was able to demonstrate how both sides of the political spectrum use nostalgia as a way of attracting voters. This made the book all the more engaging and thought-provoking.


Overall, worth a read although it didn't captive me in the way I thought it would, which is probably down more to my expectations than the author's writing.

*Thank you to the author, publishers and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.*

[Vlad · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)

[Frau Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Gefühlsgeschichte“ ist ein relativ neuer Zweig der Geschichtswissenschaft, der sich erst sehr allmählich etabliert: Zu einem wahrhaft historischen Bewusstsein gehört auch die Einsicht, dass Menschen früher sich nicht nur anders kleideten, sprachen, urteilten, sondern auch dass sie anders fühlten. Die „Nostalgie“ ist allerdings hier mehr als ein Beispiel angewandter Gefühlsgeschichte. Arnold-Forster stellt die Frage, was Ausformung und Stellenwert dieses Gefühls über die Gesellschaft aussagen, insbesondere wo die Gefahren dieses per definitionem verklärenden und verklärten Gefühls liegen. Eine klare begriffliche Abgrenzung zum „Heimweh“, der der ursprünglichen Bedeutung von „Nostalgie“ näherkommt als das heutige Verständnis des Begriffes, könnte etwas schärfer erfolgen. Die Autorin deutet an, dass sich Heimweh an einen konkreten Ort richtet, zu dem man zurückzukehren verlangt, während die Nostalgie zunehmend einen Ort ersehnt, den es nicht mehr gibt (wenn etwa jüdische Exilanten sich in den 40er Jahren nach Deutschland zurücksehnen, meinen sie dabei natürlich nicht den zeitgenössischen NS-Staat, sondern Weimarer Republik oder Kaiserreich). Damit wird das Sehnen in die Vergangenheit projiziert und den Gegenstand dieser Sehnsucht mehr und mehr verklärt. Die Tatsache, dass sie hier den Nostalgie-Begriff sehr weit fasst, Nostalgie ist für sie nicht nur die Sehnsucht nach einer selbst erlebten Zeit, sondern richtet sich auch auf eine idealisierte historische Vergangenheit wie wir sie auf Mittelalter-Märkten oder LARP-Events erleben, trägt nicht unbedingt zur Stringenz bei, das Buch läuft stellenweise Gefahr, in Richtung Sammelsurium verschiedener Ausprägungen von Nostalgie abzugleiten, doch indem sie das Phänomen dann doch immer wieder analytisch fasst, kriegt sie meistens die Kurve. Dabei bleibt der Fokus zumeist ein kritischer, indem die Autorin einerseits aufzeigt, wie die Marktwirtschaft Kapital aus dem Gefühl schlägt (etwa durch Verklärung der „guten alten Zeit“ als Werbestrategie oder des permanenten Recyclings popkultureller Erzeugnisse in Form von „Remakes“ und „Reboots“), aber auch wie es v.a. von rechten Parteien und Bewegungen wie MAGA beackert wird und damit den politischen Fortschritt hemmt. Abschließend betont sie, unter Rückgriff auf die Psychologie und Neurowissenschaft, die positiven Auswirkungen der Nostalgie. Dies wirkt etwas nachgeschoben und vermittelt nicht den Eindruck, dass es sich hier um eine ausgewogene Darstellung handelt. Die Fragestellung von vornherein etwas offener zu formulieren und damit der Ambivalenz des Gefühls mehr Raum zu geben, hätte der Darstellung sicher gutgetan, insgesamt aber habe ich viel gelernt und bin für den kritischen Blick dankbar.

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nostalgia: A History of a Dangerous Emotion" by Agnes Arnold-Forster is a well-researched investigation into one of the most complex emotions. Starting with ‘homesickness’, she delves into the historical, cultural, and psychological dimensions of nostalgia. Arnold-Forster offers a nuanced analysis of common mi and sheds light on its meaning throughout history.

The book's strengths lie in its interdisciplinary approach, drawing from psychology, literature, and sociology to provide a richer view of nostalgia. Through research and engaging storytelling, Arnold-Forster traces the history of nostalgia from its origins as a medical diagnosis to its contemporary appearance in popular culture.

