We have all been convinced that the key to success is to think rationally. However, at the cutting edge of science, researchers discover that equally important to thinking is feeling and building our lives based on both these pillars.

You make hundreds of decisions daily, from what to eat for breakfast to where to invest, and none of them could be made without emotions. It has long been said that thinking and feeling are separate and opposing forces that influence our behavior. But as Leonard Mlodinow tells us, the remarkable advances in psychology and neuroscience have proven that emotions are as critical to our well-being as thinking.

How can you communicate better with others? How can you unravel your confusion, fear, and anxiety? What can you do to live a happier life? The answers will come when you understand your emotions. On a journey from the laboratories of pioneering scientists to real-world scenarios flirting with disaster, the author shows us how our emotions can help, why sometimes they hurt, and what we can learn in both cases.

Diving insightfully into our evolution and psychology, Mlodinow gives us the tools to better understand our emotions and maximize their benefits. Written with his characteristic clarity and captivating stories, Emotion explores the new science of feelings and offers us an important guide to make the most of one of nature’s greatest gifts.