How can we all live happier, more fulfilling lives? THIS EMOTIONAL LIFE explores ways we can improve our social relationships, learn to cope with problems like depression and anxiety, and become more positive and resilient individuals. Host Daniel Gilbert, Harvard psychologist and best-selling author of Stumbling on Happiness, talks with experts about the latest scientific understanding of our emotions and how we can find support for the issues we all face. Each episode weaves t Read more…
February 21st, 2010 on 4:24 pm
I just saw this 6-hour presentation on PBS. It deals with emotions, happiness, and related neurobiology. The host is Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard psychologist who is very qualified for this role. The presentation presents interesting findings from studies during the past few decades, many of which may not be well-known to the general public and may therefore be eye-opening, so I can recommend it to people new to this topic. However, for people already somewhat familiar with this topic, or who want to go into more depth, this presentation may feel somewhat superficial relative to its length, and so more in the “edutainment” category, though I did find some of the case studies to be very interesting, especially those dealing with married couples. To go beyond this presentation, I highly recommend reading some of the excellent books on this topic, such as Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert himself, The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt, and The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner (three of my favorites). Also, Gilbert is doubtful about much of self-help literature, though he acknowledges that some of it is good and useful. In this regard, I highly recommend Self-Help Stuff That Works by Adam Khan.
February 21st, 2010 on 5:19 pm
This was aired on Channel 13 (PBS) for the last three nights from 9 p.m. to 11:p.m. “This Emotional Life” is extremely educational in all areas. From babies to the elderly. Depression, happiness, anger and helplessness in all ages. I am a 66 yr. old female, a mother, grandmother and friend to many. I would recommend this highly.