What sets "Nostalgia" apart is its recognition of the dual personality of nostalgia – both comforting and destabilising, equally personal and collective. Arnold-Forster navigates these complexities, addressing how nostalgia can improve our being with a sense of connection while also trapping us in utopian version of the past.

The book is rich in insights and analysis, which some readers may find too academic. A more structured story could enhance the book's accessibility for a wider audience.

Overall, "Nostalgia " is an interesting and educational read that offers fascinating insights into the human experience.

[bowiesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agnes Arnold-Forster writes a detailed, informative and accessible history about nostalgia. From its origins to the psychology of how it’s ‘treated’ and the cultural impact that nostalgia can have on society.

Each chapter takes a deep dive into how nostalgia can influence individuals as well as the collective, clearly outlined and incredibly well researched. It’s academic in a sense - with Arnold-Forster’s PhD in history being evident - however, it’s easy to follow along. There is a lot of skill in taking a topic that is often misunderstood or made more convoluted and making it digestible for the average reader.

Nostalgia is an insight into our brains, emotions and the culture landscape we live in. The books spans from the early days of nostalgia being a diagnosis for Swiss soldiers missing home, to the current, more modern use of nostalgia being used to sell products and provide a sense of escapism in an overwhelming political climate. After all, nostalgia is not what is used to be.

[kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

bought this at Daunt Books in Marylebone and read the first 80% of it on train journeys in Ireland/Scotland so ironically picking it up again to finish it this week made me very nostalgic! a great read!!

[Shane Rajiv · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doesn’t have anything insightful to say. Seems like a collection of everywhere the author saw nostalgia mentioned, like a thesis, but without the original ideas or depth.

[Pádraig Mac Oscair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging, appealingly light archaeology of the term "nostalgia" and its different connotations over time from its initial diagnosis as a form of mental illness (which surely applies to anyone who misses the 00s that was old enough to remember them, ghastly decade) to present-day incarnation as a driving factor in politics both left and right as well the dominant element in popular culture. I can't but shake my suspicion that those who initially described it as a form of madness were on to something, be it in the misanthropy that animates disaster nationalism and the politics of resentment, the clinging to phyrric victories in years gone by that comprises much leftist counternarratives or the main cultural event of 2025 being a cashgrab Oasis reunion utterly without creative merit that saw most people conveniently forget they'd trundled on in irrelevance for at least a decade before breaking up in 2009.

[trestitia ⵊⵊⵊ deamorski]

şurdan geldim

[melb · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 👍

[Janine W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical and sociological overview of the concept of nostalgia. Read it as a part for my research for an essay. Reading it, inspired some new ideas for the essay.

[✶ nu · Rating 3 out of 5]

alexa play “ancient dreams in modern land” by marina

[Dorin · Rating 3 out of 5]

“While nostalgia might be bittersweet, it is usually more sweet than bitter.” (p. 14)

Was very excited about this one, but the excitement died down quickly once I started reading.

Agnes Arnold-Forster begins her biography of nostalgia by grounding the reader in the clinical origins of the term. Coined in 1688 by Swiss physician Johannes Hofer, nostalgia was initially a physical illness, a form of extreme homesickness that could literally kill soldiers and sailors. This disease was believed to be caused by everything from atmospheric pressure to the repetitive clanging of bells. The meaning transitioned then from a biological sense to a psychological state. The author tracks how the meaning of nostalgia shifted into the realm of the mind, rather than just the body. As the world sped up (thanks to the Industrial Revolution), the longing for home became a longing for a time rather than a place. So once nostalgia became temporal, not spatial, it became susceptible to be exploited.

She also dwells a lot on different forms of nostalgia today. Many pages on the National Health Service (NHS), explaining how both the public and politicians are deeply nostalgic for the early days of the NHS. She also spends time looking at people who dress up as Vikings or Civil War soldiers (reenactors). In her view, this is a way to escape the present and these are people nostalgic for a specific time in history. Agree on the first part, not necessarily the second. The idea that reenactors are nostalgic could be stretched to the point of saying that historians are nostalgic, and that is simply false in most cases.

“Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.” (p. 117)

Arnold-Forster acknowledges the standard criticism towards nostalgia, that it is often linked to right-wing politics and slogans like “Make America Great Again.” However, she disagrees with the idea that looking back at the past is always a conservative trait. She suggests that nostalgia can be a tool for progress. By remembering a time that people perceive as being better, people can understand how to actually make the future better. I don’t think I agree.

“What the past was actually like makes no difference to whether or not, or how intensely, the people of the present feel nostalgic. Instead, current circumstances prompt people to find nostalgic echoes in the experiences of their youth. It is the present that is the trigger. ” (p. 122)

Why do I say that excitement died very quickly? Because nostalgia as a political tool (instead of just a history of nostalgia) would have made for a far more interesting read. Instead, the chapter on political nostalgia is short and unsatisfactory. There are a lot of studies on the subject. A lot of them using the Batcho Nostalgia Inventory, which the author mentions but only briefly. There is an excellent book differentiating reflective and restorative nostalgia by Svetlana Boym, only mentioned on the last page. Disappointing. Nostalgia is used politically more than ever. It shapes our perceptions, our politics, the way we view the world. More focus should be on how our own nostalgia is used against us.

“Throughout the twentieth century, most people thought that nostalgia was a fundamentally small-c conservative emotion, one indulged in by those who would rather avoid engaging with the sometimes messy modern world. It is, as one sociologist phrased it, ‘the latest opiate of the people’.” (p. 168)

“According to Kristen Ghodsee, a historian of post-communist Eastern Europe, this [communist] nostalgia is a product of the dramatic changes to daily life experienced by people living in the former USSR. While they might not want to revive twentieth-century totalitarianism, there is a desire for a collectively imagined, more egalitarian past. She argues that nostalgia for communism is a ‘common language’, one used by ordinary men and women to express disappointment with the shortcomings of parliamentary democracy and neoliberal capitalism today.” (p. 178)

[Katja Härlein · Rating 2 out of 5]

Während der eher nacherzählende, historische Anfang (Nostalgie als Krankheit, Nostalgie als ortsbezogenes "Heimweh", rassistische und koloniale Perspektiven) noch gut gelingt, wird es ab Mitte des Buchs leider doch sehr schwammig. Es fehlt schlicht eine klare Begriffsdefinition.

So scheint es irgendwann so, als wäre einfach alles Nostalgie für die Autorin und andere Sichtweisen sind gar nicht denkbar. Fantasy-Konsum ist Mittelalter-Nostalgie und das Zurücksehnen eines britischen Arztes nach einer Zeit mit mehr Autonomie und weniger Bürokratie ist Unternehmens-Nostalgie. Die Möglichkeit, dass das britische Gesundheitssystem einfach wirklich Kapitalismus/Restrukturierung/Brexit zum Opfer fällt und schlechter wird, wird gar nicht erst in Betracht gezogen. Und natürlich schaut jeder "And Just Like That" wegen "Sex and the City"-Nostalgie, nicht weil bekannte Geschichten einfacher konsumierbar sind, wir nebenher problemlos am Handy sein können und das Überangebot der Streaming-Anbieter uns überfordert.

Zusätzliches Manko: Viele der vielen zitierten Studien kommen mit sehr wenigen Teilnehmer aus oder zeichnen sich durch eine intransparente Methodik aus. Letzteres wird sogar kurz angesprochen, aber das hält die Autorin nicht davon ab, die Studie doch in ihre Argumentation einzubetten. Naja.

NACHTRAG: Je länger ich drüber nachdenke, desto schwieriger finde ich das Beispiel des britischen Arztes. Hier wird Systemkritik mit einem "Naja, der ist halt bisschen nostalgisch unterwegs" abgetan.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Nostalgia is one of the many psychological resources that we deploy to defend ourselves against the threat of change."

Though I think the subtitle is a little deceptive for the nuance and complexity Arnold-Forster presents this was a very provocative read. Her introduction is particularly interesting, beginning in delineating the trajectory of its history as an emotion, a political and commercial tool and even, in the nineteenth-century, a sickness. I loved how she pointed out that, depending on the ethnicity of the sufferer of nostalgia, it was either looked down upon as emotional fragility or praised for its spirit of nationalism and patriotism. I think Arnold-Forster is especially sharp in identifying the contemporary prevalence of the so-called "politics of nostalgia" and how dangerous it can be to get swallowed up by a version of the past that not only distracts us from the present but is also often not accurate.

