NPR's Book of the Day In the new speculative novel 'Weepers,' mourning is outsourced to professionals
Professional Mourners Bring Real Emotions to Numb Society
Peter Mendelsund's novel Weepers imagines a near future where people hire professional mourners, called weepers, to express emotions at funerals because most people have become numb or anesthetized to feeling.
The story centers on Ed, a cowboy poet in the American Southwest who belongs to a union of weepers, and a mysterious kid with a miraculous gift that makes people truly feel again.
This concept reflects contemporary struggles with oversensitivity and societal emotional numbness, suggesting these professional mourners both do the feeling for society and keep others emotionally connected.
Mendelsund describes the book as "messianic," exploring grief, death, and the miraculous while inspired by his own experience with depression and being overly sensitive.
Outsourcing Mourning in Future
- The novel Weepers imagines a future where people worry about being replaced by smart machines.
- A cowboy poet finds lasting work as a professional mourner, hired to cry at funerals.
Faking Sadness Became Real
- Andrew Limbong shares how he faked crying and genuine tears unexpectedly followed.
- This revealed to him his ability to summon sadness on demand, showing the power of emotional sensitivity.