〇Of course you’ve seen pictures of this.
This mountain, this painting, the birth of a child, a singer on stage, a perfect pirouette — you may have seen pictures, but they are far from real life. you. Goose bumps on your arm, a feeling that you’ve never seen anything more impressive — it’s the feeling of “Wow,” as Dacher Keltner describes in his new book, “Awe.”
The perfect melody, the answers to prayers, and the scenery are all so unbelievably beautiful it makes me cry. According to Keltner, tears are common when we see the infinite mysteries beyond our comprehension. can make your emotions run wild.
Before 1988, we didn’t know much about emotions and how they affect our brains and bodies. Emotions were believed to be the result of the brain processing information, but it wasn’t until scientists like Keltner began studying emotions and the “emotional brain” that researchers weaved passion into the theory. bottom. They eventually understood that while reverence is cultural, there are eight general and universal prompts to it.
When I see the kindness and courage of others, I am in awe. We feel it at life’s milestones, such as weddings, proms, and graduations. We are in awe of the beauty of nature and what it has to offer. We humans are in awe of visual design: music, performance, architecture, symmetry, and artistry. We are in awe of anything of a spiritual or religious nature, including bliss and nirvana. And we are in awe and humility at the miracle of life and the escape from death. And when they are given knowledge, inspiration, discovery, awareness, and joy, they are in awe.
So why are we in awe of these things? Keltner said it helps us understand the world we live in.
“Awe” is a bit difficult to narrow down. It’s full of great stories, but seems very repetitive. The author, he says, has a solid science to what Dacher Keltner offers, but it can be difficult to understand, and having several definitions for different things that change or embellish doesn’t help. Hmm.
Yet who can resist that feeling of witnessing some kind of miracle or cosmic gift, or seeing something fleeting and personal? Keltner says that an open mind is the key to being awe-inspiring in life. He goes on and on, but the stories he tells and his journey of discovery also help readers learn how to open their minds. It’s as if the story of awe is contagious.
This is one of those books that I know I might struggle with, but I also know I’ll eventually love. You might feel that “awe” is as good as awe-inspiring.
Terry grade: B