I will say that the second half of the book was more than a little bit repetitive and that slowed me down in reading this. It is still an important read and was especially useful for research I am conducting.

[Lauren Pike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is fascinating and has reminded me how good it feels to read non-fiction sometimes. It steers you through a potted history of key social progress moments over the last few hundred years, and the emotional impact of change. All massively interesting stuff. That said, I lost my way with it partway through and it’s taken me six months, so perhaps something to be said about the pacing being a little off. Overall, v good!

[Mia Rupani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting! A bit repetitive

[James Chesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cracking book tracks this complex and dangerous emotion from its first identification in seventeenth-century Switzerland, chronologically following up to the present day. Arnold-Forster has that wonderful ability of presenting complex ideas in a very palatable and readable way, and I loved the blend of social anthropology and history of medicine.

[KIRIAKI(Dominica Amat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Βαθμολογία 3.5/5

Πρώτη δημοσίευση εδώ: https://www.dominicamat.gr/2026/05/bl...

Μία βιβλιοπρόταση για όσους/ες νοσταλγούν...

Νοσταλγία: λέξη σύνθετη που προέρχεται από το ''πάντρεμα'' των λέξεων νόστος + άλγος (πόνος). Και μεταξύ μας, δε χρειάζεται κάποιος/α να είναι/δηλώνει μόνο νοσταλγός του ροκ 'ν' ρολ (αυτό το λέω χαριτολογώντας!), αλλά και λοιπών πραγμάτων ώστε να αφήνει στο θυμικό και στην όποια σκέψη του νου του/της να ''ξεστρατίσει'' και να ''χαθεί'' μέσα στη μνήμη των όποιων αναμνήσεων που του/της ''γεννούν'' αυτό το γλυκόπικρο -συνήθως- συναίσθημα, μιας και η νοσταλγία αφορά πράγματα είτε του πιο μακρινού είτε του πιο κοντινού παρελθόντος που έχουν, όμως, περάσει ανεπιστρεπτί και είναι -κάποιες φορές- φύσει αδύνατον να ''αναβιώσουν''...

Ευτυχώς για μένα, δηλώνω ακόμη πλήρως σώφρων (δεν ξέρω να πω για το μέλλον!) και γνωρίζω ότι δεν είμαι μία φωτεινή παντογνώστρια, ώστε να μπορώ να εκφέρω άποψη επί παντός επιστητού. Όταν, λοιπόν, η καλή τύχη μού φέρνει στα χέρια μου βιβλία που έχουν μία βάση επιστημονική υπό τη μορφή μελετών, δοκιμίων, κλπ., έχω το νοείν να τα προσεγγίζω όσο πιο προσεκτικά γίνεται και με σεβαστική τάση τόσο προς εκείνα όσο και προς τον/την εκάστοτε γράφοντα/ουσα. Δεν προσπαθώ να ''συγκριθώ'' μαζί τους ούτε και να τα κρίνω έτσι αγόγγυστα και χωρίς περαιτέρω βάση και διερεύνηση. Σήμερα, λοιπόν, σας παρουσιάζω μία βιβλιοπρόταση για όσους/ες νοσταλγούν. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, διάβασα και σας μιλώ για το βιβλίο, με τίτλο ''Νοσταλγία (Η ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ ΕΝΟΣ ΕΠΙΚΙΝΔΥΝΟΥ ΣΥΝΑΙΣΘΗΜΑΤΟΣ)" (Nostalgia: A History of a Dangerous Emotion), το οποίο υπογράφει η Δρ. και συγγραφέας Agnes Arnold-Forster, το οποίο κυκλοφορεί στη χώρα μας από τις εκδόσεις Συρτάρι, σε μετάφραση από τον κύριο Πάνο Αντωνόπουλο.

