The Compass of Pleasure

David J. Linden explains how disparate pleasurable experiences—from food and sex to gambling and generosity—converge on common neural reward circuits.

The book synthesizes neuroscience research for a broad audience, illustrating mechanisms like dopamine signaling and habit formation.

Linden uses engaging examples and humor to show why certain behaviors become compulsive and how evolution shaped reward systems.

He discusses implications for understanding addiction while making the science accessible.

The book serves as an approachable primer on the neurobiology of pleasure and its role in human behavior.