Molecules Of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine

Molecules Of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine

By: Candace B. Pert  

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Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Why do we feel the way we feel? How do our thoughts and emotions affect our health? Are our bodies and minds distinct from each other or do they function together as parts of an interconnected system?

In her groundbreaking book Molecules of Emotion, Candace Pert provides startling and decisive answers to these and other challenging questions that scientists and philosophers have pondered for centuries.

Her pioneering research on how the chemicals inside our bodies form a dynamic information network, linking mind and body, is not only provocative, it is revolutionary. By establishing the biomolecular basis for our emotions and explaining these new scientific developments in a clear and accessible way, Pert empowers us to understand ourselves, our feelings, and the connection between our minds and our bodies -- body-minds -- in ways we could never possibly have imagined before.

Molecules of Emotion is a landmark work, full of insight and wisdom and possessing that rare power to change the way we see the world and ourselves.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Customer Review: 4 out of 5
Well-written, open and amusing - This is an extremely readable book, though containing much scientific material. It is graced by a foreword by Deepak Chopra.

The author, who is a neuroscientist, describes her pioneering research with neuropeptides and receptors, demonstrating on a concrete biological level how our emotions affect our body/health. The body and mind are one - bodymind.

As a female researcher in a chauvinistic work environment Pert relates how she is denied her share in a prestigious award, though she was the one playing the key role in the research.

At the same time as uncovering the physical effects of our emotions, she realizes the vital importance to our health of expressing them. And discovers that "the body is the unconscious mind" (which insight she shares with Joseph Murphy). She realizes the importance of forgiveness and a positive attitude and describes her transformation from a traditional top-ranking scientist to one with an understanding of the necessity of integrating holistic medicine with traditional medicine.

Pert writes openly, describing not only her ground-breaking research work (also in the field of AIDS) but also her personal life, work conflicts and spiritual development.

This is an extremely well-written, amusing book which I highly recommend.

Customer Review: 4 out of 5
Cutting Edge - Dr Candace Pert has been at the cutting edge of her field since the 70's. I see her as a brave woman who is prepared to make known to the general public where science is heading and the resistance involved. Unfortunately through the ages it has always been the same. We don't take to change and differing opinions very well. Yet here is an elite scientist who is doing truly valuable work. She is showing that this is the medicine of the future. Our physiology is determined by our environment and this creates who we are. It then gives us the opportunity to heal our bodies not just patch them up.
Dr Gunta Krumin-Caldwell author of On Silver Wings

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Beautifully written, life changing understanding - Candice Pert does a beautiful job developing her theory of the "molecules of emotion" by clearly taking the reader through her story allowing us to come to the same conclusions and understanding that have made her famous. She provides an insiders view into the world of scientific research at the highest levels exposing it's flaws and allowing us to understand a little more more about how research is conducted and why collaboration between scientists is discouraged. The step by step unraveling of her famous theory proves to us that our body is one big communication system and that mind and body are one. Her lifestyle suggestions at the end of the book are perfectly in line with all of the research I have done into health and wellness. The more we know about the bodymind system the more we can scientifically prove that our thoughts, emotions, actions, spirituality, and health are all interrelated. Candice Pert's book is highly recommended for anyone wanting to understand this connection at a deeper level.

Customer Review: 1 out of 5
Very disappointing - I don't have much to add to the other comments in the "1-star" category. Not only is the author condescending by constantly referring to her colleauges as "we scientists", her style is irritating and unfocused, and spends half the book not so much speaking about the actual "molecules of emotion", but her fuzzy ideas about how they align with the prana and chi of Indian and Chinese mythology respectively.

There are many other better books, as others have noted. Oliver Sacks writes well for the layperson, and doesn't get drawn into the holistic school of alternative therapy.

Customer Review: 2 out of 5
Narcissistic science - Pert interweaves the story of her life, the story of the progression of her feelings at a lecture she gave, and the story of how she isolated brain receptors. I enjoy human-interest science history when the human-interest provides a context for the science being done. Pert tilts the balance so far toward the human-interest component that the science becomes merely an excuse for exploring her psyche. A good book to get from the library; skim the Pert story to get to the science.

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