Κι αφού αναφέρθηκα στον πρόλογό μου -έστω και λακωνικά- στον βασικό τίτλο του βιβλίου, θα μου επιτρέψετε να σταθώ λίγο και στον ενδιαφέροντα υπότιτλό του ''Η ιστορία ενός επικίνδυνου συναισθήματος''. Κι αναρωτιέμαι. Είναι, άραγε, η νοσταλγία ένα συναίσθημα που μπορεί να εγκυμονεί κινδύνους για όποιον/α το βιώνει; Κι αν ναι, υπό ποια έννοια; Η συγγραφέας επιλέγει να έχει ως αφετηρία αυτά τα δύο ερωτήματα και μέσα από την ενδελεχή της έρευνα και προσωπική εμπειρία να απαντήσει όχι μόνο σε αυτά, αλλά και στα όσα επιπλέον θα προκύψουν στην πορεία.

''Στο βιβλίο Νοσταλγία, η ιστορικός Agnes Arnold-Forster συνδυάζει τη νευροεπιστήμη και την ψυχολογία με την ιστορία της ιατρικής και των συναισθημάτων, ιχνηλατώντας την εξέλιξη της νοσταλγίας από την Ελβετία του 17ου αιώνα –όταν θεωρούνταν ασθένεια που μπορούσε κυριολεκτικά να οδηγήσει στον θάνατο– έως σήμερα, όπου εντάσσεται σε στρατηγικές εμπορικής και πολιτικής αξιοποίησης. Πρόκειται για μια συναρπαστική και διεισδυτική μελέτη ενός κοινωνικού και πολιτικού συναισθήματος, ευάλωτου σε καταχρήσεις και άρρηκτα συνδεδεμένου με τα άγχη κάθε εποχής. Ταυτόχρονα, προσφέρει μια νηφάλια αποτίμηση του τι κάνουμε σήμερα, πώς νιώθουμε γι’ αυτό και τι ενδεχομένως θα επιθυμούσαμε να αλλάξουμε στον κόσμο όπου ζούμε." (Από το οπισθόφυλλο)

Η δημιουργός καταπιάνεται με το συναίσθημα της νοσταλγίας, το πώς και γιατί παρουσιάζεται, καθώς και τις μορφές που μπορεί αυτό να λάβει στην καθημερινή ζωή των προσώπων. Για να το πετύχει αυτό, προβαίνει σε έναν εύστοχο συνδυασμό πραγματικών παραδειγμάτων παρμένων από την αληθινή ζωή, της πλούσιας βιογραφίας (ποικίλων επιστημονικών κλάδων), όπως και τις σκέψεις σημαντικών προσώπων γύρω από τη θέση τους προς το συναίσθημα της νοσταλγίας και εντέλει, της βίωσής του. Ναι, το κάνει μέσω μίας προσέγγισης/διάστασης στα πλαίσια της φιλοσοφικής, επιστημονικής και ψυχολογικής έννοιας και με έναν λόγο κατά βάσει οικείο, κατανοητό και απηλλαγμένο από βαρύγδουπες εκφράσεις και δυσνόητους όρους. Κι όλο αυτό εξετάζοντας το εν λόγω συναίσθημα που καταπιάνεται με ένα ευρύτερο παγκόσμιο επίπεδο σε ένα γενικότερο κοινωνικό και πολιτικό γίγνεσθαι της κάθε εποχής και των όποιων δεδομένων αυτής.

Διάβασα με πολύ ενδιαφέρον και προσοχή κάθε στάδιο της σκέψης της δημιουργού που αποτυπώνεται σε ξεχωριστά μέρη μέσα στις σελίδες του βιβλίου. Δε σας το κρύβω ότι όχι μόνο αντίκρυσα μία πιο διευρυμένη και ''ανοικτή'' οπτική του συναισθήματος της νοσταλγίας, μα και μερικά εύστοχα και αρκετά ιντριγκαδόρικα για τη σκέψη μου ερωτήματα γεννήθηκαν στο μυαλό μου. Ερωτήματα του τύπου το αν η νοσταλγία, ως συναίσθημα, μπορεί να γίνει προϊόν προς εμπόριο, το αν θεωρείται ένα θελκτικό και πετυχημένο ''κίνητρο'' με απώτερη εκμετάλλευση από τρίτα άτομα, αν μπορεί να ποινικοποιηθεί και εντέλει, αν χρησιμοποιείται ως ένα εναλλακτικό κι έμμεσο μέσο πειθούς του κοινού με την επί τούτου συγκινησιακή φόρτιση μέσω του ερεθίσματος του θυμικού...

