From the
New York Times
bestselling author comes a "hugely entertaining" (NPR.org) look at vice and virtue through cutting-edge science
As he did in his award-winning book
The Accidental Mind
, David J. Linden—highly regarded neuroscientist, professor, and writer—weaves empirical science with entertaining anecdotes to explain how the gamut of behaviors that give us a buzz actually operates.
The Compass of Pleasure
makes clear why drugs like nicotine and heroin are addictive while LSD is not, how fast food restaurants ensure that diners will eat more, why some people cannot resist the appeal of a new sexual encounter, and much more. Provocative and illuminating, this is a radically new and thorough look at the desires that define us.