Wonderstruck - by Helen de Cruz

About the Book

"What explains people's propensity to ask existential questions that they have little hope of resolving, such as: Why are we here? What, if any, is our purpose? What is the structure of the universe? That humans engage in these endeavors has long puzzled evolutionary theorists, as they go beyond the immediate demands of fending for ourselves, seeking safety, finding food, and reproducing, which occupy the daily lives of other animals. In this book, philosopher Helen De Cruz draws on a wide range of disciplines and thinkers, from Aristotle and 12th-century Muslim philosopher Ibn Tufayl to Jewish thinker Abraham Heschel and science writer Rachel Carson, showing how awe and wonder lie at the heart of such existential questions. She argues that there is an emotional basis to this drive for inquiry, as wonder and awe are epistemic emotions that help us think about big-picture questions and that motivate the answers we provide to those questions"--

Book Synopsis

A philosopher explores the transformative role of wonder and awe in an uncertain world

Wonder and awe lie at the heart of life's most profound questions. Wonderstruck shows how these emotions respond to our fundamental need to make sense of ourselves and everything around us, and how they enable us to engage with the world as if we are experiencing it for the first time.

Drawing on the latest psychological insights on emotions, Helen De Cruz argues that wonder and awe are emotional drives that motivate us to inquire and discover new things, and that humanity has deliberately nurtured these emotions in cultural domains such as religion, science, and magic. Tracing how wonder and awe unify philosophy, the humanities, and the sciences, De Cruz provides new perspectives on figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Adam Smith, William James, Rachel Carson, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Abraham Heschel. Along the way, she explains how these singular emotions empower us to be open-minded, to experience joy and hope, and to be resilient in the face of personal troubles and global challenges.

Taking inspiration from Descartes's portrayal of wonder as "that sudden surprise of the soul," this illuminating book reveals how wonder and awe are catalysts that can help us reclaim what makes life worth living and preserve the things we find wonderful and valuable in our lives.

Review Quotes

"Delightful and informative. . . . As wise and erudite as it is gentle to the reader."---Taylor Carman, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year"

"These days, the US establishment doesn't see particle physics and astronomy as so militarily significant, and our funding reflects this shift. Does that mean what we do isn't important? I think De Cruz's latest book [Wonderstruck] answers this question: our work creates a sense of wonder, and wonder matters. It helps us identify gaps in our knowledge that could lead to breakthroughs."---Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, New Scientist

"Rich and readable. . . . Wonderstruck is a thoughtful, eclectic, enjoyable exploration of the varieties of wonder and awe."---Ian Kidd, Fortean Times

"Wonderstruck isn't just a philosophical analysis. It's a guide to wondering more and better in our reading, our thinking and our everyday lives."-- "New Humanist"

"Written in a careful, clear, and distinct style, this magisterial volume will help the reader comprehend more effectively the surrounding world by acknowledging that one observes itthrough the lens of awe and wonder. . . . [De Cruz] uses her knowledge of the history of philosophy, psychology, and science to substantiate her perspective on the role and distinctive contribution of awe and wonder in nourishing how science and knowledge of the world evolves."-- "Choice"

"An excellent case for intentionally cultivating wonder and awe. . . . De Cruz argues that awe and wonder can be sources of hope because they help us to shift our perspective, understand our interconnectedness and get attuned to the intrinsic value of our ecosystem. . . . It remains for each of us to discover the best ways to bring awe and wonder into our lives, but Wonderstruck offers a persuasive reminder that we really should."---Skye C. Cleary, Wall Street Journal

"De Cruz constructs a persuasive and nuanced case for looking through the 'everydayness' of the world to see the 'strange and paradoxical' lurking in plain sight. [Wonderstruck is] an expertly fashioned analysis of what it means to perceive the world anew."-- "Publishers Weekly starred review"

About the Author

Helen De Cruz (1978-2025) was the Danforth Chair in the Humanities and professor of philosophy at Saint Louis University. Her books include Religious Disagreement and (with Johan De Smedt) A Natural History of Natural Theology.