The Art of Crying: The Healing Power of Tears

Explore the healing, transformative power of shedding tears in this vibrant illustrated study of crying, one of the most uniquely human things we do.

What if crying wasn’t just an involuntary reaction to feeling sad, vulnerable, or overwhelmed--but a hidden wellspring of power we could harness to live a fuller life?

In The Art of Crying, Pepita Sandwich makes the case that crying is humanity’s most misunderstood and magical special effect. We are the only animals who shed tears as a result of the emotions we feel. But crying is not our weakness: it’s our superpower. Our tears are a path to growth and healing that leads to deeper and more fulfilling experiences.

In this beautifully illustrated book, Sandwich dives deep into an ocean of research into tears to understand the science and history of this uniquely human phenomenon. And she has emerged with a case for ＂letting it all out＂ a little more often, because tears have a powerful magic all their own.

Pepita Sandwich is an Argentine illustrator and visual artist born in Buenos Aires, and trained in Vermont at the Center for Cartoon Studies, who currently resides in New York City. In 2013, she began publishing her webcomics and drawings of relatable life observations with a focus on feelings, friendship, and self-discovery. Since then, her work as won over a fast-growing international audience. Pepita creates visual essays for media outlets like The Washington Post, Vogue, Los Angeles Times, and The New Yorker. Her first two books were published by PRH in Spain and Argentina; Diario de Supervivencia (Survival Diaries 2016) and Las Mujeres Mueven Montanas (Women Move Mountains 2019). In 2021, she launched her online course with the global learning platform Domestika, where she teaches diary comics and storytelling.