{"product_id":"the-fear-factor-9781472137814","title":"The Fear Factor","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e''A riveting ride through your own brain'' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e- Adam Grant, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eOriginals\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWINNER of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology''s book prize for ''The Promotion of Social and Personality Science''\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eIf humans are fundamentally good, why do we engage in acts of great cruelty? If we are evil, why do we sometimes help others at a cost to ourselves? \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhether humans are good or evil is a question that has plagued philosophers and scientists for as long as there have been philosophers and scientists.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany argue that we are fundamentally selfish, and only the rules and laws of our societies and our own relentless efforts of will can save us from ourselves. But is this really true? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAbigail Marsh is a social neuroscientist who has closely studied the brains of both the worst and the best among us-from children with psychopathic traits whose families live in fear of them, to adult \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA brilliant, beautiful, and important book about the things that make some of us angels, some of us devils, and all of us human. You won't be able to put it down - \u003cb\u003eDaniel Gilbert, Harvard University\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e[Marsh's] book is deft enough to be chilling at times, infectiously optimistic at others \u003cb\u003e- \u003ci\u003eThe Daily Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReads like a thriller. Abigail Marsh takes us through the groundbreaking research that has thrown light on two of the most fundamental traits of human beings: extreme selfishness and extreme altruism. Page after page, she shows convincingly that the capacity to perceive and identify fear and, consequently, to feel empathy as one would for a child in danger, is the key factor that makes us behave as a psychopath or as someone who joyfully gives a kidney to a stranger. One of the most mind-opening books I have read in years - \u003cb\u003eMatthieu Ricard, Author of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAltruism: The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the World\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBeautifully and engagingly written, yet not compromising on science. Abigail Marsh has written a page-turner that takes you meticulously through the scientific evidence for why altruism exists, while fooling you into thinking that you are reading a detective novel. This is essential reading for anyone interested in why people vary in their capacity for empathy and love - \u003cb\u003eEssi Viding PhD, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at UCL\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLet Abigail Marsh guide you on a riveting ride through your own brain. With lively writing and an impressive command of science, she shows how sensitivity to fear can be both a weapon of evil and a force for good -\u003cb\u003e Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of\u003ci\u003e Originals, Give and Take, and Option B \u003c\/i\u003e(with Sheryl Sandberg)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe combination of thorough investigation and personal research experiences creates a volume far more engaging than those typically written by academics...Those who seek to comprehend the origin of fear, altruism, and elements of human nature will find this book a key factor in their increased understanding - \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eScience\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book is overall a model of careful popular science writing, rebutting common oversimplifications... Best of all, her writing style is vivid and personable... And despite the book's optimistic message, there are moments-as when she describes a psychopathic teenage girl she tested as someone \"with whom I would have been unwilling to spend a night alone in a house\"-that send a chill down the spine. - \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecommend this fascinating text to readers of pop psychology and true crime fans who wish to better understand the minds of potential criminals - \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eBooklist\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA fascinating tour of altruism research, all the better for being sprinkled with anecdotes about Marsh's life, career and unforgettable research subjects. As well as the extremes of human nature, Marsh says plenty that is of relevance to those of us in the middle of the bell curve, including how we can strive to be more altruistic in our everyday lives * \u003cb\u003eNew Scientist\u003c\/b\u003e *\u003cbr\u003eProvides an illuminating dive into the science behind both altruism and psychopathy, promising an entertaining read for scientists and laypeople alike * \u003cb\u003ePaste\u003c\/b\u003e *\u003cbr\u003eA\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003efine example of a book that looks deeper, showing how an ancient part of the brain--central to our emotional lives--plays a pivotal role in who we are and what we do. It's a sharp analysis sprinkled with relatable examples, and an excellent brain book * \u003cb\u003eForbes *\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Little, Brown Book Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48739388293463,"sku":"9781472137814","price":11.69,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781472137814.jpg?v=1720052096","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/the-fear-factor-9781472137814","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}