The experience of awe — of a sense of vast, mysterious wonderment — may feel beyond classification or definition. But recently, awe as an emotion has been deeply probed, and the results are fascinating. Scientist Dacher Keltner, who has pioneered the study of awe, argues that awe allows us to make connections that break down our sense of isolation and can lead to more cooperative ways of seeing and being in the world. (Full-length interview.)
Resources:
Dacher Keltner, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life Penguin Press, 2023
Photo credit: Natalie Keltner-McNeil