Born to Be Good

"A landmark book in the science of emotions and its implications for ethics and human universals." -- Library Journal, starred review.

In this startling study of human emotion, Dacher Keltner investigates an unanswered question of human evolution: If humans are hardwired to lead lives that are "nasty, brutish, and short," why have we evolved with positive emotions like gratitude, amusement, awe, and compassion that promote ethical action and cooperative societies? Illustrated with more than fifty photographs of human emotions, Born to Be Good takes us on a journey through scientific discovery, personal narrative, and Eastern philosophy. Positive emotions, Keltner finds, lie at the core of human nature and shape our everyday behavior -- and they just may be the key to understanding how we can live our lives better.

“"A fresh and absolutely fascinating book."”

"A fact-filled, fun, and enlightened peek into our minds and hearts." -- Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence -- Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma "A bright, entertaining book ... [that] covers broad, interesting territory." -- Janet Maslin - The New York Times

Dacher Keltner is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, director of the Greater Good Science Center, and coeditor of Greater Good magazine. His research focuses on pro-social emotions, power, and moral reasoning.

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