Another Self

How your body helps you understand others

By: Cindy Engel PhD

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Paperback | 4 February 2024

At a Glance

Paperback
300 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
14.9 x 22.9 x 1.8

Paperback

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Another Self explains why we sometimes take on the physical, emotional, and even mental states of others. In this book-the first overview of somatic empathy-Dr Engel brings together research into social perception and interpersonal physiology to explain how and why our thoughts and feelings are not always entirely our own.

Do you wince when you see someone stub their toe, feel your throat tighten when a friend cries, or know what someone is going to say just before they say it? New evidence reveals that this tendency to 'catch' others' emotional and physiological condition is not merely a quirk of a few sensitive individuals but a fundamental aspect of human intelligence: that feeling with others is an ancient strategy reaching back into our evolutionary past enabling us to predict the intentions of others.

This newfound appreciation for somatic empathy has implications in many domains-mental and physical health issues, animal welfare, and personal wellbeing. Understanding how somatic empathy impacts on us day to day without our knowing enables us to optimise empathy while sidestepping the perils of vicarious harm, overwhelm, and burnout.

Another Self unveils why your dentist can make more mistakes when you are nervous, how a professional tennis player can predict where an opponents's serve will land even before their racket hits the ball, why your dog gets anxious when you are unwell, why remote military drone pilots can suffer more PTSD than their colleagues in battle, and why you can feel so physically discombobulated when a close relationship ends. Be prepared to reassess your sense of self, your relationships, your occupation, and your choice of entertainment.

Industry Reviews

"With Another Self Cindy Engel has written a truly astounding book. Its simple message is that we are all connected and affect each other - physically, emotionally and psychologically - in ways that we are barely aware of. Beautifully written and deeply researched, it should be read by every doctor, nurse, therapist, bodyworker and complementary medicine practitioner - indeed by everyone interested in the marvel of human and inter-species communication and how it can be harnessed to comfort, understand and heal."

Peter Deadman, founder-editor of The Journal of Chinese Medicine, author of A Manual of Acupuncture, and Live Well Live Long.

"I wish everyone were familiar with the information in this book, but I especially recommend that every bodyworker read this book."

Karen Elisa Broyles, Board President of AOBTA.

"I couldn't put this down! Cindy masterfully guides us through the intricate science of self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the profound connections we forge at a deep, human level. This is especially crucial for individuals grappling with PTSD, offering them vital insights. Her exploration leads us to a transformative understanding of the world we inhabit. Encompassing global, diverse cultural, historical, and spiritual themes, this book is designed to inspire and strengthen everyone who delves into it."

Nick Goldsmith, ex Royal marine commando and bestselling author of Rewild Your Mind an aid to recovery from PTSD.

"If one single author could be credited with bridging the gap between the Eastern and Western understanding of the body-mind - my vote would go to Cindy Engel with her a unique depth of understanding and personal experience of bodywork and mammalian biology. Another Self is a wonderfully validating book explaining in depth the mechanisms behind the intuitive experiences which we therapists rely upon but have not previously been able to fully understand. A must read."

Cliff Andrews International Shiatsu Teacher and co-founder of the Shiatsu College UK and the New Energy Work project which aims to connect modern research with traditional medicine.

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