Best Selling Books by Paul Bloom

A Next Big Idea Club Must-Read A compelling and accessible new perspective on the modern science of psychology, based on one of Yale’s most popular courses of all time How does the brain—a three-pound wrinkly mass—give rise to intelligence and conscious experience? Was Freud right that we are all plagued by forbidden sexual desires? What is the function of emotions such as disgust, gratitude, and shame? Renowned psychologist Paul Bloom answers these questions and many more in Psych, his riveting new book about the science of the mind. Psych is an expert and passionate guide to the most intimate aspects of our nature, serving up the equivalent of a serious university course while being funny, engaging, and full of memorable anecdotes. But Psych is much more than a comprehensive overview of the field of psychology. Bloom reveals what psychology can tell us about the most pressing moral and political issues of our time—including belief in conspiracy theories, the role of genes in explaining human differences, and the nature of prejudice and hatred. Bloom also shows how psychology can give us practical insights into important issues—from the treatment of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety to the best way to lead happy and fulfilling lives. Psych is an engrossing guide to the most important topic there is: it is the story of us.

New York Post Best Book of 2016 We often think of our capacity to experience the suffering of others as the ultimate source of goodness. Many of our wisest policy-makers, activists, scientists, and philosophers agree that the only problem with empathy is that we don’t have enough of it. Nothing could be farther from the truth, argues Yale researcher Paul Bloom. In AGAINST EMPATHY, Bloom reveals empathy to be one of the leading motivators of inequality and immorality in society. Far from helping us to improve the lives of others, empathy is a capricious and irrational emotion that appeals to our narrow prejudices. It muddles our judgment and, ironically, often leads to cruelty. We are at our best when we are smart enough not to rely on it, but to draw instead upon a more distanced compassion. Basing his argument on groundbreaking scientific findings, Bloom makes the case that some of the worst decisions made by individuals and nations—who to give money to, when to go to war, how to respond to climate change, and who to imprison—are too often motivated by honest, yet misplaced, emotions. With precision and wit, he demonstrates how empathy distorts our judgment in every aspect of our lives, from philanthropy and charity to the justice system; from medical care and education to parenting and marriage. Without empathy, Bloom insists, our decisions would be clearer, fairer, and—yes—ultimately more moral. Brilliantly argued, urgent and humane, AGAINST EMPATHY shows us that, when it comes to both major policy decisions and the choices we make in our everyday lives, limiting our impulse toward empathy is often the most compassionate choice we can make.

Are you a human? Do you have a mind? Then this book is for you. ''Like having the mind''s complexities untangled by a witty, eloquent and deeply knowledgeable friend'' OLIVER BURKEMAN ''Really wonderful, hugely readable ... loving it'' DERREN BROWN Nothing is more familiar and yet less understood than the human mind. It defines the experience of being human, and yet its workings contain some of the deepest mysteries ever encountered. Written by one of the world''s greatest teachers of psychology, The Human Mind provides a masterful and riveting guide to all that we have learned since modern science began probing those mysteries. How does a three-pound lump of grey-ish meat give rise to conscious experience? What is the function of emotions such as disgust, gratitude and shame? How do our biases affect us and how can we overcome them? How does the mind of a child differ from that of an adult? How does memory work? What causes mental illness? Are we rational? Are we all a little bit racist? What makes us kind? What makes us cruel? What makes us happy? Many of these questions now have answers; many others don''t yet; many widely accepted theories are probably wrong. This book takes us to the very limits of what is known. It shines new light on all that you take most for granted: everything you think and feel, everything you say and do, everything that makes you you. ''The story of the human mind as told by psychology''s best story-teller'' DANIEL GILBERT

In this fascinating and witty account, Yale psychologist Paul Bloom examines the science behind our 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.

