來自情緒研究的領導學者、皮克斯動畫《腦筋急轉彎》顧問,帶我們一探「敬畏」──這種感受如此強烈、我們卻所知甚少的情緒。
「敬畏」無疑是神祕的。我們如何量化眼見大峽谷的壯闊景色,以及目睹幼兒學會步行的瞬間,席捲全身的驚喜與感動?又能夠如何用言語表達,身處大型慶典活動,參與集體合唱或喝采時,感染所有人的熱烈情緒,或者凝視一幅百年畫作時的深深撼動?
對這一感受的研究,在至少15年前還不存在。科學家們長期以來主要投入研究諸如恐懼、厭惡等看起來對人類生存有較大影響的情緒,然而近年「演化」觀點成為關注點之一,從這個角度檢視,人類的存活離不開群體,需要仰賴合作、創造文化及認同感的能力,而這些都受「敬畏」的情緒所觸發。
在這部作品中,肯特納呈現了對這種情緒的全面調查,包含一探敬畏如何改變我們大腦和身體的最新研究成果,以及針對敬畏,橫跨歷史、文化和他自身經歷的檢視。本書告訴我們在每日生活中建立敬畏之心,可以如何引導我們理解、重視人類最人性化的部分,而在這個較之以往更加分化、對立,且遭遇種種危機的世界,這種情緒更顯重要。倘若我們能夠打開心胸,敬畏便能引導我們獲得新的想法和洞見,也能促使人們建立更堅強與正面的連結。(文/博客來編譯)
"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.