Emotional
How Feelings Shape Our Thinking
1 of 2 copies available
You make hundreds of decisions every day, from what to eat for breakfast to how you should invest, and not one of those decisions would be possible without emotion. It has long been said that thinking and feeling are separate and opposing forces in our behavior. But as Leonard Mlodinow, the best-selling author of Subliminal, tells us, extraordinary advances in psychology and neuroscience have proven that emotions are as critical to our well-being as thinking.
How can you connect better with others? How can you make sense of your frustration, fear, and anxiety? What can you do to live a happier life? The answers lie in understanding your emotions. Journeying from the labs of pioneering scientists to real-world scenarios that have flirted with disaster, Mlodinow shows us how our emotions can help, why they sometimes hurt, and what we can learn in both instances.
Using deep insights into our evolution and biology, Mlodinow gives us the tools to understand our emotions better and to maximize their benefits. Told with his characteristic clarity and fascinating stories, Emotional explores the new science of feelings and offers us an essential guide to making the most of one of nature’s greatest gifts.
-
Creators
-
Publisher
-
Release date
January 11, 2022 -
Formats
-
OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593558416
- File size: 227617 KB
- Duration: 07:54:12
-
-
Languages
- English
-
Reviews
-
Narrator Dan John Miller's wonderful voice and lyrical phrasing make this audiobook sing with warmth and clarity. He's also believably engaged with these fascinating perspectives from a theoretical physicist who has a gift for storytelling and explaining neuroscience. Mlodinow says that we are in the midst of a revolution in the way we understand the role of emotion in the human brain. Whether it's a mental health issue, a relationship dynamic, or protective intuitions, he shows us how all kinds of affective signals can be useful tools of rational thought and how we can harness their power in everyday life. Miller's excellent delivery extracts every bit of charm and practical value from this writing, making it an excellent addition to anyone's behavioral science audio library. T.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine -
Starred review from November 15, 2021
“We can’t make decisions, or even think, without being influenced by our emotions,” writes physicist Mlodinow (The Drunkard’s Walk) in this moving deep dive into the role of feelings in everyday life. Contrary to long-held views that reason and emotion are opposites, Mlodinow shows that a new field called affective neuroscience has demonstrated that “emotion is a gift” which enables humans to “quickly and efficiently make sense of our circumstances so that we can react as necessary.” He makes a convincing case that, instead of detracting from intelligence, such responses allow for better decision-making and more effective communication. He offers plenty of colorful examples: Mlodinow’s parents, both Holocaust survivors, appear as case studies—each responded to their trauma differently—and illustrate that such responses are a result of “our shadowy unconscious mind” applying lessons from the past. Studies from nature appear, as well: readers will learn that male fruit flies experience sadness and respond to romantic disappointment by drinking alcohol. Mlodinow successfully shows how emotions can be assessed, regulated, and controlled, and powerfully concludes that understanding them is a lifelong project that’s “not just a science but an art.” This is a must-read for fans of Daniel Kahneman.
-