In search of the secret to happiness, psychologist Dacher Keltner spoke to everyone from hospice workers to prisoners to Steven Spielberg. In this interactive talk, he reveals the answer.

A professor of psychology at Berkley and a renowned expert in the science of human emotion (as well as a consultant to Pixar); Dacher Keltner has spent his life talking to people about what constitutes the good life. These conversations and his pioneering research have convinced him that happiness comes down to one thing: finding awe.

Awe allows us to collaborate with others, open our minds to wonder, and see the deep patterns of life. In this interactive talk, Dacher will present a radical investigation into this elusive emotion.

Drawing on his own scientific research into how awe transforms our brains and bodies, alongside an examination of awe across history, culture and within his own life during a period of immense grief, he will show us how cultivating wonder leads us to appreciate what is most humane in our human nature.

Featuring powerful personal stories of awe from all over the world, including doctors and veterans – ministers and midwives, poets and scholars – Dacher will be our guide for uncovering this vital force within our lives.

Praise for Dacher Keltner’s Awe:

‘There is no better guide than Dacher Keltner, the great and wise Berkeley psychologist. Read this book to connect with your highest self ’ – Susan Cain

‘A superb analysis of an emotion that is strongly felt but poorly understood, with a showcase of examples that remind us of what is worthy of our awe’ – Steven Pinker