Awe
The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life
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4.0 • 19 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
A National Bestseller!
"Read this book to connect with your highest self.” —Susan Cain, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet and Quiet
“We need more awe in our lives, and Dacher Keltner has written the definitive book on where to find it.” —Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again
“Awe is awesome in both senses: a superb analysis of an emotion that is strongly felt but poorly understood, with a showcase of examples that remind us of what is worthy of our awe.” —Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of How the Mind Works and Rationality
From a foremost expert on the science of emotions, a groundbreaking and essential exploration into the history, science, and greater understanding of awe
Awe is mysterious. How do we begin to quantify the goose bumps we feel when we see the Grand Canyon, or our utter amazement when we watch a child walk for the first time? Until recently, there was no science of awe, that feeling we experience when we encounter vast mysteries that transcend our understanding of the world. Revolutionary thinking, though, has shown how humans have survived over the course of evolution thanks to our capacities to cooperate, form communities, and create culture—all of which are spurred by awe.
In Awe, Dacher Keltner presents a sweeping investigation and deeply personal inquiry into this elusive feeling. Revealing new research alongside an examination of awe across history, culture, and within his own life, Keltner shows us how cultivating awe in our everyday lives leads us to appreciate what is most humane in our human nature. At turns radical and profound, brimming with enlightening and practical insights, Awe is our field guide for how to place this emotion as a vital force within our lives.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
This revealing book explores one of our most transformative emotions, showing how awe has shaped our evolution. Psychologist Dacher Keltner, an expert on the science of human emotions, uses his own research to show us how our worldviews are shaped by the moments when we experience wonder and astonishment—whether that’s from the loss of a loved one, a memorable act of kindness, or a stunning view of nature. Never dry, Keltner backs up his studies with fascinating personal stories he’s collected from diverse sources, including artists, athletes, musicians, preachers, activists, and refugees. Keltner even shares some interesting behind-the-scenes tales about working as a consultant on Pixar’s emotion-centric Inside Out. Awe will change the way you think about big feelings.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This wonderful outing by University of California, Berkeley psychology professor Keltner (The Power Paradox) lays out a scientific overview of awe. He contends that awe is a "basic human need" that's good for one's well-being and produces a transcendent sense of dissolving boundaries between the self and the wider world. Pondering why awe sometimes produces tears, Keltner suggests that adults might tear up as a learned reaction from childhood when one cried while feeling "small and lacking agency," an emotion similar to the overwhelming sensation that accompanies awe. The feeling has practical applications, the author posits, detailing scientific studies that found awe to be associated with lower levels of inflammation and capable of mitigating perceptions of political polarization. He outlines the "eight wonders of life" that are most likely to induce awe: moral beauty (e.g., courage in battle), collective effervescence (e.g., participating in a political rally), nature, music, visual art, spirituality, mortality, and epiphanies. Their power, he writes, stems from their likelihood to remind the beholder that "we are part of many things that are much larger than the self." Eye-opening science and Keltner's appropriate sense of wonder add up to an enlightening take on the importance and potency of awe. Readers will be enchanted.
Customer Reviews
Oh
Totally respect the author and his lifelong journey.
However, the book is way too long, redundant and dense. This topic would be a great TED talk.
I was only in awe of the footnotes.