A leading cognitive scientist argues that a deep sense of good and evil is bred in the bone. From John Locke to Sigmund Freud, philosophers and psychologists have long believed that we begin life as blank moral slates. Many of us take for granted that babies are born selfish and that it is the role of society—and especially parents—to transform them from little sociopaths into civilized beings. In Just Babies, Paul Bloom argues that humans are in fact hardwired with a sense of morality. Drawing on groundbreaking research at Yale, Bloom demonstrates that, even before they can speak or walk, babies judge the goodness and badness of others’ actions; feel empathy and compassion; act to soothe those in distress; and have a rudimentary sense of justice. Still, this innate morality is limited, sometimes tragically. We are naturally hostile to strangers, prone to parochialism and bigotry. Bringing together insights from psychology, behavioral economics, evolutionary biology, and philosophy, Bloom explores how we have come to surpass these limitations. Along the way, he examines the morality of chimpanzees, violent psychopaths, religious extremists, and Ivy League professors, and explores our often puzzling moral feelings about sex, politics, religion, and race. In his analysis of the morality of children and adults, Bloom rejects the fashionable view that our moral decisions are driven mainly by gut feelings and unconscious biases. Just as reason has driven our great scientific discoveries, he argues, it is reason and deliberation that makes possible our moral discoveries, such as the wrongness of slavery. Ultimately, it is through our imagination, our compassion, and our uniquely human capacity for rational thought that we can transcend the primitive sense of morality we were born with, becoming more than just babies. Paul Bloom has a gift for bringing abstract ideas to life, moving seamlessly from Darwin, Herodotus, and Adam Smith to The Princess Bride, Hannibal Lecter, and Louis C.K. Vivid, witty, and intellectually probing, Just Babies offers a radical new perspective on our moral lives.

“This book will challenge you to rethink your vision of a good life. With sharp insights and lucid prose, Paul Bloom makes a captivating case that pain and suffering are essential to happiness. It’s an exhilarating antidote to toxic positivity.” —Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife One of Behavioral Scientist''s "Notable Books of 2021" From the author of Against Empathy, a different kind of happiness book, one that shows us how suffering is an essential source of both pleasure and meaning in our lives Why do we so often seek out physical pain and emotional turmoil? We go to movies that make us cry, or scream, or gag. We poke at sores, eat spicy foods, immerse ourselves in hot baths, run marathons. Some of us even seek out pain and humiliation in sexual role-play. Where do these seemingly perverse appetites come from? Drawing on groundbreaking findings from psychology and brain science, The Sweet Spot shows how the right kind of suffering sets the stage for enhanced pleasure. Pain can distract us from our anxieties and help us transcend the self. Choosing to suffer can serve social goals; it can display how tough we are or, conversely, can function as a cry for help. Feelings of fear and sadness are part of the pleasure of immersing ourselves in play and fantasy and can provide certain moral satisfactions. And effort, struggle, and difficulty can, in the right contexts, lead to the joys of mastery and flow. But suffering plays a deeper role as well. We are not natural hedonists—a good life involves more than pleasure. People seek lives of meaning and significance; we aspire to rich relationships and satisfying pursuits, and this requires some amount of struggle, anxiety, and loss. Brilliantly argued, witty, and humane, Paul Bloom shows how a life without chosen suffering would be empty—and worse than that, boring.

All humans see the world in two fundamentally different ways: even babies have a rich understanding of both the physical and social worlds. They expect objects to obey principles of physics, and they’re startled when things disappear or defy gravity. Yet they can also read emotions and respond with anger, sympathy, and joy.In Descartes’ Baby, Bloom draws on a wealth of scientific discoveries to show how these two ways of knowing give rise to such uniquely human traits as humor, disgust, religion, art, and morality. How our dualist perspective, developed throughout our lives, profoundly influences our thoughts, feelings, and actions is the subject of this richly rewarding book.

How do children learn that the word "dog" refers not to all four-legged animals, and not just to Ralph, but to all members of a particular species? How do they learn the meanings of verbs like "think," adjectives like "good," and words for abstract entities such as "mortgage" and "story"? The acquisition of word meaning is one of the fundamental issues in the study of mind. According to Paul Bloom, children learn words through sophisticated cognitive abilities that exist for other purposes. These include the ability to infer others'' intentions, the ability to acquire concepts, an appreciation of syntactic structure, and certain general learning and memory abilities. Although other researchers have associated word learning with some of these capacities, Bloom is the first to show how a complete explanation requires all of them. The acquisition of even simple nouns requires rich conceptual, social, and linguistic capacities interacting in complex ways. This book requires no background in psychology or linguistics and is written in a clear, engaging style. Topics include the effects of language on spatial reasoning, the origin of essentialist beliefs, and the young child''s understanding of representational art. The book should appeal to general readers interested in language and cognition as well as to researchers in the field.

The classroom is a place of learning, but it can also be filled with fun. Through simple text and supporting photographs, early readers will learn that listening to their teachers and being respectful of others is a lesson just as important as anything else learned in the classroom. Readers will understand the importance of basic classroom rules, such as raising your hand to ask a question, as well as how to interact with others in the classroom setting.