Εάν αγαπάτε κι εσείς με τη σειρά σας να διαβάζετε ανάλογα βιβλία που μόνο ως ''παραγωγική'' και ''θρεπτική'' τροφή για τη σκέψη σας μπορούν να θεωρηθούν, δεν έχετε παρά να το αναζητήσετε!
Καλή ανάγνωση.

Κυκλοφορεί από τις εκδόσεις Συρτάρι.

https://vivliovamon.blogspot.com/2026...

[CPE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agnes Arnold-Foster’s book, Nostalgia, has the sub-title “A History of a Dangerous Emotion.” The book takes us from the late seventeenth century up to the present day with Trump and “Make America Great Again.” At first, nostalgia referred to what we would call “acute homesickness”. Students, soldiers and others, uprooted from their home and transposed to another country, region or even town, would yearn for home so much that they would lose interest in food and drink, sometimes leading to their death. Remember, the world was different then: travel was much slower and far fewer people moved far from their birthplace. Being somewhere vastly different from home was profoundly disorienting and many just could not cope. Nostalgia then was about longing for a place, not a past time.

The author shows us how, as the general pace of life increased with canals, railways and then motor vehicles, the trauma of travelling lessened and the disease mutated. She does a thorough job of tracking how the medical fraternity (physicians, psychologists, psychoanalysts, etc) changed their views over time too. I was surprised how much doctors’ personal views can colour how they perceive a disease. For example, Freud, Jung and others fled the Nazis and resettled in another country. They were scornful of people who looked back to a better past because, for those doctors, the past in Nazi Germany was not better. They felt that patients should look forward to a much brighter future and not backwards to the past. As that generation of immigrant doctors was succeeded by newer generations, the medical perception of nostalgia changed again.

Nostalgia (as we know it today: the affectionate longing for a past time) and homesickness parted company in the early twentieth century but the nostalgia industry really took off after the 1960s, permeating everyone’s world. Do you have any Lilliput Lane models of olde-worlde buildings? Any artist’s Greatest Hits album? Do you prefer the music of your youth (whenever that was) to anything released after that? If so, you’re a victim of nostalgia marketing. The past was NOT all good: does anyone want to bring back typhoid and diphtheria? Workhouses and no unemployment benefit? Blatant, legal, gender inequality? No, me neither – so why do we unconsciously block out those aspects of past times? As Arnold-Foster shows us, nostalgic yearnings tell us much more about present-day anxieties than about a past that possible never existed.

I cannot deny that parts of the book dragged for me and I suspect the author has sometimes mistaken correlation for causation, e.g. “Nationalism was a precondition for the rise of nostalgia”, but I learned a lot. Did you know that the last enslaved person forcibly taken from Africa to the US didn’t die until 1940? She was Matilda McCrear. This is a thoughtful analysis of what I thought was just an emotion but turns about to be a huge business - and an easy way for politicians, advertisers and the media to manipulate us. I recommend reading the book to understand how they do this.
#Nostalgia #NetGalley

[Earl Pestano · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moment I reached my 30s, I began struggling with nostalgia. I miss the old days, when life felt simpler. I miss the old love songs, old movies, old Christian songs, when music wasn’t about the groove or chords, but about the depth of the lyrics. I even miss the old kind of preaching, when no one was technically polished with tools like ChatGPT, but everyone preached straight from the heart, born out of the prayer room.

I miss the days when my dad was still alive. When I would wake up and eat the delicious cooking of my mom. The days when collecting DVDs and books felt like building something beautiful at home.

I just miss the old days. Ako ay literally anachronistic. At first, I thought this feeling was warm and even cute.

Then I read this book, and it showed me that nostalgia can actually be a deadly illness.

Noon daw, Swiss soldiers developed mental illness because of nostalgia. Thank God, hindi pa naman ako ganun, haha.

Many soldiers became weak in battle because they were trapped in nostalgia. Some even suffered depression and suicidal thoughts because of it.

I know that today, nostalgia is often romanticized. But if we’re not careful, being trapped in nostalgia can distort our view of reality. It can become a form of emotional escapism because we don’t want to embrace the present.

