Much of peoples expectations in buying this book probably spring from shows like "Lie to Me" with Tim Roth. While there is mention of micro expressions I wasn't naive or self obsessed enough to think that I could completely understand someone from their facial expressions So I thoroughly enjoyed the book
It is very well structured and thus easy to remember, divided mainly into 3 sections:
1. The Expression and development of emotion in individuals across different cultures/ situations and how that is triggered and developed and how to deal with it. E.g "Emotional scripts", "Triggers" and "Autoappraisers"(senses that continually scan for inate & Learned information and react to it)
2. Discussion of the Basic/primal emotions Anger, Fear, Sadness, Disgust, Contempt, Surprise, Enjoyment
3. Criticism of his own work(a fact for which I alwasy feel gratified in scientific work as it shows the writer/researcher isn't consumed with his own greatness) And Tests for recognizing emotions
I really enjoyed the book and it left me wanting to go out and identify emotions in my family and friends. I would recommend this to anyone - In fact I think it should be made compulsory reading for all teachers and managers, as in my experience emotions are often misconstrued.