How Pleasure Works

The New Science of Why We Like What We Like

By: Paul Bloom

Narrated by: Jeremy Johnson

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.

Listen to our Free Interview: Susie Bright Speaks with Paul Bloom, Author of How Pleasure Works.©2010 Paul Bloom (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Questionably titled, but a good listen

Let's get this straight - this book isn't about how pleasure works. It's about the author's attempt to research and explain 'essentialism,' which itself often seems like an attempt at a sort of Grand Unification Theory for a lot of environmental psych, behavorial economics, moral philosophy, et cetera, all of which are experiencing a bit of a heyday. Often, the book reads like a survey, which isn't bad, just don't expect a deep focus on any one topic. With that caveat, though, it's a good read.

Fast paced, Entertaininglyenjoyable psychology 101

Interesting read/listen. It's psychology 101 on steriods. Entertaining. I've taught many a psych courses and this was a refreshing refresher. This book was facts on story telling mode. Well worth the credit !!!

awesome. deep. informative

I loved it. very informative and well done. well structured and complete. I will def read more of his works .

Metaphors the best

The newest science backs up this book. trust me, lol...
talent writing, easy understanding of complex science. It worked for me.

Everything You Ever Would Want to Know

Paul Bloom has written a wonderfully informative book about pleasure and how it works. A gifted writer and professor of psychology at Yale, Bloom simply tells us everything that might interest us in a pleasing way. He presents his research and that of others in a way that is very inviting and approachable. There are revelations on every page er everyminute or so. I am always looking for books that will fill in gaps in my knowledege and this worked very well. Jeremy Johnson could not improve on the reading of the text. If you take this book up, it will be a sheer pleasure.