Joy, Guilt, Anger, Love

Praise

“In Frazzetto’s book, the Italian researcher and writer offers a fine primer on six emotions plus empathy. But before diving into the biology of each emotion (the role of the amygdala in fear and of serotonin reuptake in grief), he inspects his target through the lenses of psychology, philosophy, art and personal experience. What you see is that poetry offers more insight into our feelings than does neuroanatomy or biochemistry.”

—Washington Post
 
“Neuroscientist Giovanni Frazzetto enters the restless realm of human emotion through the portals of physiology, genetics, history, art and philosophy. Anger, guilt, anxiety, grief, empathy, joy and love are anatomized in turn, enlivened with research on everything from the role of monoamine oxidase A in anger to the engagement of opioid receptors as we thrill to music. And who knew that surrealist Salvador Dali created an art installation in the shape of a giant caterpillar to explore the process of sedation?”
—Nature
 
“A remarkable look at the power of human emotion and the overuse of science in justifying human nature. . . . Refreshing. . . . Interweaving psychological and scientific experiments with endearing personal anecdotes and historical retellings, Frazzetto shows that we are, indeed, more than the sum of our brain scans. While his knowledge of case studies is impressive, it’s his own dealings with strong emotions like grief and love that make the book appealing. . . .  Frazzetto has produced an homage to the history and of mankind’s devotion to flights of the heart and sparks of the brain.”
—Publishers Weekly
 
“[An] intriguing book . . . . An enjoyable illumination of ‘that most private and shadowy territory, our emotions.”
—Kirkus Reviews
 
“A masterful meld of science, art, and memoir on what makes us human.”
—Allen Frances, author of Saving Normal
 
“Engaging… very refreshing. His analogies and images when explaining the science are often illuminating and sometimes inspired.”
—Henry Marsh, The Times, UK

“Wonderfully lucid.”
—Lisa Appignanesi, author of Mad, Bad and Sad and All About Love

“Intriguing… eye-opening. Frazzetto explains with admirable clarity.”
—James McConnachie, The Sunday Times, UK

“Frazzetto’s book guides readers through the latest neurological research, stopping at each revelation to question what has been discovered.”
—Philip Maughan, The New Statesman

“I finished feeling that I had learned a lot effortlessly … his expressive style of writing is very enjoyable to read.”
—Matt Chorley, Popular Science UK