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A bit of a self-help book through the route of science. Not as research-based but interesting non-the-less. I have read better psychology books but if you want to not only understand your mind a bit better but also want to know what exercises you can apply to become more balanced, this book does do a fantastic job.
informative
medium-paced
Pretty interesting and while there's likely something to the idea of emotional styles, I'm unconvinced of how he categorizes things which seems to leave little room for nuance and often, IMO, makes no sense at all (though I'm not the neuroscientist).
A LOT of the book is about monks and meditation. Which is fine, I guess, but not quite what I signed up for. Also rolled my eyes a lot about how much this dude loves the Dalai Lama. Imagine going to this big fancy rich palace with bodyguards and shit after immediately seeing tons of abject poverty and not making the connection that hey maybe this super powerful influential dude (who was formerly sovereign of a serfdom) is not this magnanimous gracious jesus-like figure you think he is.
Overall, fine I guess, but a bit too pop-psych for me.
A LOT of the book is about monks and meditation. Which is fine, I guess, but not quite what I signed up for. Also rolled my eyes a lot about how much this dude loves the Dalai Lama. Imagine going to this big fancy rich palace with bodyguards and shit after immediately seeing tons of abject poverty and not making the connection that hey maybe this super powerful influential dude (who was formerly sovereign of a serfdom) is not this magnanimous gracious jesus-like figure you think he is.
Overall, fine I guess, but a bit too pop-psych for me.
Davidson narration is refined and provides a throughout understanding of presenting complex scientific research into an introductory manner. Main topic(s) such as the six foundational brain patterns are conveyed in scientific depth, opening a dialogue for the audience to comprehend the significance brain patterns have in daily life. He writing style is scientific and assimilates case-studies and own autobiographical segments to provide a case and point validation.
As a student of psychology and counseling, i found the book to bring forth new insights about cognitive functioning, the importance of meditation, and the ability of the brain to re-learn past patterns.
As a student of psychology and counseling, i found the book to bring forth new insights about cognitive functioning, the importance of meditation, and the ability of the brain to re-learn past patterns.
Davidson shares about his research journey on the relationship between emotional styles and areas of the brain, and how our practices can change the neurotic connections in our brain in which direct us to a desired emotional styles.
I found it a waste of time because I thought there's some surprising findings when it's about the more you practise something, your neural connections become stronger in those areas.
Half of the 'strategies' to shift our emotional styles are about doing mindful meditations. I don't feel particularly inspired in any way.
Apart from raising my awareness of different emotional styles that could have been condensed into a chapter, that's about it.
This book is for you if you are interested in Davidson's research journey or deeply interested in neuroscience or don't know much about the study of emotions.
I found it a waste of time because I thought there's some surprising findings when it's about the more you practise something, your neural connections become stronger in those areas.
Half of the 'strategies' to shift our emotional styles are about doing mindful meditations. I don't feel particularly inspired in any way.
Apart from raising my awareness of different emotional styles that could have been condensed into a chapter, that's about it.
This book is for you if you are interested in Davidson's research journey or deeply interested in neuroscience or don't know much about the study of emotions.
When I started this book, I had no idea it was to deal with the psychological benefits of meditation. This summer marks the beginning of my meditative life, and I have already noticed some inner changes that have taken place as a result of this time that I've dedicated to internal focus. This book was helpful in that it provided me with the empirical data that I require before I can fully embrace things. If you're skeptical about the effects that meditation can have on your life, this book might attenuate that skepticism - as it did mine.
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
My first-five-minute impression is, forgive me for the term, intellectual porn/huge chocolate brownie a la mode.
He has a bit of an issue with picking one aspect and fully exploring it, while leaving other areas in the dark. Like with autism, which he tries to explain the whole condition with eye aversion. It must be remembered that this is not a book about autism, and so his only purpose in discussing autism is to examine the connection between physical and emotional knowledge.
He has a bit of an issue with picking one aspect and fully exploring it, while leaving other areas in the dark. Like with autism, which he tries to explain the whole condition with eye aversion. It must be remembered that this is not a book about autism, and so his only purpose in discussing autism is to examine the connection between physical and emotional knowledge.
I enjoyed this books but I must confess I found it to be a bit of a bait and switch. The introduction promises a revision of personality types with a more neurological backed "emotional styles" but first you have to get through a sizable chunk of the author's early professional life - not the worst story to be honest and I enjoyed reading their journey, just a little 'not what was advertised'
A similar issue happens when the author switches to the benefits of meditation, again a very interesting/actually part of the highlight of the book for me, hearing about the author's strange attempts to access expert monks to study meditation.
The last few sections felt a little brushed over which is a shame because that section was actually about improving one's situation not just classifying different styles.
Overall I wouldn't rate this an absolute must read, but if you like neurology and meditation then it is for you!
A similar issue happens when the author switches to the benefits of meditation, again a very interesting/actually part of the highlight of the book for me, hearing about the author's strange attempts to access expert monks to study meditation.
The last few sections felt a little brushed over which is a shame because that section was actually about improving one's situation not just classifying different styles.
Overall I wouldn't rate this an absolute must read, but if you like neurology and meditation then it is for you!
