Harvard Science Book Talk — Maria Tatar in conversation with Charlie Tyson, "Arachnomania: Spiders and the Cultural Work They Do for Us"

Harvard Book Store
1256 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge
Tue., May 26, 2026, 7 – 8 p.m.



Spiders are often found lurking in dusty corners, where we can observe them with interest or brush them away with disgust—or make a run for it, as the agitated Miss Muffet does. They are just as prevalent in our cultural landscapes, starring in horror films, inspiring works by famous artists and writers, and featured in myths and folktales. In "Arachnomania," Maria Tatar explores how these creatures became our totem animals, our significant others, and our curved mirrors. Tatar invites us to acknowledge our collective arachnophobia yet also embrace arachnophilia and celebrate spiders for their cultural benefits and real-world merits

Gazette Classification: Lecture, Science, Social Sciences
Organization/Sponsor: Harvard Book Store, Harvard Division of Science, and Harvard Library
Speaker(s): Maria Tatar (Harvard), Charlie Tyson (Harvard Society of Fellows)
Cost: Free
Contact Info: [email protected]
Harvard Key Required: No
More info: science.fas.harvard.edu…