Awe: The Delights and Dangers of Our Eleventh Emotion

by Paul Pearsall

Book Overview

The first book to explore the enigmatic emotion of AWE, based on the only-known study of its connection to the meaning of life 'Feeling suddenly elevated to the limits of indescribable delight, yet... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0757305857
• ISBN13: 9780757305856
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Hci
• Length: 289 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.0" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Very sad and grim read as a call to do more research

I just finished reading the book. I won't ruin the surprises other than to say the book ends on a very down note. The author is a psychologist who has conducted a number of surveys of people who have experienced awe. He mostly describes his findings in very general terms. He admits his findings won't satisfy scientists but calls for more research on the subject. I would have liked to have read more direct accounts from the 500 people he has surveyed. Instead we get a lot of vague descriptions of how he defines awe and what characterizes it. The author's definition seems to include a rather pessimistic view of awe. He includes a component of sadness and "bad triumphs over good" philosophy perhaps influenced by his battle with cancer and his son's disability. A better editor might have tightened up the book and made it more coherent. There isn't much in the way of awe inspired by nature. His study seems to have had some preconceived conclusions already in mind. I give it 4 stars because it made me think about a few things and left a powerful impact with details of the author's life. However, be warned that it won't leave you with a happy ending.