The Book of Human Emotions

Recent research suggests there are only six basic emotions. But if this makes you feel uneasy, suspicious and maybe even a little bereft, The Book of Human Emotions is for you. From anger to wanderlust, each entertaining and informative alphabetical entry reveals the surprising connections and fascinating facts behind our emotional lives.

Whether you're in search of the perfect word to sum up that cosy feeling you get from being inside on a cold winter's night, surrounded by friends and good food (what the Dutch call gezellig), or wondering how nostalgia evolved from a fatal illness to enjoyable self-indulgence, Tiffany Watt Smith covers the globe and draws on history, anthropology, science, art, literature, music and popular culture to find the answers.

Each emotion has its own story, part of a vast, rich and varied field, influencing every area of our lives. In reading it, you'll discover feelings you never knew you had (like basoerxia, the sudden urge to kiss someone) and gain unexpected insights into why we feel the way we do.

Published in partnership with the Wellcome Collection.

WELLCOME COLLECTION

Wellcome Collection is a free museum and library that aims to challenge how we think and feel about health. Inspired by the medical objects and curiosities collected by Henry Wellcome, it connects science, medicine, life and art. Wellcome Collection exhibitions, events and books explore a diverse range of subjects, including consciousness, forensic medicine, emotions, sexology, identity and death.