Book cover of The Book of Human Emotions: An Encyclopedia of Feeling from Anger to Wanderlust

Book description

Is your heart fluttering in anticipation? Is your stomach tight with nerves? Are you falling in love? Feeling a bit miffed? Are you curious (perhaps about this book)? Do you have the heebie-jeebies? Are you antsy with iktsuarpok? Or giddy with depaysement?

The Book of Human Emotions is a gleeful,…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Book of Human Emotions as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I wrote my own book inspired by this charming little encyclopedia of emotions.

Smith has collected 156 emotion words in English and other languages, along with delightful discussions of them. Stuff like David Foster Wallace’s ambiguphobia: “feeling uncomfortable about leaving things open to interpretation,” and l’appel du vide, French for “the call of the void,” that unnerving impulse to leap when perched on a high steep cliff. I love the Inuit word, iktsuarpok: the fidgety and restless feeling we get right before guests arrive.

Smith thinks that instead of trying to come up with a reductive list of…

If you love The Book of Human Emotions...

Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Want books like The Book of Human Emotions?

Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Book of Human Emotions.

Browse books like The Book of Human Emotions

Book cover of How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain
Book cover of A Rasa Reader: Classical Indian Aesthetics
Book cover of Grow Long, Blessed Night: Love Poems from Classical India

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,395

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like The Book of Human Emotions, you might also like...

Book cover of Ramón Ramirez's Dog: Reflections on Then and Now

Ramón Ramirez's Dog by David J. Dunford,

Ramon Ramirez’s Dog is a collection of essays written over the years about the adventures and misadventures, mostly outside but occasionally inside the diplomatic career of a U.S. ambassador. Common threads weaving the stories together are a desire for a life well-lived, balancing career with family and friends, keeping physically…

Book cover of I, Robot Alien

I, Robot Alien by Joel R. Dennstedt,

“Intelligent, unique, and tremendously entertaining.” - Readers' Favorite 2025

BOOKLIFE EDITOR’S PICK!

EARTH… CENTURIES AFTER THE FALL!

I was created by beings who couldn’t touch this world... only watch it crumble. Every twenty years, a new tribe... a new hope... a new failure.

I was told, “Do not interfere.” But…

5 book lists we think you will like!