Emotional: How Feelings Shape Our Thinking

How do emotions guide feelings and shape thinking? In his latest book, physicist Mlodinow (Elastic: Unlocking Your Brain’s Ability To Embrace Change) explores what defines emotion, thoughts versus feelings, mind-body connection, and how emotions guide thought (both consciously and unconsciously). He also investigates how the brain constructs emotion, the origin of desire and pleasure in the brain and how they motivate people. Using personal anecdotes and scientific research from neuroscientists, he also tells how emotions create determination and how to manage emotions. The highly readable and thought-provoking book ends with standardized inventory self-tests on how to readers can assess their own emotional profile regarding shame and guilt, anger and aggression, happiness, and romantic love/attachment. This engaging and reader-friendly book proves that emotions are as critical to our well-being as thinking.