Cruelty: The origins of the human

A clinician maps the many faces of cruelty—from myth and religion
to today’s screens and everyday indifference—as part of an argument
for a more ethical, humane self.

Blending clinical insight and cultural criticism, Argentine psychoanalyst Cynthia Wila traces how cruelty persists across eras: divine myths and sacred texts, modern institutions, and “bloodless” forms like indifference, objectification,
and algorithmic spectacle. With accessible prose and a clear ethical stance, the book converses with Freud, Lacan, Derrida, and contemporary media theory to show why recognizing our destructive drive is the first step to containing it personally and socially. A timely crossover essay for editors seeking thought-provoking non-fiction on psychology, culture, and digital life.