The library is a place of learning, and it’s important for young readers to know what they can and can’t do among the stacks. Learning to keep quiet, be polite, and ask librarians good questions can help readers get the most out of their school or public library. Through accessible text, early readers will love discovering how to find their favorite books and what they need to do to make sure their trip to the library is a productive and pleasant one.

Many readers will take the bus to and from school for years. This familiar setting may seem boring at first, but taking a ride on a bus can be fun as long as readers follow the rules. Through simple, easy-to-understand text, beginning readers will learn to respect the rules while on the road as the bus driver takes them from home to classroom each morning, and then home each afternoon. Learning to get along and make bus rides fun is an important lesson for every reader.

For some, gym class is the best time of the day. The games and sports are a great way to get some exercise and play with friends. But it’s important to follow the rules to stay safe and make sure no one gets hurt. Readers will learn that the gym teacher can teach them the right way to play some of their favorite sports, and also help them learn how to respect their classmates and learn good sportsmanship along the way.

The playground is meant for fun, but it’s also important to follow the rules. There are rules for the games young readers play—like hopscotch or basketball. These rules ensure everyone has fun and there are no arguments. Through accessible text and vibrant photographs early readers learn that playground rules are also meant to keep people safe! This book’s simple yet important message is a must for any early reading collection.

The cafeteria is one of the most fun places at school for young children. Talking and eating with friends is a great way to get to know others and build communication skills in young students. Learning the ropes in the cafeteria is a challenging but important task for readers to grasp. Through simple text and supporting photographs, beginning readers learn the importance of sharing, listening to adults, and cleaning up after themselves.

UMA PERSPECTIVA RADICALMENTE NOVA SOBRE NOSSAS VIDAS MORAIS Em O que nos faz bons ou maus, Paul Bloom, importante cientista cognitivo, afirma que um os seres humanos já vêm ao mundo com uma noção de moralidade. Baseando-se em pesquisas inovadoras realizadas na Universidade de Yale, Bloom demonstra que, antes mesmo de poderem falar ou andar, os bebês julgam a bondade e a maldade das ações dos outros, sentem empatia e compaixão, agem para acalmar os que estão angustiados, e têm um senso rudimentar de justiça. Ainda assim, essa moralidade inata apresenta, algumas vezes, trágicas limitações. Reunindo conhecimentos de psicologia, economia comportamental, biologia evolutiva e filosofia, Bloom investiga a forma como aprendemos a superar tais limitações. Brilhante, descomplicado, espirituoso e intelectualmente investigativo.

Una fascinante aproximación a la ciencia del cerebro para entender por qué actuamos, sentimos y pensamos como lo hacemos ¿Cómo puede el cerebro, una masa arrugada, dar lugar a la inteligencia y la experiencia consciente? ¿Estaba en lo cierto Freud cuando afirmaba que estamos infestados de deseos sexuales prohibidos? ¿Cuál es la función de emociones como el asco, la gratitud o la vergüenza? Paul Bloom, eminencia en el área de la psicología, ofrece una detallada introducción al cerebro y su historia, explorando los aspectos más íntimos de nuestra naturaleza a través de la ciencia de la mente. Este libro no es sólo una panorámica del campo de la psicología, sino que se centra en argumentar que es muy posible que una serie de teorías —ampliamente aceptadas en la disciplina— sean equivocadas. Psico es una muestra de cómo la psicología puede brindarnos conocimientos prácticos sobre temas tan trascendentales como el tratamiento de enfermedades mentales, la depresión y la ansiedad, o la mejor manera de llevar una vida feliz y satisfactoria.