My key takeaway (not directly from the book) but my spiritual application - “our memories can either torment us or inspire us.”

We can use our memories to remember the faithfulness and goodness of God, allowing them to inspire us to face the present and the future… knowing that our God transcends time.

However, if we constantly say, “Mas maganda noon, mas masaya dati,” we unintentionally limit God’s power to the past and that is not of God.

Scripture says, “Forgetting those things which are behind…” We can be thankful for the past, but we must keep moving forward, because God has more in store for us. The latter will be greater than the former.

Let us use our memories and nostalgia rightly to remember God’s goodness and forget not all His benefits. But let us not limit what God can do in the present.

Thankfully, I came across this book, God’s providence led me to it and gave me an important realization not to be trapped in nostalgia.

[WildesKopfkino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgie hat was Heimliches. Schleicht sich an, flüstert vom „Früher war alles besser“ – und schon sitzt man in der Falle. Agnes Arnold-Forster gräbt in ihrem Buch tief in diesem Gefühl und zeigt, dass Nostalgie mehr ist als nur Retro-Romantik oder die Sehnsucht nach alten Zeiten. Sie erzählt, wie das Ganze im 17. Jahrhundert als regelrechte Krankheit begann und sich dann Schritt für Schritt zu einem Werkzeug für Politik, Werbung und Identität entwickelt hat.

Besonders spannend: wie geschickt die Autorin historische Forschung mit aktuellem Denken verbindet. Keine trockene Theorie, sondern lebendige Geschichten, die einem beim Lesen plötzlich vertraut vorkommen. Wer wissen will, warum Menschen an alten Idealen festhalten oder warum Retro-Designs so gut funktionieren, bekommt hier ordentlich Futter fürs Hirn – mit Witz, Haltung und einer Prise Melancholie.

Das Buch schafft es, kritisch zu sein, ohne den Spaß zu verlieren. Es zeigt, wie Nostalgie Angst, Macht und Hoffnung mischt, ohne gleich in kulturpessimistisches Gejammer abzurutschen. Genau das macht es so lesenswert.

Kleine Schwäche: Manche Beispiele wiederholen sich, und wer tief in psychologische Mechanismen eintauchen will, wird etwas zu kurz kommen. Doch unterm Strich überzeugt das Konzept – fundiert, unterhaltsam und mit viel Gespür für Zwischentöne.

Fazit: Ein kluges, charmant erzähltes Sachbuch über ein Gefühl, das jeder kennt, aber kaum jemand versteht. Vier Sterne für eine Reise durch die Vergangenheit, die ganz schön viel über die Gegenwart verrät.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great info - highlighted quite a bit of the ebook. Highly recommend the audiobook (I own both)

Best chapters are 4: The Psychology of Nostalgia, 5: The Nostalgia Wave, 6:How to Turn an Emotion into Revenue, 9: The Nostalgia Brain

I am definitely in the camp of nostalgia for the purpose of learning history, by attending reenactments (Renaissance faires, etc...) and like the author states:

Rather than emotionally identifying with their chosen period of time, these people justify their hobby along intellectual and rational lines – arguing that what they’re doing is a kind of scholarship. Rather than simply reading history books or primary sources, this is a way of understanding the past – warts and all – through doing

I need to work on my side eye roll of people who are nostalgic ALL the FUCKING time...they are probably old and lonely, at least the ones I know. I'm old, but I'll be damn if I'll be overly nostalgic. Could change as I get older but I'll be fighting it and reading this book again, hopefully.


That said, I think the author was well balanced in her reporting and data. And it did change my view on what I think about nostalgia.

Need to put Mad Men series on my watchlist...

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Nostalgia isn't an emotion I've ever particularly given much thought outside of the times I'm hit with it. So, reading this, I didn't have any particular expectations.

This book is a fascinating dive into the history of nostalgia across centuries as it transformed from a disease to a benign emotion. I enjoyed learning the extent to which many aspects of history, culture and life - including imperialism, healthcare, politics and heritage - nostalgia is tied to. The discussion on heritage and historical re-enactors in relation to academic historians was particularly interesting to me - studying history and looking into heritage work.

