The Subtlety of Emotions

I found this book because I wanted to read a scientific treatise talking about the diversity and entanglement of emotions. I have been reading the book from time to time and I have enjoyed it a lot. Between the features I liked the most, is that Ben-Ze'ev aims to present an organized view of emotions, defining characteristic features which he later uses to distinguish and categorize different types of affective phenomena. The book is not a simple one, his categorization efforts make it detailed and scholarly. For me, sometimes it reads more like a textbook than a more general book. However, the author makes it simple by borrowing information from "common sense" knowledge, literature and daily events. This mixture of informality and stringency makes it a worthy book, as it is very easy to make sloppy statements in this field. Additionally, it is extensive: half of the book is devoted to build a general framework describing different features of affective phenomena, while the second halve examines each important emotion in detail. I would recommend the book to any person interested in a structured yet accessible description of emotions.

"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are" (Anais Nin). The Subtlety of Emotions is an intellectual exposé revealing the meaning, delineation, definition, difference between, and explanation of emotions. This book is the culmination of Ben-Ze'ev's intensive ten year study of emotions - fulfilling his desire to bring a conceptual framework to the classification and understanding of emotions. Ben Ze'ev argues that emotions are "functional, and in a sense also rationale" (p. 243) and it is within this environment that Ben-Ze'ev creates an atmosphere to explore the terrain where emotions and morality meet. "Although emotions punctuate almost all the significant events in our lives, the nature, causes, and consequences of the emotions are among the least understood aspects of human experience" (p. xiii). While we deeply desire understanding, grasping the essence of emotion has been sometimes elusive. Within these pages, Ben Ze'ev introduces an interdisciplinary approach to focus on the aspects of emotion over which we have choice. Ben Ze'ev provides a liberating perspective, one that frees us to approach emotions with an expanded awareness concerning our locus of control. Ben Ze'ev believes that knowledge is neither an "obstacle to happiness" nor is it a secure and guaranteed road to happiness (p. 533). He proposes that knowledge and insight offer the opportunity to increase positive emotions and decrease the intensity and frequency of negative emotions. He further suggests that the moral connection to emotions lives in the power of our own consciousness in understanding emotions, and then choosing rather than unconsciously reacting to life situations. The Subtlety of Emotions clearly presents the necessary knowledge and insight for empowering us to make intelligent and ethical choices. Throughout the book, Ben-Ze'ev offers wise and humorous quotes from various sources ranging from pop music lyrics to diverse and timeless individuals such as Shakespeare and Mae West. The inclusion of quotes throughout the book not only brings levity but also offers a different, often lateral or wider perspective, to the content. I carefully read every single word in this book - some passages two or three times. Here is a philosophical text that is relevant to all of us and, in the purest sense, practical. Some aspects of the book that were of particular interest to me included the analysis of emotions through their division into four basic components: cognition, evaluation, motivation, and feeling. I find this useful for working with clients who desire a deeper understanding of themselves and their life choices; it is a powerful educational tool. This close scrutiny of the components of emotions is helpful in imparting a sense of inner power and efficacy, where conscious decision-making becomes more evident. Ben Ze'ev's discussion of emotions tendered the opportunity to view our innate human concerns from fresh perspectives and to further invest