Paul Bloom este un renumit cercetător în domeniul științelor cognitive. A publicat numeroase studii în care a încercat să afle cum funcționează moralitatea de la stadiul copilăriei până la maturitate. În această carte, autorul demonstrează că empatia este o piedică în calea moralității. Pentru studiul de față se bazează pe exemple istorice, pe exemple personale, pe studiile altor colegi psihologi, astfel încât reușește să construiască o imagine complexă a felului în care empatia te poate influența în mod negativ. Empatia ne motivează să fim mai buni. Empatia este resortul unei vieți altruiste. Empatia ne inspiră să dăruim, să ne punem în pielea celorlalți, să le simțim suferința. Stop! Ce ai zice dacă ai afla că, din contră, empatia nu face nimic din toate cele enumerate mai sus? Te intrigă, într-adevăr, dacă-ți spune cineva că, nu, nu e bine să empatizezi. Totuși, Împotriva empatiei exact despre asta îți va vorbi – despre felul în care empatia este mai degrabă ceva negativ. Da, poate că vei fi tentat să te opui, însă Paul Bloom îți va dovedi că ipoteza pe care o propune cartea lui este cât se poate de validă. Îți va oferi argumente, dovezi și exemple care să te ajute să înțelegi de ce e bine să fii împotriva empatiei. De la scena politică la viața privată, de la războaiele mondiale până la relația deficitară cu frații, părinții sau copiii tăi, vei vedea că există numeroase situații în care, deși ai crezut că empatia este cea care face lumea mai bună, dimpotrivă, lucrurile stau invers. Deschide cartea și ai răbdare, urmărește direcția arătată de autor, acceptă să mergi împreună cu el pe drumul pe care ți-l propune și vei înțelege astfel de ce empatia nu este resortul unei lumi mai bune, așa cum poate ai crezut mereu. PAUL BLOOM s-a născut la 24 decembrie 1963, într-o familie canadiană cu origini evreiești. A absolvit magna cum laude psihologia, la McGill University, apoi a devenit doctor în psihologie cognitivă, după cursurile urmate la Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Este căsătorit cu Karen Wynn, și ea cercetător în domeniul psihologiei, și au împreună doi fii. Între 1990 și 1999, Paul Bloom a predat psihologia la Universitatea din Arizona, iar din 1999 este profesor de psihologie și științe cognitive la Yale University. Cercetările sale explorează modul în care copiii și adulții înțeleg lumea fizică și socială, punând accent mai ales pe limbaj, moralitate, religie, ficțiune și artă. În 2002, Societatea de Filozofie și Psihologie din SUA i-a oferit autorului prestigiosul Premiu Shanton, pentru merite deosebite în cercetări interdisciplinare, în domeniile filozofiei și psihologiei. Au urmat, în 2004, Premiul Lex Hixon, pentru predarea excelentă la Yale a științelor cognitive, iar în 2017, Premiul Klaus J. Jacobs Research, pentru cercetările asupra modului în care copiii își dezvoltă sentimentul de moralitate. Paul Bloom este autor a cinci cărți și editor sau coautor al altor trei. Cele mai populare articole ale sale au apărut în publicații prestigioase ca The New York Times, The Guardian, The American Scientist, iar textul publicat în The Atlantic – „Is God an Accident?“ („Dumnezeu este o întâmplare?“) – i-a fost inclus în The Best American Science Writing, 2006.

Una fascinante aproximación a la ciencia del cerebro para entender por qué actuamos, sentimos y pensamos como lo hacemos ¿Cómo puede el cerebro, una masa arrugada, dar lugar a la inteligencia y la experiencia consciente? ¿Estaba en lo cierto Freud cuando afirmaba que estamos infestados de deseos sexuales prohibidos? ¿Cuál es la función de emociones como el asco, la gratitud o la vergüenza? Paul Bloom, eminencia en el área de la psicología, ofrece una detallada introducción al cerebro y su historia, explorando los aspectos más íntimos de nuestra naturaleza a través de la ciencia de la mente. Este libro no es sólo una panorámica del campo de la psicología, sino que se centra en argumentar que es muy posible que una serie de teorías —ampliamente aceptadas en la disciplina— sean equivocadas. Psico es una muestra de cómo la psicología puede brindarnos conocimientos prácticos sobre temas tan trascendentales como el tratamiento de enfermedades mentales, la depresión y la ansiedad, o la mejor manera de llevar una vida feliz y satisfactoria.

En un mundo dividido, la empatía no es la solución: es el problema. Es habitual que pensemos que nuestra capacidad de experimentar el sufrimiento de los otros es una especie de fuente de nuestra bondad; sin embargo, no hay nada más equivocado. Paul Bloom, maestro de la universidad de Yale, revela que la empatía es uno de los principales motores de la inequidad y la inmoralidad en la sociedad. Lejos de ayudarnos a mejorar nuestras relaciones, la empatía es una emoción caprichosa e irracional que apela a nuestros propios prejuicios e, irónicamente, nos lleva con frecuencia a la crueldad. Bloom, basando sus argumentos en investigaciones científicas, ejemplifica que algunas de las peores decisiones tomadas por individuos y naciones -a quién dar dinero, cómo responder al cambio climático, a quién meter en prisión- son impulsadas normalmente por honestas, aunque desviadas, emociones. Con precisión y sabiduría, Contra la empatía evidencia cómo ésta distorsiona todos los aspectos de nuestra vida, desde la filantropía y la caridad, hasta el sistema de justicia; desde la sanidad y la educación, hasta la paternidad y el matrimonio. Sin empatía, insiste Bloom, nuestras decisiones serían más claras, más justas y, sí, más morales.

