Emotional Rollercoaster: A Journey Through the Science of Feelings

by Claudia Hammond

We cannot help but be fascinated by the emotions that we see in ourselves and an absorbing book exploring the extraordinary feelings which make us human, from a rising media star. Claudia Hammond wrote and presented the acclaimed and very popular Radio 4 series 'Emotional Rollercoaster' which explored the science of what they are, why they happen and how they are created. Emotional Rollercoaster takes the reader through the full spectrum of fear, sadness, anger, happiness, disgust, hate, jealousy, love, sympathy and guilt. It traces the progress from fear, which is present from birth, to more complex emotions like sympathy and hope and explores the science behind them. Each emotion is vividly evoked by Claudia's experiences and those of others. This unique book explains clearly and memorably everything from why we feel better after a good cry to how bottling up your anger can be good for you. Packed with surprising discoveries and eccentric stories, Emotional Rollercoaster argues that emotions are far more complex than we realise.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2007

About the author

Claudia is an award-winning broadcaster, writer and psychology lecturer. She is the presenter of All in the Mind & Mind Changers on BBC Radio 4 and Health Check on BBC World Service Radio and BBC World News TV. She is a columnist for BBC.com and regularly appears on Impact on BBC World News to discuss research in psychology. Claudia is on the part-time faculty at Boston University's London base where she lectures in health and social psychology. She is an Associate Director of Hubbub - a 22 month residency examining the topic of rest at Wellcome Collection.

Reviews

[Lina Kvizikevičiūtė · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to mark all interesting, new facts I learnt while reading this book. All the book got marked. It was an easy yet very educating read

[Nassos · Rating 4 out of 5]

As expected it was very entertaining and informative. I've always enjoyed Claudia Hammond's endeavours be it on radio the newspaper or now a book. Splendid. I am so looking forward to her writing another one.

[Grania · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't really know how I FEEL about this....

[Ai-lin Kee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very easy to read book about where and what causes various emotional responses in us.

[Ketan Shah]

An entertaining summation of current scientific research into human emotion.Some of the experiments described are ingenious .Well worth reading.

[Maciek · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn’t really ground breaking book, however still quite a pleasant read.

[Derek Henderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hastily thrown together nuggets drawn from a range of studies. Annoying and unilluminating personal stories thrown in as hooks. This is poor stuff. And what happened to the proofreading? A PET scan is defined as 'positive' emission topography. Oops.