Lisa Feldman Barrett, "Seven and a Half Lessons about the Brain" (Mariner Books, 2020)

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Oct 19, 2022

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ANECDOTE

Unexpected Research Path

Lisa Feldman Barrett initially focused on self-concept research in graduate school.
Early studies involving emotion measurement repeatedly failed, leading her to question existing theories.

INSIGHT

Overlapping Emotions

Standard emotion measures proved unreliable, revealing that common emotional categories overlap significantly.
This overlap challenged the assumption that emotions like sadness and fear are distinct entities.

INSIGHT

Myth of Universal Expressions

Contrary to common belief, there are no universally consistent facial expressions or physiological markers for specific emotions.
Lisa Feldman Barrett's research demonstrates that scowls don't always signal anger and smiles don't always mean happiness.

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Have you ever wondered why you have a brain? Let renowned neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett demystify that big gray blob between your ears. In Seven and a Half Lessons about the Brain (Mariner Books, 2020), Feldman reveals mind-expanding lessons from the front lines of neuroscience research. You’ll learn where brains came from, how they’re structured (and why it matters), and how yours works in tandem with other brains to create everything you experience. Along the way, you’ll also learn to dismiss popular myths such as the idea of a “lizard brain” and the alleged battle between thoughts and emotions, or even between nature and nurture, to determine your behavior.

Sure to intrigue casual readers and scientific veterans alike, Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain is full of surprises, humor, and important implications for human nature—a gift of a book that you will want to savor again and again.

Lisa Feldman Barrett, Ph.D.is among the top one percent most cited scientists in the world for her revolutionary research in psychology and neuroscience. She is a University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University. She also holds appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where she is Chief Science Officer for the Center for Law, Brain & Behavior.

She is the author of two books How Emotions are Made, and Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain. In addition, Dr. Barrett has published over 260 peer-reviewed, scientific papers appearing in Science, Nature Neuroscience, and other top journals in psychology and cognitive neuroscience. She has also given two popular TED talks one of which has over 6.5 million views.

Elizabeth Cronin, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and mindfulness meditation teacher with offices in Brookline and Norwood, MA. You can follow her on Instagram or visit her website.

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