Synopses & Reviews
All of us look for happiness, well-being, and positivity throughout our lives, but for most people these goals are abstract and the processes established to achieve them ambiguous. The Seven Sources of Pleasure in Life: Making Way for the Upside in the Midst of Modern DemandS≪/i> focuses attention upon the concrete, specific, and everyday sources of pleasure that are within the grasp of almost everyone.
Prolific author Luciano L'Abate, PhD, ABEPP, examines at all kinds of pleasures, investigating where we find them, why they appeal to us, and what benefits they provide in terms of both mental and physical health. He explains how to increase our sensitivity to everyday opportunities for pleasure, and then gives tangible techniques to focus upon these moments in order to fully experience them. The author employs personal memories from his childhood in Italy, more recent stories from his travels abroad, and the findings of most recent scientific research on the benefits of pleasure-seeking to further illustrate his points.
Review
"Dr. L'Abate is well known for his serious academic writings, including his many methodologically-sound research studies for which he has won awards from our national psychological association. Therefore, it was a delightful surprise to see that not only can he write in a more easy-to-read popular style, but he can also interject humor and funny jokes in this book. Instead of accepting somewhat abstract notions of happiness, well-being, and positivity, Luciano teaches us about the many specific and available sources of pleasure that one can photograph and record. I recommend this book to all mature adults as well as to our mental health professionals who might avoid professional burn-out from their stressed lives by adding new sources of pleasure into their daily routines."
< p="">Philip Zimbardo, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Stanford University, Former President, American Psychological Association <>
Review
"For years I have been honored to publish some of the most original, well-thought, and meticulously documented contributions by Dr. L'Abate. Being scientific and professional these frequent contributions did not allow levity or laughter. They did not show Dr. L'Abate's pervasive sense of humor. Finally, this book conveys whatever has been missing in Dr. L'Abate's previous writings, the joy of life and the pleasure of living that is present when one meets him personally. I am delighted that now mature lay readers, above and beyond mental health professionals, will be able to share Dr. L'Abate's keen wit and engaging personality."
< p="">Richard Sauber, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of the < i=""> American Journal of Family Therapy < i=""> <> < p=""> <>
Synopsis
This book examines a seemingly simple and absolutely essential topic: learning how to enjoy every aspect of your life on a daily basis.
All of us look for happiness, well-being, and positivity throughout our lives, but for most people these goals are abstract and the processes established to achieve them ambiguous. The Seven Sources of Pleasure in Life: Making Way for the Upside in the Midst of Modern Demands focuses attention upon the concrete, specific, and everyday sources of pleasure that are within the grasp of almost everyone.
Prolific author Luciano L'Abate, PhD, ABEPP, examines at all kinds of pleasures, investigating where we find them, why they appeal to us, and what benefits they provide in terms of both mental and physical health. He explains how to increase our sensitivity to everyday opportunities for pleasure, and then gives tangible techniques to focus upon these moments in order to fully experience them. The author employs personal memories from his childhood in Italy, more recent stories from his travels abroad, and the findings of most recent scientific research on the benefits of pleasure-seeking to further illustrate his points.
Synopsis
This book examines a seemingly simple and absolutely essential topic: learning how to enjoy every aspect of your life on a daily basis.
Synopsis
In a warp-speed world where the stresses of modern life seem to mount each day, how can we get back to the pleasure and pleasantness we all cherish? And how do we make time for leisure and laughter? For those of us wanting to live a life with meaning, it behooves us to find out.
Synopsis
• Presents a rich diversity of information while remaining accessible to general readers
• Provides the first research-based book on the universally appealing topic of what makes us feel good, and why
• Explains how our unique personal history determines what each of us finds pleasurable
• Argues that pleasures are a not waste of time because they directly benefit our health and wellbeing
Synopsis
• A great variety of references, ranging from
The New Yorker to
The Economist• Exercises within some chapters and at the end of every chapter guide readers towards greater understanding
• Five tables provide valuable supplemental information
• Bibliographic notes are supplied with every chapter