Decades of research is predicated on the idea that the brain contains distinct pathways for each emotion, that these emotions are conserved by evolution (and thus seen in our furry friends), and that they manifest as distinct facial expressions that are often labelled "primary" emotions. Happiness, sadness, anger and the rest are not represented by specific circuits within the brain but are rather constructed in each particular instance. It is admittedly a bold argument, and Barrett, a professor of psychology at Northeastern University, puts it forward without hesitation: Our common conception of emotions is false. While Barrett's book does present a provocative theory, much of it is vague and unnecessary, much like its subtitle ( The Secret Life of the Brain), and large swaths of the text don't further the author's argument. Good pop science books challenge the reader with new ideas that are both convincing and useful, all the while maintaining their interest – a page-turner that makes you smarter. Lisa Feldman Barrett's How Emotions Are Made is not a good pop science book.
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