57 pages • 1 hour read
Lisa Feldman BarrettHow Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2017A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In How Emotions Are Made, Lisa Feldman Barrett argues that emotions are constructed by the brain’s predictive processes based on past experiences, external stimuli, bodily functions, and learned concepts, challenging the classical view that emotions are universally felt, automatically triggered, and tied to specific brain regions. She discusses the moral and legal implications of this theory, emphasizes the role of interoception, and explores the influence of culture and language on emotional experience. The book also considers the application of these ideas in mental health and law.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Lisa Feldman Barrett's How Emotions Are Made challenges traditional views on emotions, arguing that they are not universal but constructed by our brains. Positive insights commend the book's innovative perspective and thorough research, while some critics find it overly technical and challenging for lay readers. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read.
Who Should Read How Emotions Are Made?
A reader intrigued by psychology, neuroscience, and the nature of human emotions would enjoy How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett. Comparable to Daniel Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow and Antonio Damasio's Descartes' Error, this book caters to those interested in the science behind emotion and cognition.