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Dacher Keltner
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Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life First Edition

by Dacher Keltner (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 118 ratings
See all formats and editions

A new examination of the surprising origins of human goodness.

In Born to Be Good, Dacher Keltner demonstrates that humans are not hardwired to lead lives that are "nasty, brutish, and short"―we are in fact born to be good. He investigates an old mystery of human evolution: why have we evolved positive emotions like gratitude, amusement, awe, and compassion that promote ethical action and are the fabric of cooperative societies?By combining stories of scientific discovery, personal narrative, and Eastern philosophy, Keltner illustrates his discussions with more than fifty photographs of human emotions. Born to Be Good is a profound study of how emotion is the key to living the good life and how the path to happiness goes through human emotions that connect people to one another.60 photographs
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  1. ISBN-10
    039306512X
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0393065121
  3. Edition
    First Edition
  4. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  5. Publication date
    January 12, 2009
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.2 x 9.6 inches
  8. Print length
    336 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Starred Review. A landmark book in the science of emotion and its implications for ethics and human universals, this is essential for all libraries."
― Library Journal

About the Author

Dacher Keltner is the Thomas and Ruth Ann Hornaday professor of psychology and the director of the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. He has taught social psychology for the past 18 years and is the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award for Letters and Sciences. His research focuses on the prosocial emotions (such as love, sympathy, and gratitude), morality, and power. Other awards include the Western Psychological Association’s award for outstanding contribution to research, the Positive Psychology Prize for excellence in research, and the Ed and Carol Diener mid-career award for research excellence in social psychology. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, and the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. In 2008, the Utne Reader listed Dacher as one of the 50 visionaries changing the world.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; First Edition (January 12, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 039306512X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393065121
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.35 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.2 x 9.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 118 ratings

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Dacher Keltner

Dacher Keltner

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
118 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the well-researched content that conveys scientific research into evolution. The emotional content is positive and warm-hearted, focusing on love, compassion, and awe.

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ReadabilityResearch qualityEmotional content
9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it a fun, easy, and warm-hearted read. However, some readers feel the content is not light reading.

"...It is not light reading, however...." Read more

"...This is a nice book and is very optimistic about the world. However it does not come it from everyone's perspective." Read more

"...If you enjoy reading positive psychology, this is not a bad book. I enjoyed it as a leisurely read over a few nights...." Read more

"this is a fascinating and fabulous book.Professor Keltner succeeds in advancing a fascinating extension of the work of Darwin...." Read more

8 customers mention "Research quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's research quality good. They say it's well-researched and contains interesting information about evolution and human minds. The notes are useful for further reading on smiles, embarrassment, laughter, touch, and Darwin's work.

"Keltner's book is a excellent examination of research supporting the more "bright side" of what drives humanity...." Read more

"...It is not light reading, however. It is a book that conveys scientific research into how evolution plays such a large part in human emotions, even..." Read more

"This book brings up a lot of interesting reasons to why we should be good and that it is natural for us to be...." Read more

"this is a fascinating and fabulous book.Professor Keltner succeeds in advancing a fascinating extension of the work of Darwin...." Read more

7 customers mention "Emotional content"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's emotional content positive and warm-hearted. They appreciate the comprehensive account of love, compassion, and awe. The book is optimistic about the world and shows common threads between animals and humans. Readers also mention Darwin and evolutionary psychology.

"...book for several reasons, not the least of which is the positive slant on human emotion instead of the constant barrage of negative and cynical..." Read more

"...This is a nice book and is very optimistic about the world. However it does not come it from everyone's perspective." Read more

"...a few words: Darwin and evolutionary psychology are good; positive emotions are good; helping others experience positive emotions is good; the face..." Read more

"This book includes a breadth of examples from many cultures, art, and literature from the time of the Greeks to the modern period on the meaning of..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Keith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good review of the research!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Keltner's book is a excellent examination of research supporting the more "bright side" of what drives humanity. There are those who suggest that man in inherently evil ... needing to be "tamed" from his animalistic ways. Side note: so many of these folks likely have quite an extensive assortment of "religious trauma" in their lives, where the fictitious concept of black/white, all or nothing, heaven or hell, yes/no, etc. is guiding their view of humanity ... in a world where one might suggest that everything is grey. :( Granted, I hold out hope for these pessimistic dears. Yet, this compilation is a beautiful exploration which doesn't push folks one way or the other. Rather, it allows us to determine our own conclusion as to what is at play.

