Heaven and Hell: The Psychology of the Emotions
by Neel Burton
To control our emotions is to control ourselves, and to control ourselves is to control our destiny.It has forever been said that we are ruled by our emotions, but this today is truer than ever. Much more than reason or tradition, it is our emotions that determine our choice of profession, partner, and politics, and our relation to money, sex, and religion. Nothing can make us feel more alive, or more human, than our emotions, or hurt us more. Yet, the emotions are utterly neglected by our system of education, leading to millions of mis-lived lives.This book proposes to redress the balance, exploring over 30 emotions and drawing some powerful and astonishing conclusions along the way. Areas covered include: depression, anxiety, anger, boredom, laziness, guilt, envy, greed, ambition, humiliation, loneliness, courage, empathy, friendship, love, self-esteem, and much much more.
Burton is never short of an interesting and sharp judgment. —Prof Peter Toohey, Psychology Today[Heaven and Hell] challenges our understanding of emotions we experience but do not really think about... a fascinating read. —British Medical Association Book Awards★★★★★ I do love to read a book on occasion that gives me a mental workout, and this one certainly had my brain doing calisthenics! —Jamie Bee, Amazon Top 50 Reviewer
About the author
Dr Neel Burton is a psychiatrist, philosopher, and wine-lover who lives and teaches in Oxford, England. He is a Fellow of Green-Templeton College in the University of Oxford, and the recipient of the Society of Authors’ Richard Asher Prize, the British Medical Association’s Young Authors’ Award, the Medical Journalists’ Association Open Book Award, and a Best in the World Gourmand Award. His work has featured in the likes of Aeon, the Spectator, and the Times, and been translated into several languages.
Contents
Preface
Introduction
1. Boredom
2. Loneliness
3. Depression
4. Fear and Anxiety
5. Laziness
6. Embarrassment, Shame, and Guilt
7. Pride
8. Humiliation
9. Humility
10. Gratitude
11. Envy
12. Greed
13. Desire
14. Hope
15. Nostalgia
16. Ambition
17. Anger
18. Patience
19. Trust
20. Forgiveness
21. Empathy
22. Altruism
23. Friendship
24. Love
25. Intimacy
26. Kissing
27. Self-esteem
28. Courage
29. Wonder
30. Ecstasy
Burton is never short of an interesting and sharp judgment. —Prof Peter Toohey, Psychology Today[Heaven and Hell] challenges our understanding of emotions we experience but do not really think about... a fascinating read. —British Medical Association Book Awards★★★★★ I do love to read a book on occasion that gives me a mental workout, and this one certainly had my brain doing calisthenics! —Jamie Bee, Amazon Top 50 Reviewer
About the author
Dr Neel Burton is a psychiatrist, philosopher, and wine-lover who lives and teaches in Oxford, England. He is a Fellow of Green-Templeton College in the University of Oxford, and the recipient of the Society of Authors’ Richard Asher Prize, the British Medical Association’s Young Authors’ Award, the Medical Journalists’ Association Open Book Award, and a Best in the World Gourmand Award. His work has featured in the likes of Aeon, the Spectator, and the Times, and been translated into several languages.
Contents
Preface
Introduction
1. Boredom
2. Loneliness
3. Depression
4. Fear and Anxiety
5. Laziness
6. Embarrassment, Shame, and Guilt
7. Pride
8. Humiliation
9. Humility
10. Gratitude
11. Envy
12. Greed
13. Desire
14. Hope
15. Nostalgia
16. Ambition
17. Anger
18. Patience
19. Trust
20. Forgiveness
21. Empathy
22. Altruism
23. Friendship
24. Love
25. Intimacy
26. Kissing
27. Self-esteem
28. Courage
29. Wonder
30. Ecstasy
