The Pleasure Instinct: Why We Crave Adventure, Chocolate, Pheromones, and Music

Description

An immensely fascinating look at the origins and evolutionary purpose of human pleasure. From our enjoyment of music to our cravings for chocolate, from our love for children and family to our attraction to things of beauty, this book embarks on an intriguing and accessible exploration of the purpose of pleasure in our lives and in human history. How did pleasure evolve and why? How does it develop in children? How does the pursuit of pleasure play a critical role in brain development? The Pleasure Instinct explores everything we need to know about our urge to feel good.  Read more... Abstract: An immensely fascinating look at the origins and evolutionary purpose of human pleasure. From our enjoyment of music to our cravings for chocolate, from our love for children and family to our attraction to things of beauty, this book embarks on an intriguing and accessible exploration of the purpose of pleasure in our lives and in human history. How did pleasure evolve and why? How does it develop in children? How does the pursuit of pleasure play a critical role in brain development? The Pleasure Instinct explores everything we need to know about our urge to feel good Content: The pleasure instinct and brain development -- Foibles and follies -- How to win friends and influence people -- What makes Sammy dance? -- The pleasures of the sensory world -- The pleasure of touch -- In praise of odors -- For the love of chocolate -- The evolution of the lullaby -- In search of pretty things -- The pleasure instinct and the modern experience -- Pleasure from proportion and symmetry -- Pleasure from repetition and rhythm -- Homo addictus -- Parsing pleasure.