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How Emotions Are Made

The Secret Life of the Brain

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How Emotions Are Made

By: Lisa Feldman Barrett
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
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About this listen

“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.
Biological Sciences Neuroscience & Neuropsychology Philosophy Human Brain Mental Health

What listeners say about How Emotions Are Made

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Essentialism v Constructivism

Thought provoking and challenging. Marries well with The Gut by Giulia Enders. Read this too!

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2 people found this helpful

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interesting book, monotonous narration.

Interesting book, monotonous narration. Makes it difficult to actively listen to and enjoy this book. Better off reading the hard copy.

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!!INCREDIBLE!!

Barrett presents cutting edge scientific research that undermines and reshapes our understanding of emotions. What makes the book wonderful is that she presents this thesis, explains it clearly and applies it to real life issues. It makes for an in depth and impressive book that you'll want to tell people about.

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exceptional

brilliant theory that easily integrates across a range of recent psychological research, and offers an elegant insight into the experience of emotion.

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Fascinating scientific concepts

This book was not the self-help book I was expecting but it surpassed my expectations. Filled with scientific theory and a whole new perspective on emotions it enabled me to recognize that I have the power to change my own social reality and perceptions. In fact, I am in control of the things I feel.

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Interesting concepts and great start but last half disappointing

I enjoyed this book and found that it had some interesting concepts. The initial introduction of the theory of constructed emotions as an alternative to an ‘essentialist’ view of in built or essential emotions was well argued. The first third of the book flows well and seems to have some solid ideas based on the author’s research.

However, it started to go downhill from there with the authors need to be completely correct and deny any intrinsic neurological activity that could be construed as emotion. Much of the book became repetitions of the same arguments.
Another major limitation is the authors apparent unfamiliarity with most physiology or neuroscience outside of a very limited field. The term ‘body budget is’ used incessantly and I was a bit confused until I realised that it meant whatever physiological processes were going on that the author couldn’t be bothered with explaining or didn’t understand (eg. glucose levels, Adrenalin, cortisol etc).
The later chapters which attempt to provide ‘self-help’ advice come across as shallow and were difficult to finish.
Overall, worth a listen still.

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Essential reading

Essential reading to help get a better understanding of how you truly are.
I know that I will reread and reference this book multiple times to help clarify what I feel and what is behind it.
The message is communicated so well and the narration drew me in. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

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Worth the 14 hours and will buy the hard copy

This books brings together several ideas that make sense to me but it’s the first time I’ve seen them in one coherent narrative. It bridges the wide gap between humans as advanced animals without free will to the feeling selves we think we are. Well worth 14 hours of your time. I will likely listen to this multiple time and will definitely buy the hard copy

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Informative, fascinating, well-written

Lisa Feldman-Barrett takes a dry and boring subject, gives it flavour, and leaves the reader or listener spellbound. However, the book is quite content-heavy, so you may need to work your way through it slowly. Cassandra Campbell offered clear delivery as the book’s narrator.

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narration makes it hard to listen

The narrator has very loud breathing in pauses, which is extremely irritating. I just can't listen to this.

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