Synopses & Reviews
Why do dogs wag their tails and cats purr? Why do we get embarrassed, and why does embarrassment make us blush? Why do we frown when we're disappointed? These any many other questions about the emotional life of humans and animals are answered in this remarkable book.
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals was an immediate best-seller when it was first published in 1872 and still provides the point of departure for research into emotion and facial expression. In his study of infants and children (including delightful observations of his own baby's smiles and pouts), of the insane, of painting and sculpture, of cats and dogs and monkeys, and of the ways that people in different cultures express their feelings, Darwin's insights have not been surpassed by modern science. This definitive edition contains a substantial new Introduction and Afterword by Paul Ekman. Ekman also provides commentaries that use the latest scientific knowledge to elaborate, support, and occasionally challenge Darwin's study. When it originally appeared, this was the first scientific book to contain photographic reproductions. For this edition, Ekman has returned to Darwin's original notes in order to produce, for the first time, a corrected, authoritative text illustrated by drawings and photographs positioned exactly as its author intended.
The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals reminds us that, in addition to being the nineteenth century's most influential thinker, Darwin was also a writer of consummate skill. Beautifully and profusely illustrated, and filled with insights that immediately ring true, this new edition promises to delight and enthrall a new generation of readers.
Review
"Over many years, while engaged on other work, Darwin was researching the Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, his most extraordinary and approachable book, rich in observed detail and brilliant speculation, beautifully illustrated--one of the first scientific books to use photographs, including some of his own baby pouting and laughing--and now available in a third edition, prepared and annotated by the great American psychologist of the emotions, Paul Ekman... Darwin's book was out of favour for a long time after his death. The climate of opinion has changed now, and Ekman's superb edition is a major publishing event and has been enthusiastically welcomed."-- From a lecture, entitled Science and Human Nature, given at Oxford University by Ian McEwan
Review
"Scholarship at its best.... The strength of Darwin's writing still shines through, as well as hes drive to explain the form of each emotional expression.... this new book will be required reading for Darwin scholars of emotion."--Nature
"The appearance of this new edition of Darwin's extraordinary book is a major event in the human sciences."--Steven Pinker
"Darwin's most readable and human book, full of enchanting observations, provocative theories, and remarkable photographs.... This new comprehensive edition of Expression will introduce a new generation of readers to Darwin's masterpiece, undiminished and intensely relevant even 125 years after publication."--Oliver Sacks
"Over many years, while engaged on other work, Darwin was researching the Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, his most extraordinary and approachable book, rich in observed detailed and brilliant speculation, beautifully illustrated--one of the first scientific books to use photographs, including some of his own baby pouting and laughing--and now available in a third edition, prepared and annotated by the great American psychologist of the emotions, Paul Ekman... Darwin's book was out of favour for a long time after his death. The climate of opinion has changed now, and Ekman's superb edition is a major published event and has been enthusiastically welcomed."--From a lecture, entitled Science and Human Nature, given at Oxford University by Ian McEwan
Synopsis
In his study of infants and children (including observations of his own baby's smiles and pouts), of the insane, of painting and sculpture, of cats and dogs and monkeys, and of the ways that people in different cultures express their feelings, Darwin's insights have not been surpassed by modern science.
This definitive edition of Darwin's masterpiece contains a substantial new Introduction and Afterword by Paul Ekman. Ekman also provides commentaries that use the latest scientific knowledge to elaborate, support, and occasionally challenge Darwin's study. For this edition, Ekman has returned to Darwin's original notes in order to produce for the first time a corrected, authoritative text illustrated by drawings and photographs positioned exactly as its author intended.
"This new edition of Darwin's extraordinary book is a major event in the human sciences."-Steven Pinker
"This new comprehensive edition of Expression will introduce a new generation of readers to Darwin's masterpiece, undiminished and intensely relevant even 125 years after publication."-Oliver Sacks
"Ekman's contribution to his edition of Darwin's 1872 monograph can count as a book in its own right."-Ian Hacking, Times Literary Supplement
About the Author
Paul Ekman is Professor Psychology at the University of California at San Francisco. He is the editor of
Darwin and Facial Expression and
The Nature of Emotion, and author of
Telling Lies: Clues to Deceit in the Marketplace, Politics, and Marriage. He lives in San Francisco.