The Sweet Spot

Revealing the surprising roots of lasting happiness, "The Sweet Spot" by pre-eminent psychologist Paul Bloom explains why suffering is an essential source of both pleasure and meaning in our lives.

What if experiencing a good life involves more than just pleasure?

It seems obvious that pleasure leads to happiness and pain does the opposite. And yet we are irresistibly drawn to a host of experiences that truly hurt, from the exhilarating fear of horror movies or extreme sports to the grueling challenges of exercise, work, creativity, and having a family.

Drawing on groundbreaking findings, Paul Bloom explores the pleasures of suffering and reveals why the activities that provide the most satisfaction are often the ones that involve the greatest sacrifice. Embracing this truth, he shows, is the key to a life well lived.

"An exhilarating antidote to toxic positivity, this captivating book will challenge you to rethink your vision of a good life."

"This delightful and wonderfully written book gets to the heart of one of the most important questions in modern thought, illustrating how complex and paradoxical human happiness really is.".