Born to Be Good
The Science of a Meaningful Life
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Narrated by:
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Marc Vietor
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By:
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Dacher Keltner
About this listen
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? 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.
NOTE: Some changes to the original text have been made with the author's approval.
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Our species, it appears, is hardwired to get things wrong in myriad different ways. Why did recipients of a loan offer accept a higher rate of interest when a pretty woman's face was printed on the flyer? Why did one poll on immigration find the most despised aliens were ones from a group that did not exist? What made four of the Air Force's best pilots fly their planes, in formation, straight into the ground?
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A tour de force
- By Ivan on 07-05-11
By: Michael Kaplan, and others
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The Self Illusion
- Why There Is No "You" Inside Your Head
- By: Bruce Hood
- Narrated by: Bruce Hood
- Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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The Self Illusion provides a fascinating examination of how the latest science shows that our individual concept of a self is in fact an illusion. Most of us believe that we possess a self - an internal individual who resides inside our bodies, making decisions, authoring actions and possessing free will. The feeling that a single, unified, enduring self inhabits the body is compelling and inescapable. But that sovereignty of the self is increasingly under threat from science as our understanding of the brain advances.
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Disappointing
- By David R Pinsof on 05-10-12
By: Bruce Hood
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The Science of Happily Ever After
- What Really Matters in the Quest for Enduring Love
- By: Ty Tashiro
- Narrated by: Chris Chappell
- Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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In this playful and informative exploration of the science behind how to choose a great mate, acclaimed relationship psychologist Dr. Ty Tashiro explores how to find enduring love. Dr. Tashiro translates reams of scientific studies and research data into the first audiobook to revolutionize the way we search for love. His research pinpoints why our decision-making abilities seem to fail when it comes to choosing mates and how we can make smarter choices.
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Simplistic advice...
- By R. Steiner on 02-14-17
By: Ty Tashiro
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The Energies of Love
- Using Energy Medicine to Keep Your Relationship Thriving
- By: Donna Eden, David Feinstein
- Narrated by: Melissa Hurst
- Length: 16 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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In this groundbreaking audiobook, Donna Eden and David Feinstein (authors of Energy Medicine and Energy Medicine for Women) draw on the real-life experiences of couples who have attended their popular "Energies of Love" workshops, as well as their own relationship as husband and wife, to show how an understanding of your energy system and that of your partner can help you build a more harmonious and loving bond.
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If Only
- By Brenda on 07-14-15
By: Donna Eden, and others
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Sex, Time, and Power
- How Women's Sexuality Shaped Human Evolution
- By: Leonard Shlain
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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Sex, Time, and Power offers a tantalizing answer to an age-old question: Why did big-brained Homo sapiens suddenly emerge some 150,000 years ago? The key, according to Shlain, is female sexuality. Drawing on an awesome breadth of research, he shows how, long ago, the narrowness of the newly bipedal human female's pelvis and the increasing size of infants' heads precipitated a crisis for the species. Natural selection allowed for reconfiguration of hormonal cycles, entraining women with the periodicity of the moon - and imbuing women with the concept of time.
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Interesting conjecture
- By DJKPP on 10-15-20
By: Leonard Shlain
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The Mind Club
- Who Thinks, What Feels, and Why It Matters
- By: Daniel M. Wegner, Kurt Gray
- Narrated by: David Marantz
- Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Nothing seems more real than the minds of other people. When you consider what your boss is thinking or whether your spouse is happy, you are admitting them into the "mind club". It's easy to assume other humans can think and feel, but what about a cow, a computer, a corporation? What kinds of minds do they have? Daniel M. Wegner and Kurt Gray are award-winning psychologists who have discovered that minds - while incredibly important - are a matter of perception.
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Who is the self in me? Am I part of something bigger?
- By Philomath on 03-24-16
By: Daniel M. Wegner, and others
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Born for Love
- Why Empathy Is Essential - and Endangered
- By: Bruce D. Perry, Maia Szalavitz
- Narrated by: Corey M. Snow
- Length: 11 hrs
- Unabridged
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From birth, when babies' fingers instinctively cling to those of adults, their bodies and brains seek an intimate connection - a bond made possible by empathy, the remarkable ability to love and to share the feelings of others. In this unforgettable book, award-winning science journalist Maia Szalavitz and renowned child psychiatrist Bruce D. Perry explain how empathy develops, why it is essential both to human happiness and for a functional society, and how it is threatened in a modern world.
