The Risk It Takes To Bloom

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The Risk It Takes to Bloom

Author : Raquel Willis
Publisher : St. Martin's Press
ISBN 13 : 1250275695
Total Pages : 293 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (52 download)

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Book Synopsis The Risk It Takes to Bloom by : Raquel Willis

Download or read book The Risk It Takes to Bloom written by Raquel Willis and published by St. Martin's Press. This book was released on 2023-11-14 with total page 293 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A passionate, powerful memoir by a trailblazing Black transgender activist, tracing her life of transformation and her work towards collective liberation. In 2017, Raquel Willis took to the National Women’s March podium just after the presidential election of Donald Trump, primed to tell her story as a young Black transgender woman from the South. Despite having her speaking time cut short, the appearance only deepened her commitment to speaking up for communities on the margins. Born in Augusta, Georgia, to Black Catholic parents, Raquel spent years feeling isolated, even within a loving, close-knit family. There was little access to understanding what it meant to be queer and transgender. It wasn’t until she went to the University of Georgia that she found the LGBTQ+ community, fell in love, and explored her gender for the first time. But the unexpected death of her father forced her to examine her relationship with herself and those she loved. These years of grief, misunderstanding, and hard-won epiphanies seeped into the soil of her life, serving as fertilizer for growth and allowing her to bloom within. Upon graduation, Raquel entered a career in journalism against the backdrop of the burgeoning Movement for Black Lives, intersectional feminism going mainstream, and unprecedented visibility of the trans community. After hiding her identity as a newspaper reporter, her increasing awareness of the epidemic of violence plaguing trans women of color and the heightened suicide of trans teens inspired her to come out publicly. Within just a few short years of community organizing in Atlanta, Oakland, and New York, Raquel emerged as one of the most formidable Black trans activists in history. In The Risk It Takes to Bloom, Raquel Willis recounts with passion and candor her experiences straddling the Obama and Trump eras, the possibility of transformation after tragedy, and how complex moments can push us all to take necessary risks and bloom toward collective liberation.

The Risk It Takes to Bloom

Author : Amanda E.k.
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780578358031
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (58 download)

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Book Synopsis The Risk It Takes to Bloom by : Amanda E.k.

Download or read book The Risk It Takes to Bloom written by Amanda E.k. and published by . This book was released on 2022-02-15 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Risk it Takes To Bloom is a collection of 10 sexy stories for the queer, the kinky, the unconventional, and the underrepresented. Among these provocative stories, a newly-open married couple meets an unexpected unicorn at a Pride weekend drag show,; an acupuncturist invites a client to her home for a private session of pleasurable pain,; and two lesbian co-eds sneak into a library for an erotic literature-fueled tryst.

The Risk to Bloom

Author : Najah-Amatullah Hylton
Publisher : Lulu.com
ISBN 13 : 1304901998
Total Pages : 47 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (49 download)

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Book Synopsis The Risk to Bloom by : Najah-Amatullah Hylton

Download or read book The Risk to Bloom written by Najah-Amatullah Hylton and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2014-03-02 with total page 47 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the first book by Najah-Amatullah Hylton. Included are twenty poems on the topics of love, growth, and identity with the underlying theme that life is hard, people are not meant to be made into coping mechanisms, but God is good. These pages also underscore the importance of art and of family. The author hopes you enjoy this book and look forward to future projects. Najah-Amatullah is a young, energetic, high school English teacher and writer. She performs locally and coaches a writing and performance club at her school. She hopes to continue this work in whatever other location she is able.

The Bloom Book

Author : Heidi Smith
Publisher : Sounds True
ISBN 13 : 168364381X
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (836 download)

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Book Synopsis The Bloom Book by : Heidi Smith

Download or read book The Bloom Book written by Heidi Smith and published by Sounds True. This book was released on 2020-07-07 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Flowers represent a branch of plant medicine that is specifically concerned with our consciousness and evolution. To connect with their essence catalyzes the blossoming of our own healing and spiritual journeys.” —Heidi Smith From lavender’s ability to soothe frazzled nerves to rose’s charms in healing the heart, flowers don’t just delight the senses—they have a secret history as doorways to transformation. With The Bloom Book, Heidi Smith offers a holistic and comprehensive guide for working with flower essences—the vibrational signatures of our botanical allies—to bring about healing, awakening, and deep change. A psychosomatic therapist, flower essence practitioner, registered herbalist, and long-time student of ancient wisdom traditions, Smith seamlessly integrates the healing power of flower essences with vibrational medicine and the rise of the divine feminine. The result is a cosmic doctrine of healing that empowers readers to align with their highest selves and help to bring about planetary transformation. Highlights include: An intuitive approach to working with flower essences for balance and optimal healthDetailed instructions for making, selecting, and formulating flower essencesRituals, recipes, and case studies for protection, grounding, dreamwork, grief, love, and moreComplementary applications of vibrational healing—including breath work, moon cycles, colors, chakras, and sacred symbolsWorking with trauma and systemic oppression—how flower essences can support multi-generational, intersectional healingReconnecting with nature, the divine feminine, and your true self through the healing power of flowers Filled with gorgeous illustrations by artist Chelsea Granger, The Bloom Book is both an information-rich resource and interactive guidebook for anyone who wants to awaken their most vibrant, balanced, and empowered self through the healing power of flower essences.

