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A review by laffingkat
The Empathy Effect by Helen Riess, Liz Neporent
4.0
After reading this book, I have a better understanding of empathy, or what the author prefers to call our empathic capacity. I appreciated learning about the different components of empathy and what factors affect how our empathic capacity fluctuates over time. There was a lot of interesting information for those wanting to understand different aspects of empathy. However, I wish there had been a chapter or appendix specifically devoted to what I need to do to improve my empathy, or perhaps a section at the end of each chapter summarizing recommended actions. Dr. Reiss does present her E.M.P.A.T.H.Y. tool, and there are some tips that can be gleaned throughout the text, but this is not primarily a self-help book.
There were interesting chapters on empathy in education, empathy online, and empathy in politics, as well as some discussions of empathy in healthcare. I would like to commend the author particularly for her balanced discussion in the politics chapter (she comments on the lack of empathy shown by members of both major parties). My favorite section was probably the chapter on self-empathy.
I appreciate that Dr. Reiss provided many references for each chapter, although in the ARC I reviewed, there were no notes or citations in the text, so it was often difficult to find the relevant reference. For example, when the author stated that studies have shown “there is an inverse relationship between power and empathy,” I would have loved to see the specific citations so it would be easier for me to review those studies to learn more. That problem may have been corrected in the published version.
I would recommend this book for those with an interest in psychology or neuroscience.
I was provided an unproofed ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review. Because I have not seen the final published version, I cannot comment on the final editing and formatting.
There were interesting chapters on empathy in education, empathy online, and empathy in politics, as well as some discussions of empathy in healthcare. I would like to commend the author particularly for her balanced discussion in the politics chapter (she comments on the lack of empathy shown by members of both major parties). My favorite section was probably the chapter on self-empathy.
I appreciate that Dr. Reiss provided many references for each chapter, although in the ARC I reviewed, there were no notes or citations in the text, so it was often difficult to find the relevant reference. For example, when the author stated that studies have shown “there is an inverse relationship between power and empathy,” I would have loved to see the specific citations so it would be easier for me to review those studies to learn more. That problem may have been corrected in the published version.
I would recommend this book for those with an interest in psychology or neuroscience.
I was provided an unproofed ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review. Because I have not seen the final published version, I cannot comment on the final editing and formatting.