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Born for Love is a Rallying Call for Caring and Cry for Help
- By Jeffrey Olsen on 09-24-18
By: Bruce D. Perry, and others
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Perception
- How Our Bodies Shape Our Minds
- By: Dennis Proffitt, Drake Baer
- Narrated by: Angela Dawe
- Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Perception marries academic rigor with mainstream accessibility. The research presented and the personalities profiled will show what it means to not only have, but be, your unique human body. The positive ramifications of viewing ourselves from this embodied perspective include greater athletic, academic, and professional achievement, more nourishing relationships, and greater personal well-being. The better we can understand what our bodies are - what they excel at, what they need, what they must avoid - the better we can live our lives.
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The body-mind connection well explained
- By Lucy A. Pithecus on 12-11-22
By: Dennis Proffitt, and others
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Emotional Intelligence
- By: Daniel Goleman
- Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
- Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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It is the tenth anniversary since the first publication of Daniel Goleman's groundbreaking bestseller, Emotional Intelligence, which maps the territory where IQ meets EQ, where we apply what we know to how we live. Spending over a year on the New York Times bestseller list, Emotional Intelligence provided the evidence for what many successful people already knew: being smart isn't just a matter of mastering facts; it's a matter of mastering your own emotions and understanding the emotions of the people around you.
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Good info, hard to listen sometimes
- By Stephanie on 04-16-03
By: Daniel Goleman
What listeners say about Born to Be Good
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Libby Lies
- 05-10-23
The reader matters
The tone of the reading felt like a cross between and old-school radio DJ and a snooty lecture. This style of audiobook just doesn’t cut the mustard for me anymore. I’d much prefer nonfiction to be read by the author or by someone who seems passionate about the subject.
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- sexton
- 10-27-15
Well done, unique view of positive psychology
This book is an excellent review of awe, the vagal nerve of goosebumps, and especially of the facial expressions and their origins as they relate to how we function together in society. If you enjoy positive psychology books you will find this one refreshingly different from what is typically offered.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Suzy Brooks
- 07-30-24
It was Just Good
Dacher Keltner’s Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life offers an exploration into the science behind human emotions and the concept of the Jen ratio. As an educator with a keen interest in scientific insights and the intricacies of human behavior, I found the research studies presented in the book to be particularly interesting. Keltner’s ability to infuse humor into his writing made the scientific content more engaging and accessible, which kept me reading.
One of the standout aspects of the book is its deep dive into the science of facial expressions and the various emotions that shape our interactions. Learning about the Jen ratio and its implications for a meaningful life was new to me and thought-provoking. However, despite the wealth of information, I felt that the book fell short in providing practical guidance on how to develop the emotions necessary to improve the Jen ratio. The abrupt ending left me wanting more, as I expected a more comprehensive wrap-up and actionable steps. I know the book-in-print had photos and other contents at the end, but with an Audible version, I didn't have that.
While I appreciate the insights and the humor that Keltner brought to the table, the lack of a clear conclusion and practical advice ultimately led me to rate the book three stars. As someone who values positivity and optimism, it feels ironic to give a lower rating to a book that aims to promote a meaningful life. Nonetheless, Born to Be Good is a valuable read for those interested in the science of emotions and human behavior, even if it leaves some questions unanswered.
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- Douglas
- 11-24-13
I Got This Book...
because it was positively mentioned in Paul Zak's The Moral Molecule, and it sounded interesting--and it is! But, like with Zak's work, I have a qualification to make. Keltner does a great job of showing how positive emotions work, from the physiological to the social levels and why they have evolved to help us get along and for society to flourish. And all that is good. But like Zak, he shows only one side of the story. What about the negative emotions? They have evolved too, and with good purpose. If we wholeheartedly loved and trusted everyone all the time, we would great grossly taken advantage of. One could easily write a book solely on the negative emotions and call it Born To Be Bad (Keltner's title is perhaps his biggest sin here--clearly written as a draw on readers--a catchy hook). Don't get me wrong. It is a good analysis of the positive emotions and why we have them, but don't take this book alone as your sole guide. The Emotional Life Of The Brain is a much more complete book on neurology and the emotions, and I highly recommend that it be read directly after this one.
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9 people found this helpful
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- RRRedmond
- 01-22-22
Expected Better
Trying too hard to make subjective experiences seem like science. Was really looking for something research based.
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