Emotional Awareness: Overcoming the Obstacles to Emotional Balance and Compassion

I have a decided bias in favor of the audible books that are read by the author, versus those that are read by a 'professional.' So here you have the voice of Paul Ekman, the author, and his meeting with the Dalai Lama. Psychology professor Paul Ekman is renowned for his study of body language and facial expressions. His narration of the transcript of meetings between himself and the spiritual leader the Dalai Lama explores much of his research as seen through the eyes of His Holiness. Actor Richard Gere plays the part of the Dalai Lama in most of the conversations, using a strange, halting impression. Much of the information is insightful and entertaining. This audiobook is recommended for anyone who would like to eavesdrop on these two fascinating individuals and is a wonderful way to experience the material.

Emotions unite and divide the worlds in which we live, both personal and global, motivating the best and the worst of our actions. They save our lives, enabling quick action in emergencies. Yet how we behave when we are emotional can make our lives, and the lives of those we care about, miserable. Without emotions there would be no heroism, empathy, or compassion, but neither would there be cruelty, selfishness, nor spite. Bringing different perspectives to bear;Eastern and Western, spirituality and science, Buddhism and psychology;the Dalai Lama and I sought to clarify these contradictions and illuminate some paths that might enable a balanced emotional life and a feeling of compassion that can reach across the globe.

There is the potential for some interesting insights in the premise for this book. But the author clearly approaches Buddhist wisdom as a scientist would examining primitive insights into cosmology. He holds his ideas in high esteem and looks for confirmation of them by the Dalai Lama, but has little interest in modifying them based on anything the Dalai Lama might have to say. The fact that the author reads his own material just accentuates the egotism evident in the text, and is very distracting. Too bad, could have been great.

I adore Richard Gere and enjoy studying Paul Ekman's work but this was rather hard to listen to. It's very solitary not funny and remnant of sitting in a monotone college lecture.

More antidotes, a story line that can bring you in to make an analogy of the science behind the work. It just needs something to pull you in. It's very hard to understand the Dalai Lama and Paul Ekman talking but interesting to hear their world views. I was hoping to learn more about Paul Ekman's work and how it works.

It's a little monotone.

No

It was sometimes confusing to tell who's thoughts were being portrayed because there was a third voice that chimmed in from time to time but if you are interested in human emotions this is an incredible opportunity to get some very valuable knowledge.

Made me think

I can broaden one's point of view.

It didn't sound like it was one guy talking the whole way through?

address the issue not the person and work on being compassionate.

Initially I thought

Humble, Intelligent, Clear

HH The Dalai Lama, it's obvious why.

His voice is familiar and easy to follow.

No

Everything written by HH The Dalai Lama is amazing.