Ever wonder why we crave what we do? "How Pleasure Works" isn't just a peek into the human psyche; it's a guided tour by Paul Bloom, who combines wit with scholarly research. He challenges the simplistic notion that pleasure is just a response to certain stimuli, encouraging you to look at your desires through a new lens. If you enjoy examining the odd corners of human nature or if you've ever mused over our collective fascinations, this book could reshape the way you understand pleasure.

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• William James Book Award (2011)

Yale psychologist Paul Bloom presents a striking new vision of the pleasures of everyday life.The thought of sex with a virgin is intensely arousing for many men. The average American spends over four hours a day watching television. Abstract art can sell for millions of dollars. Young children enjoy playing with imaginary friends and can be comforted by security blankets. People slow their cars to look at gory accidents, and go to movies that make them cry. In this fascinating and witty account, Paul Bloom examines the science behind these curious desires, attractions, and tastes, covering everything from the animal instincts of sex and food to the uniquely human taste for art, music, and stories. Drawing on insights from child development, philosophy, neuroscience, and behavioral economics, How Pleasure Works shows how certain universal habits of the human mind explain what we like and why we like it.

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