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  • Awe

  • The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life
  • Written by: Dacher Keltner
  • Narrated by: Dacher Keltner
  • Length: 7 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (15 ratings)

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Awe

Written by: Dacher Keltner
Narrated by: Dacher Keltner
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Publisher's Summary

A National Bestseller!

"Read this book to connect with your highest self.”
—Susan Cain, #1
New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet and Quiet

“We need more awe in our lives, and Dacher Keltner has written the definitive book on where to find it.”
—Adam Grant, #1
New York Times bestselling author of Think Again

Awe is awesome in both senses: a superb analysis of an emotion that is strongly felt but poorly understood, with a showcase of examples that remind us of what is worthy of our awe.”
—Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of
How the Mind Works and Rationality

From a foremost expert on the science of emotions and consultant to Pixar’s Inside Out, a groundbreaking and essential exploration into the history, science, and greater understanding of awe

Awe is mysterious. How do we begin to quantify the goose bumps we feel when we see the Grand Canyon, or the utter amazement when we watch a child walk for the first time? How do you put into words the collective effervescence of standing in a crowd and singing in unison, or the wonder you feel while gazing at centuries-old works of art? Up until fifteen years ago, there was no science of awe, the feeling we experience when we encounter vast mysteries that transcend our understanding of the world. Scientists were studying emotions like fear and disgust, emotions that seemed essential to human survival. Revolutionary thinking, though, has brought into focus how, through the span of evolution, we’ve met our most basic needs socially. We’ve survived thanks to our capacities to cooperate, form communities, and create culture that strengthens our sense of shared identity—actions that are sparked and spurred by awe.

In Awe, Dacher Keltner presents a radical investigation and deeply personal inquiry into this elusive emotion. Revealing new research into how awe transforms our brains and bodies, alongside an examination of awe across history, culture, and within his own life during a period of grief, Keltner shows us how cultivating awe in our everyday life leads us to appreciate what is most humane in our human nature. And during a moment in which our world feels more divided than ever before, and more imperiled by crises of different kinds, we are greatly in need of awe. If we open our minds, it is awe that sharpens our reasoning and orients us toward big ideas and new insights, that cools our immune system’s inflammation response and strengthens our bodies. It is awe that activates our inclination to share and create strong networks, to take actions that are good for the natural and social world around us. It is awe that transforms who we are, that inspires the creation of art, music, and religion. At turns radical and profound, brimming with enlightening and practical insights, Awe is our field guide, from not only one of the leading voices on the subject but a fellow seeker of awe in his own right, for how to place awe as a vital force within our lives.

©2023 Dacher Keltner (P)2023 Penguin Audio

What the critics say

“Humanity has a lot of loss to work through. Keltner has written the perfect guidebook for this journey, interweaving discoveries that he and his disciples have made since he pioneered the scientific study of awe 20 years ago with highly personal—and at times excruciatingly tender—meditations on the death of his brother Rolf.” —Harvard Business Review

“A gifted storyteller, Keltner draws on the experiences of individuals across the world to document the salutary impact of everyday, wild and mystical encounters with nature, music, visual art, literature, religion, the birth of children, and the death of loved ones.” —Psychology Today

“Your goosebumps when you listen to Beethoven; your wonder as you behold the Grand Canyon; your amazement at the sheer perfection of a baby’s tiny foot. You’ve probably sensed that such moments of awe are some of the most profound experiences ever to happen to you. But if you’ve ever wondered where these moments come from, what they mean, and how to experience them more often: there is no better guide than Dacher Keltner, the great and wise Berkeley psychologist. Read this book to connect with your highest self.” —Susan Cain, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet and Quiet

What listeners say about Awe

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Gets the juices flowing on what is awe and its impact on our lives

I enjoyed it. Such a broad topic this challenging to provide a summary that does it Justice. Leaves you with a lot to think about.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Wanted to love this, but instead just liked it

Awe is an emotion that captivates me. Dachner's podcast is one of my faves, so my expectations were high for this book. As much as I loved the parts about his brother, and his distinctive voice in narrating this valuable book, I felt slightly let down by the work as a whole. It read more like a survey of the scientific literature about awe, rather than a cohesive dive into the concept. I am glad to have read it, and I am sure others might enjoy it, in spite of any shortcomings it had for me, personally.

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