Dacher Keltner

[3.50, rounded down for a reason that will follow] The first third of Kepner’s book is an impressive 5 stars. It is an eye-opening exploration of a sensation that many of us give little thought to — awe-inspiring moments that put the “Whoa!” into our lives. The early parts of this book were so enlightening that I was motivated to take few pages of notes to remind myself of important points, including the notion that we can find awe anywhere, and the fact that there is concrete evidence that feelings of awe can “transform our minds, our sense of self, and our way of being in the world.” Experts insist it can even improve our physical health. So why the mediocre 3.5 star rating? The remaining two-thirds of the book is overstuffed with anecdotes and examples of people experiencing awe. True, people love short stories – and I love them as much as anyone. But readers don’t need a half-dozen vignettes of each aspect of awe to fully understand and appreciate the phenomenon. This book would have been more effective and engaging if it was half its size, showcasing the most vivid anecdotes. In some scenarios, less is more. Having said that, some of the tenets in this book will stay with me. Kepner’s categorization of awe into “eight wonders of life” is a reminder that awe-inspiring experiences are everywhere. In many instances, it’s merely a matter of training our brains to “find the extraordinary in the ordinary.”… (more)

For me the purpose of literature is to remind us of what is good. Dacher Keltner puts the social sciences to work in doing just that. It is refreshing to hear in detail why the phrase “survival of the fittest” completely fails to describe the goals of human existence, considering evidence from human biology, neuroscience, behavioral studies, and a fascinating analysis of human facial expressions. The book is also unapologetically entertaining in the style of a Berkeley professor with his own personal stories.… (more)