Customer Reviews

Galen's Prophecy: Temperament in Human Nature

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Galen's Prophecy was a stretch for my intellect; it is, afterall, a presentation of scientific research. However, when it was written (early to mid-1990's), it was cutting-edge research in temperament. At the time, I was desperate for answers about the agonies of anxiety and shyness that colored my childhood and followed me into adulthood. It was personally liberating to read Kagan's solid evidence that we are born with our temperamental tendencies. In our culture, where extroversion is desired and rewarded, it's easy for we introverts to feel inadequate or flawed. Kagan's research has paved the way for newer books on shyness and tempereament written for the lay person. Extroverts may never understand the debt of gratitude we introverts owe to Dr. Kagan.

This book is a must read for anyone who wishes to understand the individual differences in people. Kagan, a Havard Professor, fills this book with information relevant to all areas in psychology. I referred to it many time for my thesis.

The author is all over the place. He skips around so much that the first couple of chapters come across like a bunch of unconnected cliches. I am usually a positive reviewer, but this book reminded me of the kind of garbage college students write when they don't know what they are talking about. Sorry professor.