Face with Tears of Joy: A Natural History of Emoji

by Keith Houston

We are surrounded by emoji. They appear in politics, movies, drug deals, our sex lives, and more. But emoji's impact has never been explored in full. Named for the world's most popular pictogram, Face with Tears of Joy tells the whole story of emoji for the first time.

In this rollicking tech and pop culture history, Keith Houston follows emoji from their birth in 1990s Japan, traces their Western explosion in the 2000s, and considers emoji's ever-expanding lexicon. Along the way, Houston explores vital developments in tech history and reveals the body of technocrats governing this 3,600-character language. He also addresses the eggplants in the room: risqu emojis, controversy, and accusations of "selling out." Finally, readers learn about the future of emoji, as some of the language's pioneers consider what comes next. Face with Tears of Joy is a language- and tech-lover's delight, stuffed with gloriously nerdy details, illustrations, and fun.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1324075147
• ISBN13: 9781324075141
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 224 Pages