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Overview
Endlessly fascinating and counter-intuitive, this deeply humane and enlightening enquiry is packed with unexpected insight into the human condition. _______ 'An exhilarating antidote to toxic positivity, this captivating book will challenge ...Synopsis
Why do we seek out painful experiences? From horror movies and roller-coaster rides to mountain-climbing, religious abstinence and - most painful of all - parenthood, humans are drawn irresistibly to activities that they know are going to hurt. Many people have something missing in their lives, and a whole 'happiness' business has grown up in response. In The Sweet Spot, eminent psychologist Paul Bloom takes a different approach. Drawing on studies of the evolutionary value of play and the science of morality, he presents an alternative account of human behaviour in which our desire for meaning is far greater than our desire for happiness, and shows not only that chosen suffering - including pain, fear and sadness - can be a source of pleasure, but that suffering is an essential part of achieving a complete and fulfilling life. Put simply, if the things that mean most to use were easy, what would be the point? Endlessly fascinating and counter-intuitive, this is a deeply humane and enlightening enquiry, packed with unexpected insight into the human condition. 'The purpose of life is finding the largest burden you can bear and bearing it' Jordan Peterson 'The only life of deep satisfaction is a life of eternal struggle' Slavoj Žižek 'Those who have a "why" to live, can bear with almost any "how"' Victor FranklBook Details
Published
November 4, 2021
Publisher
Bodley Head Childrens
Pages
312
ISBN
9781847925756