耶魯大學人氣爆棚的心理學導論課都在教什麼？ 如何把心理學這門現代科學變得好讀又易懂！ 認識人的心就跟研究浩瀚宇宙一樣驚奇又迷人！ 好好讀完這本書，你就知道如何過著幸福快樂的日子 人為什麼會這麼做、那麼想，這樣感覺、那樣反應？ 時光流沙的生命裡，是獨特又豐富的心靈——讓我們可以耀眼如星。 人是肉做的機器，卻擁有獨一無二的意識以及豐富的心靈。 我們對物質世界的理解進展快速，對心智的認識卻顯得貧乏。 所以我們需要心理學，但是心理學都在教什麼？ 心理科學的基礎在於相信大腦是心智活動的源頭，探索意識、語言、記憶、感知、理性、情緒、動機、社會行為、偏見、個體差異、精神疾病等許多主題，提出各式理論，透過實驗連結真實生活經驗，提供詮釋與實用價值。 資訊氾濫的年代，心理學探討解決憂鬱、焦慮等精神生活問題， 是「美好人生」的科學指引！ 臨床心理學診斷與治療思覺失調、情緒障礙、焦慮恐慌等問題。許多心理研究同時肩負人文的使命，關心什麼因素導向愉悅、有意義、具滿足感的生活；探討金錢與幸福、人際連結、追求靈性等現代人的重要課題。 越是瞭解心智、越是明白如何以科學解釋心智結構， 我們才越能夠讚嘆人心的複雜、獨特與美好。 這是一本洋溢著熱情的心理學指引，以知識論述帶領我們一探人類本質，用獨到的心理學角度審視道德與政治議題，以科學假設檢驗我們的信念與情緒、決策與判斷能力。這些心理工具可以讓我們對自己的意識與選擇更加理解也更有把握。 專業好評推薦 ☆保羅•布倫在本書中由淺而深、由點而線闡釋心智科學的觀點。他以堅定的意志和溫柔的敘事方式讓閱讀本書成為一種愉悅的體驗。 ——史迪芬•平克Steven Pinker，哈佛大學心理學教授 ☆好奇人們為什麼會這麼做、這麼想、這麼感覺的人必讀。保羅•布倫是難得的專家，會說故事，而且說得真實，但完整呈現最新研究的複雜性。我愛這本書！ ——安琪拉•達克沃斯Angela Duckworth，紐約時報暢銷作家 ☆保羅•布倫是「心智的運作」這門我們都需要理解的主題的最佳嚮導。引人入勝地挖掘人類心理的祕密。本書也證明了理解人類心智謎團可以如此有趣。 ——勞瑞‧桑托斯Laurie Santos，耶魯大學心理學教授 ☆由心理學最好的說故事者來訴說人類心智的故事。從神經元到闔家團圓的所有重點都包還在內，保羅•布倫帶我們經歷一趟妙趣橫生的旅程，也送上又一本有用的好書。 ——丹尼爾‧吉爾伯特Daniel Gilbert，哈佛大學心理學教授暨暢銷書作家

耶魯最受歡迎的心理學教授 線上開放課程突破70萬人次 TED演講風靡全球，〈快樂的起源〉點擊率突破200萬次 cousera.com全球開放課程最熱門課堂講師 為什麼我們選擇看催淚電影大哭一場以獲得快樂？ 為什麼男人選擇送一束五百元的玫瑰，而不是一張五百元鈔票來討女人歡心？ 吃一頓飯、選擇伴侶、購買衣服，或是聽一首歌時， 你以為你很快樂，其實你只是相信自己喜歡這個選擇而已。 快感的刺激左右我們每日的決定、驅使我們追求喜歡的東西，但你是否知道快樂從何而來？ 演化生物學告訴我們，人類接受感官的刺激，喜歡那些有利於繁衍的東西：覓食、飲水以利生存；挑選伴侶，並追求情感的撫慰…… 然而，現代人受快感驅使所做出的選擇遠比演化生物學說的複雜， 我們以為是食物、性、消費、藝術活動讓我們快樂， 其實有些快樂的來源超乎我們感官所看、所感受的世界，甚至無關乎理性。 耶魯大學的心理學家保羅‧布倫援引兒童發展、哲學、神經科學、行為經濟學相關研究， 揭開左右我們生活、愛情、消費選擇的關鍵情緒力量──快樂， 藉由理解人類偏好的運作原理，一窺我們選擇偏好背後的行為邏輯。

