The Compass of Pleasure: How Our Brains Make Fatty Foods, Orgasm, Exercise, Marijuana, Generosity, Vodka, Learning, and Gambling Feel So Good by David J. Linden

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The title of this book is a synopsis of itself. Linden interprets recent findings from neuroscience research papers for the rest of us. Yet, I don't recommend this for a general audience because he is still specific about neuro transmitters, substrates,receptors, and the research done by others that some readers may lose interest. I appreciate that he read these papers on my behalf and offers his conclusions. He does not overreach with solutions for us humans when he suggests that we would be healthier if we avoided highly processed food engineered to make us crave it for only 40 days of rats eating tested diet is necessary for them to need three times more to get the same level of pleasure from eating. Forty days is about the time from our Thanksgiving feast through out New Year's celebrations.



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