The pleasure instinct : why we crave adventure, chocolate, pheromones, and music / Gene Wallenstein.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wallenstein, Gene, 1964-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Pleasure.

Physical Description:

x, 245 pages ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons, [2009]

Summary:

Call it bliss, elation, cheer, thrills, spice, titillation, glee, exuberance, mirth, joy, jubilation, or just plain fun - we all desire it, but what is pleasure, exactly? Who do we spend so much of our time, money, and energy in pursuit of it? How does one person's relaxing glass of wine with dinner become another person's nightmare of alcoholism? And how is it that human beings can find pleasure in such a huge variety of experiences?

In the past, these questions have come mainly from the realms of moral philosophy, religion, and psychology. The Pleasure Instinct finds convincing answers in a place where few have thought to look before - human evolution. From our enjoyment of music to our cravings for chocolate, from our love of family and friends to our attraction to things of beauty, this book embarks on an intriguing exploration of the purpose of pleasure in our lives and in human history.

Contents:

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.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 215-233) and index.

ISBN:

9780471619154

0471619159

OCLC:

231583751