Analizând descoperirile revoluționare ale psihologiei, Punctul ideal ne arată cum tipul potrivit de suferință pregătește terenul pentru împlinire. Nu suntem în mod natural hedoniști.Deși de multe ori asociem o viață bună cu plăcerea și cu lipsa eșecului, efortul, lupta și greutățile, precum și frica sau tristețea, ne pot duce, în contextele potrivite, la o viață cu sens, la satisfacții morale și la bucuria cunoașterii. Durerea ne distrage de la spaime, poate să servească unor scopuri sociale, să arate cât de puternici suntem sau, dimpotrivă, funcționează pe post de strigăt de ajutor.

Moderne klassieker in de psychologie. We denken vaak dat empathie de ultieme bron van goedheid is. Volgens Paul Bloom is niets verder van de waarheid. Overtuigend toont hij dat empathie een grillige en irrationele emotie is, die we vooral voelen voor mensen zoals wijzelf. Gebaseerd op grondig wetenschappelijk onderzoek, houdt Bloom een pleidooi voor rationele compassie. Juist op basis daarvan kunnen we humane en morele beslissingen nemen. Tegen empathie werd bij verschijning in 2016 direct een moderne klassieker in de psychologie.

耶魯大學最受歡迎心理學大師，線上開放課程突破50萬人次 本書顛覆你的認知――「痛並快樂」的體驗最迷人！ 生命的意義就是在快樂和痛苦之間，尋找一個完美平衡的「甜蜜點」 誰說人性都是趨樂避苦？ 當痛苦煎熬可以替快感滿足鋪路， 當享樂的欲望不敵追求意義的渴望， 痛苦真的就是你想要的！ ---------------------------------------------- 看恐怖片情節越緊張精神越振奮？失戀歌曲越悲傷情緒越平靜？ 運動重訓時肌肉越痠痛心裡越爽快？山路越險峻登山者越是著迷？ 養兒育女催人老卻是甜蜜的負荷？ 工作平穩覺得無聊，花光積蓄遊歷世界還被偷被搶生命才精彩有意義？ 常言道，追求快樂是人的本性，痛苦理所當然是我們想要避免的。但有時候不盡然如此。人類確實能夠從許多負面的經驗中得到快樂，合宜的痛苦可以為快感鋪路，還能轉移注意力降低焦慮，甚至讓我們超越自我，展現韌性。 我們的生活確實可以建立在痛苦上，原因在於人不只想要快樂，更想要做對的事情。痛苦和道德價值之間有強烈的連結，若一個正確的行動會帶來痛苦，這樣的行動會更有意義。想想那些人們自願承受的折磨和犧牲，如果這些事很容易又輕鬆，可能就沒那麼值得挑戰或經歷。 本書以探索人類的自虐傾向為出發點，透過心理學和動機多元論的視角，結合精彩的實驗觀察與經驗分析，闡釋這個令人費解的人性面向。作者歸納兩種不同類型的自願痛苦，提出「人如何從負面經驗中得到快樂」的生動論述：為了追尋更大的愉悅而受苦；以及為了追尋生命意義而受苦。 作者主張，在快樂和痛苦之間，有一個完美平衡的「甜蜜點」，那種苦中帶樂的體驗讓人神往，還能促進人與人的連結、作為社群團結和愛的來源、反映心靈深處的感受。而理解痛苦，思考什麼能帶給我們愉悅和滿足，我們會更正確地認識自己，更能夠掌控自己的生活。 ☆挑戰你對美好生活的想像。絲絲入扣，條分縷析，保羅‧布倫為痛苦與快樂的關係做了迷人的論證，替毒性正能量注入令人振奮的解藥。 ――紐約時報暢銷作家亞當•格蘭特Adam Grant ☆保羅‧布倫總是可以顛覆你對於人性的假設。這一次他探究人的痛苦與快樂，提出永恆的大哉問：生命的意義是什麼？別錯過這本博學又具說服力的書。 ――報暢銷作家蘇珊‧坎恩Susan Cain ☆一段引人發噱的思辨旅程，探究快樂最令人好奇的部分。書中有許多逗人的例證你會忍不住想要跟朋友分享，保羅‧布倫為人類這個物種最奇怪的愉悅形式提供了趣味和理論兼具的說明。這本書絕對可以打中你。 ――耶魯大學心理學教授羅莉‧桑托斯 Laurie Santos ☆保羅‧布倫對洞察人性的悖論別具天賦，提出深刻又充分的解釋。在這本引人入勝的書中他再展長才，這次主題是令人費解的自虐傾向。 ――哈佛大學心理學教授史迪芬‧平克Steven Pinker ☆獨創、有趣、鞭辟入裡。保羅‧布倫對於人為什麼有時候會尋求悲傷、恐懼與痛苦的論述，讀來讓人興味盎然。拿起你的螢光筆，排開時間，因為一旦打開這本書，你就無法放下它。 ――哈佛大學心理學教授丹尼爾‧吉爾伯特Daniel Gilbert ☆優美的文筆和清晰的論證，讓人聯想到麥可•桑德爾和瑪莎•納思邦。對於辛苦和磨難如何帶來快樂論據確鑿。 ――柯克斯書評Kirkus Reviews ☆寫得跟說的一樣精彩，讓人想要一探究竟……好讀又好懂，回味無窮。 ――哈潑雜誌Harpers Magazine

