It is one of the great mysteries of human nature. Why are some people worriers, and others wanderers? Why are some people so easy-going and laid-back, while others are always looking for a fight?
Written by Daniel Nettle--author of the popular book Happiness --this brief volume takes the reader on an exhilarating tour of what modern science can tell us about human personality. Revealing that our personalities stem from our biological makeup, Nettle looks at the latest findings from genetics and brain science, and considers the evolutionary origins and consequences of different personalities. The heart of the book sheds light on the "big five": Extraversion, Neuroticism, Conscientious, Agreeableness, and Openness. Using a stimulating blend of true-life stories and scientific research, Nettle explains why we have something deep and consistent within us that determines the choices we make and situations we bring about. He addresses such questions as why members of the same family differ so markedly in their natures? What is the best personality to have--a bold one or a shy one, an aggressive one or a meek one? And are you stuck with your personality, or can you change it? Life, Nettle concludes, is partly the business of finding a niche where your personality works for you. "It is a question of choosing the right pond," he notes, "and being mindful of the dangers." There is no ideal personality to have. Every disposition brings both advantages and disadvantages.
Full of human wisdom as well as scientific insight, this book illuminates the pluses and minuses of personality, offering practical advice about living with the nature you were born with. It even includes a questionnaire so that you can assess yourself.

lgrsnf/What Makes You the Way You Are - Daniel Nettle.epub

Nettle, Daniel

Oxford University Press, USA; Oxford University Press

IRL Press at Oxford University Press

Oxford Institute for Energy Studies

German Historical Institute London

Popular Science, 1st ed. in paperback, Oxford [etc, 2009

United Kingdom and Ireland, United Kingdom

1 edition, September 28, 2007

Illustrated ed, Oxford, 2007

1, FR, 2007

I converted the pdf version to an epub, then manually fixed the metadata and table of contents/bookmarks. So it's possible there are mistakes in the text from that process, but the initial pdf was clean so I doubt it

Why are some people worriers, and others wanderers? Why do some people seem good at empathising, and others at controlling? We have something deep and consistent within us that determines the choices we make and the situations we bring about. But why should members of the same species differ so markedly in their natures? What is the best personality to have; a bold one or a shy one, an aggressive one or a meek one? And are you stuck with your personality, or can you change it? Daniel Nettle takes the reader on a tour through the science of human personality, introducing the five'dimensions'on which every personality is based, and using an unusual combination of individual life stories and scientific research. Showing how our personalities stem from our biological makeup, Nettle looks at the latest findings from genetics and brain science, considers the evolutionary origins and consequences of personality variation, and even includes a questionnaire for you to assess your own personality against the five dimensions. There is no optimal personality to have. Rather, every disposition brings both advantages and disadvantages. Life is partly the business of finding a niche where your personal characteristics work for you. Full of human as well as scientific insight, this book will enable you to understand the perils and potentials of your personality to the full.

A Discussion Of The Science Of Human Personality Offers The Latest Findings From Brain Science And Genetics To Explain What Determines The Choices We Make, Looks At The Different Personality Types, And Blends True-life Stories With Scientific Research To Explore Why Some People Are Worriers And Others Wanderers. Character Matters -- The Beak Of The Finch -- Wanderers -- Worriers -- Controllers -- Empathizers -- Poets -- The Other Half -- Singing With Your Own Voice -- Appendix: The Newcastle Personality Assessor. Daniel Nettle. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [274]-293) And Index.

Contents......Page 6
Introduction......Page 8
1. Character Matters......Page 22
2. The Beak of the Finch......Page 61
3. Wanderers......Page 86
4. Worriers......Page 111
5. Controllers......Page 138
6. Empathizers......Page 162
7. Poets......Page 190
8. The Other Half......Page 217
9. Singing with Your Own Voice......Page 241
Appendix: The Newcastle Personality Assessor......Page 256
Notes......Page 261
References......Page 281

Why are some people worriers and others wanderers? Why do some seem good at empathizing and others at controlling? Daniel Nettle takes us on a tour through the science of human personality, looking at the latest findings from psychology, brain science, and evolution to explore the mystery of what makes us the way we are.

2025-04-29