Looking for Spinoza

A famed neuroscientist explores the emotions that make life worth living in “clear, accessible, and at times eloquent prose” ( San Francisco Chronicle ).   In the seventeenth century, the philosopher Spinoza examined the role emotion played in human survival and culture. Yet, the neurobiological roots of joy and sorrow remained a mystery. Today, we spend countless resources doctoring our feelings with alcohol, prescription drugs, health clubs, therapy, vacation retreats, and other sorts of