Perché proviamo piacere mangiando cibi aspri o grattando la pelle fino a farla sanguinare? Perché alcuni uomini pagano per farsi sculacciare? Perché ci fermiamo a guardare incidenti cruenti? E perché andiamo a vedere film che ci fanno piangere e stare male? Mescolando intuizioni provenienti da campi diversi come lo sviluppo infantile, la neuro-scienza cognitiva e l''economia comportamentale, Paul Bloom fonda una scienza nuova: La scienza del piacere. Amore, arte, cibo: il libro che ci spiega perché ci piace ciò che ci piace. L''autore: Paul Bloom è professore di psicologia e scienze cognitive a Yale. La sua ricerca verte su come bambini e adulti comprendono il mondo fisico e sociale, indagando in particolar modo linguaggio, moralità, religione, narrativa e arte. Per il Saggiatore ha pubblicato Il bambino di Cartesio (2005).

★耶魯最受歡迎心理學大師，線上開放課程突破30萬人次 ★cousera.com全球開放課程最熱門的講師 ★最新社會心理學論述，顛覆你我對和諧人際的認知 當同理心變成理盲濫情，當周遭充斥正義魔人與網路公審…… 我們不只要有同理心，更要講道理 人往往依偏好選擇同理對象、用暴力發洩同理情緒，你以為同理心可以讓世界變得更美好？事實也許沒有那麼簡單！ 我們對各種社會事件的反應深受同理心的影響，也就是我們能夠站在別人的立場，感受他人的感受的能力。多數人都認為同理心是善行和道德的驅動力。我們往往覺得，同理心的唯一問題，就是同理心不夠。 但在本書中，作者要帶我們檢視所謂的同理心到底是什麼。它可以是讓人快樂的來源，也是人際關係很有價值的一面。它可以驅使我們去做好事。但整體而言，它卻不是一個好的道德指引。 同理心怎麼會讓我們做錯呢？簡單地說，同理心是將關注焦點放在眼前一群特定的人。我們比較關心他們，卻對自己行為的長期後果無感，也對那些我們無法同情者的遭遇盲目。同理心是帶有偏見的，會把我們推往狹隘或種族主義。它也可能引起暴力，我們對和自己比較親近者的同理心，往往會導致戰爭或敵意。它也會讓我們的情感耗竭。 同理心會蒙蔽我們的眼睛，讓我們在公共政策和各種關係中，做出不符合道德的選擇，或受情緒主導而無法將利益最大化。同理心其實是一種反覆無常且非理性的情感，很容易受偏見所誤導。它會打亂我們的判斷，反而導致殘酷的行為。 本書提出許多開創性的科學證據，主張個人或國家許多錯誤的決定，從要捐錢給誰到決定要不要開戰，從如何因應氣候變遷到要把誰關進牢裡，常常是受情感所驅動。若把同理心拿掉，說不定我們的決定會更清楚、更公平且更符合道德。 究竟同理心為什麼會影響我們的判斷與行為？ 首先，是選擇性。世上的苦難何其多，為何我們只關心或特別關心某些事件？