Molecules of Emotion

Why You Feel the Way You Feel

By: Candace B. Pert Ph.D.

Narrated by: Candace B. Pert Ph.D.

Length: 3 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

How do our thoughts and emotions affect our health? Are our bodies and minds distinct from one another or do they function together as parts of an interconnected system? Candace Pert - a neuroscientist whose extraordinary career began with her 1972 discovery of the opiate receptor - provides startling and decisive answers to these and other challenging questions that scientists and philosophers have pondered for centuries. From explaining the scientific basis of popular wisdom and phenomena like "gut feelings" to making comprehensible recent discoveries in cancer and AIDS research, Molecules of Emotion is an intellectual adventure of the highest order.

©1997 Candace B. Pert, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved (P)1997 Simon & Schuster Inc., All Rights Reserved

Critic reviews

"Finally, here is a Western scientist who has done the work to explain the unity of mind and matter, body and soul." (Deepak Chopra)

Very interesting discoveries

A bit dry for those not totally into the science. The passionate reading totally makes up for it !

There is a cure for AIDs?

There we're some interesting points about the cure of AIds and the effort to suppress it.

Title is misleading but story is good

This book is full of data and glad I come from medical science background or I would have been lost- however I’ve merged the body, mind (soul) and spirit aspect of our world and it’s complete. Candace brings the solid scientific validation of its existence! Great revelation thank you!

Not what I expected

Mostly a recounting of authors struggles, achievements and setbacks as a female researcher in the wold of academics and NIH in the 70s and 80s. Strong feminist bent. Tie in between molecules and emotions is late and weak. Last 40 minutes makes turn to TM, Deepok, Jesus and Winona Judd (not necessarily on that order). Science and politics were interesting but not what I expected.

Spirituality of Science

Love the content Dr Pert shares. Courageously bringing the gap between science and spirituality while shining Light on her own character flaws that earnestly reflect the collective human flaws of ego interfering with our authentic heal and embracing authentic selves.

Thanks for sharing your Light Dr. Pert

More autobiography than science

I got this as a free audiobook from audible.com. I am a chemical engineer/chemist by trade and thought this sounded like an interesting read. The book is narrated by the author Candace Pert.

The very first thing I noticed is that the author is incredibly conceited, she spends a lot of time bragging about her accomplishments right away. This book is more of an autobiography than an actually book behind the science of emotion.

There are some interesting theories in this book, that I think many people would agree with. The main theory is that emotional state is caused by a variety of chemicals, particularly peptids. These molecules not only have an influence on your emotions but on your overall physical health as well, you can't really separate the two. I think this theory was groundbreaking at the time, but much more widely accepted now.

There is a also a lot of discussion about the male domination of science and how hard the author had to work to get recognized. I think maybe this might have been more true in the 70's than today. The author also comes to the realization by the end that maybe it was her aggressive attitude and combativeness that caused some of her issues with her male cohorts and I couldn't agree more.

Working as a female in a male dominated field I have found that the opinion of those around you (male or otherwise) is fed by your attitude towards them. I have never had a ton of issue with my male coworkers respecting me and treating me as an equal. I had some issues in college, but now that I am working with the people I want to work with and in a field I am comfortable in it just hasn't been an issue. If you have an attitude of competence, but aren't completely arrogant, I don't think you will have much of an issue.

Okay stepping off my soapbox now...

Overall this was an interesting read, but not exactly what I was hoping for or expecting. It is more an autobiography of Pert’s work and a treatise on the struggles of female scientists than an explanation behind the chemicals that guide our emotional and physical health. It was free so I can’t really complain, but I wouldn’t really recommend it either.

Unbelievable Discoveries

I was amazed to find out how much autonomy the body and it's various systems have and how they are affected by our very thoughts...much like our appetites. This could be ground-breaking self-healing or self-improving information for people who carry a lot of stress in their lives. It certainly leaves you with a different perspective about who you and your body are and how you both function together.

Abridged version disappointment

Candace Pert ' s brilliance should never be abridged! The shortened version left me sad and wanting more. I will need to reread the full book. I am sorry she didn't write more before she had to leave this world.

Molecules of Emotion

Very Interesting! It definitely helps connect the dots! Dr. Pert has such an elegant way of taking such complex concepts and making it understandable and useful to lay people. Thank You, Dr. Pert.

interesting story I like the narration

I listen to it in one night tells how emotion is a part of science