    I would agree that the subtitle is a tad misleading ... but hard to rewrite. The "science behind" part is super solid! Yet, a "meaningful life" is likely so subjective a phrase that people take it to extremes. Even if we went with "the science supporting being a good human" that might be a challenge. Nevertheless, it does not detract from the outstanding material presented in this book. I got a lot out of it. Thank you Dacher Kelter for the effort put into this work.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Pat
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
    Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2013
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    I really enjoyed this book for several reasons, not the least of which is the positive slant on human emotion instead of the constant barrage of negative and cynical information we are exposed to every day. It is not light reading, however. It is a book that conveys scientific research into how evolution plays such a large part in human emotions, even down to facial expressions. It is a fascinating layman's look into the world of social psychology and the study of prosocial human emotion. Highly recommended!
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Calvin
    4.0 out of 5 stars Nice, optimistic book
    Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2015
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    This book brings up a lot of interesting reasons to why we should be good and that it is natural for us to be. It is a nice, easy read, and very warm hearted. I voted 4 stars because after reading the book, it did not convince me that we were "born to be good", but rather "born good". There is no mention throughout the book of reasons why people would not be good. I happened to take the book in a more literal sense, but it still holds true. There are many situations in people's lives that does not permit them to choose the most righteous path. Perhaps those of us fortunate to be born in a first world country or to a good family has the ability and the means to be good. But those of us born elsewhere, not in the greatest of situations simply can't do that to survive.

    This is a nice book and is very optimistic about the world. However it does not come it from everyone's perspective.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • DAW
    5.0 out of 5 stars Psychology and Sociology come together
    Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Keltner has done a masterful job of showing us how socialization really works. We are not entirely a blank slate and not entirely not one. We have a hard-wired capacity to learn language, pretty much everyone knows this by now, but we also have a hard-wired capacity to create community solidarity, and culture. We are far more inclined to attach and bond than to fight -- within our small community, at least. Keltner nails down exactly how this manifests bio-chemically. How the rational part of our brain develops, and can only develop, through social interaction, how it produces chemical rewards when we get it right, and how incredibly adaptive to our environment this makes us. He hints at, but does not quite explore the idea that when one community dominates and exploits another (where "others" are concerned, the drive to bond competes about equally with the drive to out-survive -- another theme Kelter hints at and might have explored in more depth), the dominators may quite cleverly institute policies that disrupt community connectivity among the dominated. For example, Puritans proscriptions against hugging, kissing, dancing and singing surely enhanced the ability of controlling elites to manage somewhat demoralized masses. But the book including this kind of speculation, and many others implied by recent discoveries in attachment and brain plasticity research remains to be written. Maybe Kelter will do it
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Doctor Robert
    3.0 out of 5 stars Quick, fluffy, puffy, and fun read...
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    The entire book can be summarized in just a few words: Darwin and evolutionary psychology are good; positive emotions are good; helping others experience positive emotions is good; the face and other non-verbals are good indicators of emotions; Dr. Paul Ekman is good; HHDL is good; jen is really good; and we can all be good if we choose to be.

    If you enjoy reading positive psychology, this is not a bad book. I enjoyed it as a leisurely read over a few nights. I do wish the author had used a traditional list of references and notes to summarize his sources. I suspect there are better books on the horizon for Dr. Keltner...
    31 people found this helpful
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  • Daniel Mulhern
    5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT work! Fascinating!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    this is a fascinating and fabulous book.Professor Keltner succeeds in advancing a fascinating extension of the work of Darwin. At the same time, he pulls the storyline through with instance after instance of revealing observations of modern-day behavior. His clinical work, in psych labs at Berkeley, is fascinating. At the same time he tells stories about his own daughters, which are reminiscent of those we all experience as parents.
    On top of this, he weaves in the most current brain research, creating an incredibly well rounded and totally readable book. I can't wait to read what's next from him.
    (Disclaimer: I also teach at Cal Berkeley, where Keltner is revered as a teacher and researcher. I find him to be both genuine and kind personally.)
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive account of the emotions of love, compassion, and awe
    Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This book includes a breadth of examples from many cultures, art, and literature from the time of the Greeks to the modern period on the meaning of facial expressions and the effects of neuropeptides on the emotions that makes it easy and engaging to read. The focus is on the jen ratio (the balance of good and bad in one's life). The notes are invaluable for further reading on the smile, embarrassment, laughter, touch, and love among animals and humans, showing the common threads that link all of us.
    13 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Phil
    4.0 out of 5 stars Dacher Keltner is a good, personable story teller with a sense of humour ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Fascinating and well-researched, "Born to be Good" manages to present scholarly material in a very accessible way. Dacher Keltner is a good, personable story teller with a sense of humour that manages to enliven rather than to distract from his scholarship and message. A timely and meaningful book. Highly recommended.
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  • vicky gaughan
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 15, 2015
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    Good
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