Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Compassion, empathy, kindness, and charisma

The Compassionate Life: Walking the Path of Kindness ~ by Marc Ian Barauch, 2009
"A compassionate life is more fulfilling.  It's only when the ego bows out that the curtain rises on real life.  That it's more blessed to give than to receive is not some moral nostrum, they say, but a prescription for authentic joy" (loc. 130).
Empathy: Why It Matters, and How to Get It ~ by Roman Krznaric, 2014
"First, let's get the meaning clear:  empathy is the art of stepping imaginatively into the shoes of another person, understanding their feelings and perspectives, and using that understanding to guide your actions" (loc. 56).
The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism ~ by Olivia Fox Cabane, 2012
"People really do love to hear themselves talk.  The more you let them speak, the more they will like you"" (p. 130).
The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life ~ by Piero Ferrucci, 2016
"Cooperation is intrinsically rewarding.  Giving a gift will make the brain happy just as much as receiving it" (loc. 193).
Simpler Living, Compassionate Life: A Christian Perspective ~ edited by Michael Schut, 1999
"Discerning how much is enough is made particularly difficult in our culture, which teaches that security lies in 'having more than I have now'" (p. 26).
These five books are (currently) together on my Kindle, making me notice the primary words of their title.  Do you have compassion, empathy, and/or charisma?  Do you want them?  What do they mean?  How are they related, if at all?  Notice that three of the five deal with compassion in one way or another and two deal with kindness.  Are compassion and kindness the same thing?

1 comment:

Helen's Book Blog said...

That's a very uplifting list of books. Enjoy!