I also really appreciated how well the book was structured - which a sense of both chronology and theme separating the chapters making everything much easier to follow. The writing style was similarly accessible and I felt that it allowed me to better follow discussions that dipped into aspects of science or history that I'm otherwise unfamiliar with.

All in all, a really interesting and enlightening read.

[Benjamin Carpenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nostalgia by Agnes Arnold-Forster effectively walks the reader through the history of the titular emotion.

From its original definition as a disease that could sometimes kill, to our modern understanding of it as a mostly harmless (and sometimes beneficial) emotion, nostalgia has taken many forms under the study of multiple different sciences.

The reason I chose to read this book was because I was curious to learn about how nostalgia can affect the way people form and maintain their political ideologies. Nostalgia is not unique to just one side of the isle, but often times throughout history politicians will invoke an imagined “past greatness” to make the present seem to be in imminent danger. While there are certainly mountains of problems today, their solutions live in the future, not the past.

Nostalgia is natural and experienced by everybody. As we grow up it’s easy to idealize the past, but often times we forget that it had its own issues.

This ended up not really being a review of the book itself, but it’s my book account so deal with it.

I give Nostalgia by Agnes Arnold-Forster a B+

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nostalgia, A History of a Dangerous Emotion.

This was a very interesting read, written in the style of an academic paper, which is not a criticism, as I did enjoy how the author presented her research and ideas on nostalgia. However, I can understand that this may not be to everyone's taste, as it did feel a bit dry in certain parts.

I feel my only criticism is that it felt somewhat repetitive at times, and this caused me to lose some enthusiasm for reading. I blitzed through the first 2 3rds, but it became a bit of a slog for me to get through towards the end. This is not necessarily due to the content of the book, as whenever I would pick it up again, I found the content and ideas being explored to be incredibly fascinating. I just think it could have done with editing out some of the repetitive ideas a bit.

However, overall, I enjoyed learning about Nostalgia's history and how deeply embedded into human society and history this emotion has been and currently still is.

If you enjoy history, politics, psychology, and sociology, then I would definitely recommend this book.

[Matthew Culnane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arnold-Foster offers a cultural history that traces nostalgia’s journey from a fatal medical diagnosis (a homesickness severe enough to kill C17th Swiss mercenaries) to the soft, wistful feeling we recognise today. She is compelling on nostalgia’s medical past, but earns contemporary relevance by showing how the emotion was gradually weaponised by advertisers, politicians and an industry happy to sell the feeling back to us. She’s admirably even-handed on its political use: the left have our own sentimental golden ages (the heydays of the NHS and BBC) as well as its recent association with the dreaded MAGA and Brexit. Her argument that nostalgia is rooted in selective, reconstructive memory gives the book genuine rigour. Occasionally the sweep outruns the depth, but as an introductory history of a feeling that quietly shapes how we vote, buy and remember, it’s illuminating.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

really interesting book on the history of nostalgia, starting from 17th century switzerland, where nostalgia used to be a severe homesickness treated as a physical illness (some theorized that people leaving the swiss alps might suffer from a different air pressure in the flat lands, and suggested bringing patients to high towers as a cure), to nostalgia becoming a longing for past times (whether you experienced them personally or not). the author is explaining how nostalgia is used in marketing & advertising and as a political strategy, and what role it plays in LARP communities.

overall written in an engaging manner! some things i didn't agree with (the author cites the box office successes of the LotR and HP movies as an example for nostalgia for medieval settings) and at points it was a little repetitive. would recommend though!

[Kate · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jumping on here to say: there is blatant plagiarism in this book, specifically on pages 157-58, and possibly elsewhere.

On pages 157-58 (hardback edition), the author lifts a couple of paragraphs directly from a 2019 Vice article, “Why Would You Ever Want to Live in 2019?” A. A.-F. cites the article, but it’s plagiarized language nonetheless (she’s omitted the description of actually visiting the couple’s home in June in the sentence about the Wardian case).

The egregiousness of this act makes one suspect that there may be other large chunks of plagiarism throughout the text. It also casts doubt on her other writings.

See the original text: https://www.vice.com/en/article/qvgw3...

This plagiarism has been reported to the Vice article author, Picador, and the University of Edinburgh.