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How Emotions Are Made cover art

How Emotions Are Made

By: Lisa Feldman Barrett
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
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Summary

“Fascinating... A thought-provoking journey into emotion science.” - Wall Street Journal

“A singular book, remarkable for the freshness of its ideas and the boldness and clarity with which they are presented.” - Scientific American

“A brilliant and original book on the science of emotion, by the deepest thinker about this topic since Darwin.” - Daniel Gilbert, best-selling author of Stumbling on Happiness

The science of emotion is in the midst of a revolution on par with the discovery of relativity in physics and natural selection in biology. Leading the charge is psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, whose research overturns the long-standing belief that emotions are automatic, universal, and hardwired in different brain regions. Instead, Barrett shows, we construct each instance of emotion through a unique interplay of brain, body, and culture. A lucid report from the cutting edge of emotion science, How Emotions Are Made reveals the profound real-world consequences of this breakthrough for everything from neuroscience and medicine to the legal system and even national security, laying bare the immense implications of our latest and most intimate scientific revolution.

“Mind-blowing.” - Elle

“Chock-full of startling, science-backed findings... An entertaining and engaging read.” - Forbes

©2017 by Lisa Feldman Barrett. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

What listeners say about How Emotions Are Made

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    2 out of 5 stars

Putting up with - for the sake of good science.

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

If, like me, you are curious about the world, life and how humans behave, this book has very good science in it. Nothing wrong with the science. If you are a bit OCD about your children - this book is right up your street. If like me, other people's children is mildly interesting, but mostly soaked in ambivalence, then this book is a drag to listen to. Because, the author does not half go on and on and on about her daughter. I felt stuck in a lift with one of those parents that simply don't get that others don't care much about every move and evolving trick of their off-spring. Once it started to work my nerves, I simply could not stick to it for long - had to plow through it in small bits. Putting up with - to get to the otherwise excellent, science.

Would you ever listen to anything by Lisa Feldman Barrett again?

No - unless she changes her publishing editor. I get the feeling that the publisher made her add in a lot of personal accedes to "warm the audience". Sure that left to her own, the author would have stuck to the core message and got there in 1/4 of the time.... and I would not have felt so urged to switch it off, time-and-again. Note the editor: Readers are not morons, give us some credit and stop sugar coating technical stuff, not all things need to be 'mommyfied'

What three words best describe Cassandra Campbell’s performance?

Clear voice, slightly monotone - not bad.

You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Good science, bad anecdotes. Its maybe cultural, but anecdotes are a giant put off to me. Stick to the facts, talk through actual case studies, leave the family and other emotive bollocks at home.

Any additional comments?

Love to hear a much reduced, abridged version.

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186 people found this helpful

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Interesting

Really interesting theory, presentation jarred a bit but worth it, stuck it out til end. Found a clearer explanation of the theory in article by same author in journal 'social cognitive and affective neuroscience', 2017, 1 - 23 (open access and without pop terms like 'body budgeting'!)

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82 people found this helpful

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a must read for anyone who is neurodivergent

If you have ADHD or autism, I highly recommend this book - it helped me understand my ADHD and myself in a way that other books have not been able to

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25 people found this helpful

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Ideal for newbies

A great introduction to the subject for someone like me, with a keen interest but no previous background.

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8 people found this helpful

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Revolutionary research made accessible

This book makes a revolutionary research accessible. This book also has a noticable self-help value through practical suggestions about better way to organize life and raise children, as well as building a framework within which to think about your body needs and capabilities.

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8 people found this helpful

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A life changing read

I would argue that this book (and Behave, by Prof Robert Sapolsky) are two books that should be as important reading in the 21st century as the Bible has historically been considered in previous centuries.

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7 people found this helpful

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Suspiciously unscientific

I am not sure whether this topic of thought deserves a laborious 14 hour audiobook. It feels like the author has found a relatively insignificant theory and pushes it to its extremes. It also feels to me like she is generally ignoring people's interpretation or understanding (semantics) of emotions.

I would like to see more reviews from leaders on the topic.

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5 people found this helpful

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Unlistenable

Tedious in the extreme the narration is boring, the analysis detailed, too detailed! the conclusions sparse and delivered in hours as each experiment is detailed in tedious mind numbing detail... simply dreadful

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5 people found this helpful

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A mind expanding look at the brain

A powerful antidote to naive essentialism and necessary reading/listening for anyone who’s work or life involves other people. So... everyone really.

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3 people found this helpful

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Thank you

Thank you for giving me a great perspective. it changes how I perceive life

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2 people found this helpful