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Books on cognitive and affective neuroscience.
A list of books on cognitive and affective neuroscience for parents and teachers [Readability designated as: G - General knowledge; I - Intermediate; A - Advanced. Includes a short description of each.]
(A) A user-friendly philosophical approach to the neuroscience of emotion, specifically the somatic marker hypothesis. Explores the possiblities of findings in neuroscience to improve human functioning.
Goleman, Daniel. (2006). Social intelligence: The new science of human relationships. New York: Bantam Books.
(G) Written for a general audience, this book examines the new arena of social neuroscience. Goleman examines the concepts of emotional contagion and neurological basis for social interactions. He explains the underpinnings of charisma, emotional power, and sexual attraction and describes how we can learn to live in harmony with others. For more advanced readers, the book includes extensive footnotes where readers can access the research behind Goleman's tatements.
Goleman, Daniel. (1995). Emotional intelligence. New York: Bantam Books.
(G) Written for a general audience, this book elucidates the concept of emotional intelligence and summarizes pertinent research and possible applications. He describes the neurological event that he calls "an emotional hijacking," when a person's behaviour does not exhibit prior cognitive appraisal. In other words, that event we have all experienced when we say or do something and then wonder what we were thinking. Goleman asserts that we were not thinking, in fact, that the amygdala overrode the cortex in prompting behaviour.
Gottman, John & DeClaire, Joan. (1998). Raising an emotionally intelligent child: The heart of parenting. Toronto: Simon & Schuster.
(G) Practical guide on how to emotion coach your child and also oneself to improve emotional health. Includes an assessment on parenting style and strategies to help your family cope with the emotional realities of today's often stressful world.
Hannaford, Carla. (1995). Smart moves: Why learning is not all in your head. 2nd ed. Arlington, VA: Great Ocean Publishers.
(I) Written primarily for teachers, this book presents the biology of the brain and the importance of mind/body integration and "the effect of coherent functiong on learning and memory." Be mindful of such overgeneralizations of research such as found on page 163 that exhorts the importance of drinking water on brain efficiency.
Ledoux, Joseph. (1996). The emotional brain: The mysterious underpinnings of emotional life. New York: Touchstone Books.
(A) Written for those interested in the neurological underpinnings of emotion, Ledoux, a prominent neuroscientist, presents research that attests to the importance of the limbic system, especially the amygdala, and its role in emotive function.
Sharp, Peter. (1996). Nurturing emotional literacy: A practical guide for teachers, parents, and those in the caring professions. London, UK: David Fulton Publishers.
(I) ADD HERE
Wolfe, Patricia. (2001). Brain matters: Translating research into classroom practice. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
(I) Written primarily for teachers, but useful for parents interested in how the brain functions, this book has suggestions for "brain-compatible strategies."