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Best books to learn The science of emotion, in order

Emotion is one of the few areas of science where the leading researchers do not agree on what the object of study is. One tradition, running from Darwin through Paul Ekman, holds that there is a small set of biologically basic emotions with distinctive facial expressions and physiological signatures, recognisable across cultures.

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Reading paths for the science of emotion

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Frequently asked questions

How should I approach learning the science of emotion?
Emotion is one of the few areas of science where the leading researchers do not agree on what the object of study is. One tradition, running from Darwin through Paul Ekman, holds that there is a small set of biologically basic emotions with distinctive facial expressions and physiological signatures, recognisable across cultures.
What's a good book to start the science of emotion with?
A strong starting point is The Feeling of What Happens by Antonio R. Damasio. The ordered reading paths above show exactly where it fits and what to read next.
What should I read after the science of emotion?
Once you have the fundamentals, explore closely related subjects like Women in science, The replication crisis in science.

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