Download The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation Audiobook

" thought this was fascinating - and scary. The evidence and theories about how much emotion plays in the fate of our country was amazing. "

" I started this book feeling quite skeptical about westens thesis but ended up a convert, wishing that the democrats would follow his prescription. "

" A little preachy at the end, but a fascinating analysis of recent political campaigns and political psychology research. "

" Westen does it. He manages to convey empirical psychological evidence in a clear, enticing narrative. Poignant and straightforward, he lays out the framework for how voters make decisions and the resulting actions campaigns, especially Democratic ones, need to take to win elections. The book offers relevant examples, stories, and speeches that convey Westen's thoughts and replicate his points. I recommend this read to anyone interested in the topic of politics, or even human decision-making and "the role of emotion in deciding the fate of the nation." "

" This book is absolutely fantastic. It combines the stuff that I work on in my research (how emotion affects decision making) with an analysis of failed Democratic political campaigns of the past. Aside from Clinton's successful campaigns, this guy Drew Westen really seems to nail what went wrong with all the presidential campaigns against Republicans since LBJ. Namely, that Republican campaigners know what voters respond to, and Democratic strategists frequently don't, and that is: how to mold people's emotional responses. Hindsight's 20:20, and this book can get a little repetitive at points, but it makes everything make sense to me. How else to explain how a guy like Bush could come off seeming to voters like the honest one (!) while Gore looked untrustworthy? I swear that Obama's people have read this book, and they are using just about every suggestion that it makes. Bottom line: when people say Obama is great on giving an abstract feeling of optimism, but that he's short on specifics . . . well, yes, exactly! That's exactly what works! Read it. "

" A very insightful and often compelling book. However, it is at points, a little inaccessible to those not well versed in the workings of the American political system. "

" Required reading for anyone frustrated at the lack of emotion in politics. Warning, may seem a bit repetitive but maybe that's just a trick to get you to remember the key messages. "

" Good case studies on the role of emotion in popular campaigning. "

" Recommend for people who follow politics, and anyone who is interested in the art of persuasion. Written from a pro-Democrat point of view. Interesting history, good examples. "

" Mandatory reading for the political junky "

" Didn't like this quite as much as Lakoff's Political Mind, but it's a more accessible read. Westen focuses on emotion showing how it is the primary influence in nearly every decision we make. "

" Interesting book about the large role emotion plays in our political choices. Emotion almost invariably overrules any logical response we might have. "

" excellent understanding of why people vote republican "

" The Political Brain should be required reading for progressive politicians around the country and their advisors. Westen uses modern psychology, linguistics, and political science know-how to show dems the right way to respond to the typical, and tired, Republican attacks. "

" A good analysis of political messaging and the ways Democrats get it wrong. I wish this were required reading for all campaign managers and party leadership. "

" Great read -- for anyone who wants to learn about more strategic campaigning, from a psychological point of view "

" A fantastic breakdown of American political theatre. A how-to of media manipulation and an incredibly astute look at the archetypical emotional rhythms of the modern election cycle. "

" Great stuff! This was obviously read by the Obama campaign. "

" A interesting look into how political choices are influenced. Takes a lot of pages to make a few good points but that's not uncommon. I really likedthe rpositioning of The Little Trian That Could. "

" Turns the traditional Democratic view of how people make decisions about candidates and issues on its ear and offers a new paradigm for leading and being a citizen. "

" I started this book feeling quite skeptical about westens thesis but ended up a convert, wishing that the democrats would follow his prescription. "

" Interesting book about the large role emotion plays in our political choices. Emotion almost invariably overrules any logical response we might have. "

" A little preachy at the end, but a fascinating analysis of recent political campaigns and political psychology research. "

" Insights from cognitive neuroscience about political decision-making "

" Great stuff! This was obviously read by the Obama campaign. "