這是媒體報道覆蓋率和「可辨識受害者效應」（identifiable victim effect）所造成的現象。媒體對事件的廣泛報導，更容易觸動人們的惻隱之心。二○○五年，美國少女 Natalee的失蹤事件引起美國全國關注，該事件的報導時間遠超出同期在蘇丹發生的種族滅絕。過去三十年，美國發生六場大規模槍殺案，造成五百人死亡，但其實只占全國死於謀殺人口的 0.1%。 另外則是「可辨識受害者效應」，受害者的具體形象，是醞釀同理心的重要元素。經濟學家 Thomas Schelling 早在四十五年前就以一個傳神的例子說明這個概念︰「假設一名六歲小女孩需要好幾萬元動手術，好讓她的生命可以捱到聖誕節，郵局一定會被一個個塞滿錢的信封給淹沒。但假設報道寫的是，再不推行銷售稅籌集資金，曼徹斯特的醫院便無法運作，屆時死亡率將明顯上升，在這種情況下，並不會有很多人慷慨解囊。」有了名字和故事，受害者似乎更顯可憐。通常有具體受害者才能牽動同理心。 其次，同理心容易讓我們重視個體勝過群體。人們對於有魅力的人、和自己相似的人，或具有同樣種族或國家背景的人，會產生更多同理心。研究發現，人們在觀看一系列面孔的照片時，會對與自己同樣種族的面孔產生較多同理心。我們對一個個體愈了解，對個人的關心愈會勝過群體。 同理心也會導致殘酷或侵略性的行為。憤怒和同理心有許多共通點，其一是在碰到可感知的不平等、殘酷或不道德後所產生的反應。許多目睹犯罪或不公不義的人都會對受害者產生深切的同理心，想要替受害者討回公道或報復犯罪者。而研究顯示，天生比較有同理心的人如果看到陌生人受苦受難，會出現更侵略性的行為。 本書希望告訴大家，幫助別人不只用心，更要用腦。同理心不該只是一種感性的情緒，亦要有理性的思考。而實際將同理心付諸行動的時候，要運用腦筋將所行之善「最大化」，亦即所謂「有效利他主義」。如果我們理性運用同理心，大眾論述也許能更公平、更符合道德。如果我們能真正體會，失去一百條性命比失去一條命更加嚴重，如果我們能認同，遠在他國、和我們看起來截然不同的人，他們的性命跟我們的家人一樣重要，那麼政策就能有所改善。 【好評推薦】 ★同理心是我們的文化中一項神聖不可侵犯的價值，布倫教授將它拉下聖壇，做了一番生動又有趣的重新檢視。? ——紐約時報New York Times ★挑戰你我思維……在這個「後真相政治」的時代，本書是對真相的疾呼。 ——經濟學人The Economist? ★巧妙的反同理心論述……? ——紐約郵報New York Post ★清楚點出了人類基於良善用意卻可能造成的風險與危害。? ——美國網路媒體Vox ★挑戰我們一直以來視為讓這個世界變得更好的重要理念……將完全顛覆你對這個世界的認知與你自己的道德感。 ——紐約雜誌New York Magazine ★布倫教授無疑是對的，訴諸同理心確實帶來不好的政策。同理心可以驅使我們關心別人，但還需要理性幫助我們建制與施行旨在減少苦痛的公共政策。 ——華爾街日報Wall Street Journal ★同理心不是洪水猛獸，但被同理心綁架而失去理智，就未免捨本逐末了。因此，對於同理心的認知，可能不是一味的歌頌讚美……在感同身受之餘，還要有出色的理解力以及自我控制能力。對別人的際遇，我們要懂得克制情緒反應，但不失憐憫。如此，我們追求的，就不只是當下的滿足感，而是人類社會長遠的進步。 ——資深媒體人 范立達 ★本書最引人入勝的就是Paul Bloom流暢的文筆、犀利的文字及說服的功力。他在每一章節中對同理心的正反辯證，真是絲絲入扣，每句話都鏗鏘有力，每一個實例都分析詳細，讀者不得不跟著他的思維走，進入理性思考。 ——東吳大學心理系兼任副教授林蕙瑛? 出版社 商周出版 (城邦)

Traditional Chinese edition of Psych: The Story of the Human Mind