Born To Be Good: The Science Of A Meaningful Life (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
A very enjoyable read. Keltner is an entertaining writer and the neuroscience and psychology is top notch. A refreshing change from the dismal topics usually focussed on in the study of psychopathology, Keltner takes us through the cutting edge science on the more redeeming human instincts which underlie gratitude, laughter, embarassment, love compassion and awe. I recommend this read for anyone interested in human nature. Eat your heart out Hobbes. Keltner is a working researcher as well as a prosocial activist. His research is fascinating. His footnotes are a treasure chest. His prose, though, can be confusing, most noticeably in his attempts to present opposing theories from the past and in his use of multi-syllabic latinate words and long sentences. The anecdotes about his life & family and many of his philosophically based assertions were distracting at best. The topic is crucial and fascinating--I hope in his next popular article or book he shares the reactions of current scientists to his research and theories. Have any of the studies been reproduced? I coudn't find any one else even using his teminology when I googled, except his own research center.
What do You think about Born To Be Good: The Science Of A Meaningful Life (2009)?
Reading this for an EdX psychology class on the science of happiness.
—reader449
Must have been someone's college thesis. Very dry.
—mangrai
