In The Psychology of Passion, Robert J. Vallerand provides a complete presentation of the Dualistic Model of Passion and reports on the empirical evidence supporting the theory. Vallerand highlights the effects of two types of passion--harmonious and obsessive--on a number of psychological phenomena, such as cognition, emotions, performance, relationships, aggression, and violence.

The idea that we are in some significant sense responsible for our emotions is an idea that Robert Solomon has developed for almost three decades. Here, in a single volume, he traces the development of this theory of emotions and elaborate it in detail. Two themes run through his work: the first presents a "cognitive" theory of emotions in which emotions are construed primarily as evaluative judgments. The second proposes an "existentialist" perspective in which he defends the idea that, as we are responsible for our emotions. Indeed, sometimes it even makes sense to say that we "choose" them. While the first claim has gained increasing currency in the literature, his claim about responsibility for emotions has continued to meet with considerable resistance and misinterpretation. The new emphasis on evolutionary biology and neurology has (mistakenly) reinforced the popular prejudice that emotions "happen" to us and are entirely beyond our control. This volume is also a kind of intellectual memoir of Solomon1s own development as a thinker. The essays written in the 1980s elaborate the themes of the "intentionality" of emotion and the claim that emotions are "judgments"; in this period, he is also increasingly preoccupied with how emotions vary and are identified in a variety of cultures. In the 1990's, his interests evolve to consider the social and political role of emotions and theories about emotion. The final section presents his current philosophical position on the seeming "passivity" of the passions. Despite his own critical assessment of his earlier work, he continues to argue that, in the final analysis, we are responsible for our emotions and existential quality of our lives.

David Hume's theory of action is well known for several provocative theses, including that passion and reason cannot be opposed over the direction of action. Elizabeth S. Radcliffe defends an original interpretation of Hume's views on passion, reason, and motivation which is consistent with other theses in Hume's philosophy, loyal to his texts, and historically situated. She challenges the now orthodox interpretation of Hume on motivation, presenting an alternative that situates Hume closer to "Humeans" than many recent interpreters have. Part of the strategy is to examine the thinking of the early modern intellectuals to whom Hume responds. Most of these thinkers insisted that passions lead us to pursue harmful objects unless regulated by reason; and most regarded passions as representations of good and evil, which can be false. Understanding Hume's response to these claims requires appreciating his respective characterizations of reason and passion. The author argues that Hume's thesis that reason is practically impotent apart from passion is about beliefs generated by reason, rather than about the capacity of reason. Furthermore, the argument makes sense of Hume's sometimes-ridiculed description of passions as "original existences" having no reference to objects. The author also shows how Hume understood morality as intrinsically motivating, while holding that moral beliefs are not themselves motives, and why he thought of passions as self-regulating, contrary to the admonitions of the rationalists.

"Where you're different, Dion," the marketing consultant said, "Is that you are telling people that what they need to know is around them, not necessarily to be found by contemplating their navels. Instead of just looking inside oneself, you suggest to others to look around themselves." "Listen to Life: Wisdom in Life's Stories" presents more than 90 profoundly simple lessons some reinforced by Dion's photography that remind, encourage, inspire and inform. The stories serve as lessons as well as guides to where and how each of us should look and listen to life to get the most from it. Approachable and accessible, the book can be opened at any page, just as life's lessons can be absorbed at any time. "Life's lessons are random access,'" Dion says, "and we're in contact with knowledge and wisdom at all times from all types of sources." The book is an outgrowth of Dion's weekly newsletter of the same name. Useful as gifts to friends, colleagues or customers, the book provides important reminders to the "listening" professions: education, healthcare, financial, sales, management and more. Dion uses many of these stories as examples in his presentations and workshops to various associations, organizations and businesses, as well as women's shelters, youth programs and others. On a more personal level, the book provides moments to pause and reflect on the sublime wisdom available to us all in our daily lives.