Arachnomania, by Maria Tatar

Arachnomania: Spiders and the Cultural Work They Do for Us

by Senior Fellow Maria Tatar

In Arachnomania, Maria Tatar explores how these creatures became our totem animals, our significant others, and our curved mirrors; spiders are found throughout  our cultural landscapes, starring in horror films, inspiring works by famous artists and writers, and featured in myths and folktales. Tatar invites us to acknowledge our collective arachnophobia yet also embrace arachnophilia and celebrate spiders for their cultural benefits and real-world merits.

Published May 19, 2026, by Princeton University Press