Bloom

Author : Kelle Hampton
Publisher : Harper Collins
ISBN 13 : 0062045059
Total Pages : 445 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (62 download)

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Book Synopsis Bloom by : Kelle Hampton

Download or read book Bloom written by Kelle Hampton and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2012-04-03 with total page 445 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “In her tender and genuinely beautiful memoir, Kelle Hampton encourages us to not simply accept the unexpected circumstances of our lives, but to embrace them like the things we wished for all along.” —Matthew Logelin, New York Times bestselling author of Two Kisses for Maddy Bloom is an inspiring and heartfelt memoir that celebrates the beauty found in the unexpected, the strength of a mother’s love, and, ultimately, the amazing power of perspective. From the outside looking in, Kelle Hampton had the perfect life: a beautiful two-year-old daughter, a loving husband, a thriving photography career, and great friends. When she learned she was pregnant with her second child, she and her husband, Brett, were ecstatic. Her pregnancy went smoothly and the ultrasounds showed a beautiful, healthy, high-kicking baby girl. But when her new daughter was placed in her arms in the delivery room, Kelle knew instantly that something was wrong. Nella looked different than her two-year-old sister, Lainey, had at birth. As she watched friends and family celebrate with champagne toasts and endless photographs, a terrified Kelle was certain that Nella had Down syndrome—a fear her pediatrician soon confirmed. Yet gradually Kelle's fear and pain were vanquished by joy, as she embraced the realization that she had been chosen to experience an extraordinary and special gift. With lyrical prose and gorgeous full-color photography, Bloom takes readers on a wondrous journey through Nella's first year of life—a gripping, hilarious, and intensely poignant trip of transformation in which a mother learns that perfection comes in all different shapes. It is a story about embracing life and really living it, of being fearless and accepting difference, of going beyond constricting definitions of beauty, and of the awesome power of perspective. As Kelle writes, "There is us. Our Family. We will embrace this beauty and make something of it. We will hold our precious gift and know that we are lucky."

Dare to Bloom

Author : Zim Flores
Publisher : Thomas Nelson
ISBN 13 : 1400218659
Total Pages : 225 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis Dare to Bloom by : Zim Flores

Download or read book Dare to Bloom written by Zim Flores and published by Thomas Nelson. This book was released on 2020-12-08 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Either by choice or by circumstance, we all encounter times of starting over. Seasons of hardships, abundance, seeking, and struggle all have a purpose because growth demands change. Dare to Bloom urges us to be both vulnerable and resilient in new seasons of life as we boldly position ourselves for what God has for us next. Serial entrepreneur and author, Zim Flores (neè Ugochukwu), reveals the challenges she's faced and how even her failures have helped shape her sense of purpose. Her parents had big plans for her life. The daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Zim Flores was uprooted from her community as a young girl, marking the beginning of her quest for true identity. Though she experienced unprecedented worldly success as a teenager and young adult, Zim declares that even when we feel pressured by the world around us, our true identity is never at risk. In Dare to Bloom, Zim offers practical and hard-won truths about: How to reclaim your true identity How to surrender your desired outcomes to God How to move forward after broken friendships How to find comfort during your darkest hours How to navigate new beginnings with hope for whatever is next How to joyfully participate in your own story--even when you don't know what the future holds Dare to Bloom is a powerful gift for readers in times of transition or struggle who need a reminder that their true identity never changes. It empowers those who feel stuck in their current circumstances to follow God obediently into the unknown, finding joy in each new beginning. Inside you'll find: Breathtaking photography from Zim's travels Thoughtful questions for reflection at the end of each chapter Zimisms--wisdom-filled phrases from the author When everything changes around us, it can be easy to think that we're only as good as our last success. Though our identities are challenged day by day, Dare to Bloom encourages us to reclaim our identity in God, who is unchanging through it all.

Shadowscent: the Darkest Bloom

Author : P. M. Freestone
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781407192154
Total Pages : 448 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (921 download)

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Book Synopsis Shadowscent: the Darkest Bloom by : P. M. Freestone

Download or read book Shadowscent: the Darkest Bloom written by P. M. Freestone and published by . This book was released on 2019-02 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A sensationaldebut fantasy adventure! In the empire of Aramtesh, scent has power. When disaster strikes and the crown prince lies poisoned, long-suppressed rivalries threaten to blow the empire apart.It's up to Rakel, a poor village girl with a talent for fragrances, and Ash, the prince's loyal bodyguard, to find an antidote. To succeed, the unlikely pair must uncover cryptic, ancient secrets as well as buried truths from their own pasts in an adventure that will ignite your senses.

Closing of the American Mind

Author : Allan Bloom
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1439126267
Total Pages : 403 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (391 download)

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Book Synopsis Closing of the American Mind by : Allan Bloom

Download or read book Closing of the American Mind written by Allan Bloom and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2008-06-30 with total page 403 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The brilliant, controversial, bestselling critique of American culture that “hits with the approximate force and effect of electroshock therapy” (The New York Times)—now featuring a new afterword by Andrew Ferguson in a twenty-fifth anniversary edition. In 1987, eminent political philosopher Allan Bloom published The Closing of the American Mind, an appraisal of contemporary America that “hits with the approximate force and effect of electroshock therapy” (The New York Times) and has not only been vindicated, but has also become more urgent today. In clear, spirited prose, Bloom argues that the social and political crises of contemporary America are part of a larger intellectual crisis: the result of a dangerous narrowing of curiosity and exploration by the university elites. Now, in this twenty-fifth anniversary edition, acclaimed author and journalist Andrew Ferguson contributes a new essay that describes why Bloom’s argument caused such a furor at publication and why our culture so deeply resists its truths today.

Bloom

Author : Kelle Hampton
Publisher : William Morrow Paperbacks
ISBN 13 : 9780062045041
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (45 download)

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Book Synopsis Bloom by : Kelle Hampton

Download or read book Bloom written by Kelle Hampton and published by William Morrow Paperbacks. This book was released on 2013-04-02 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “In her tender and genuinely beautiful memoir, Kelle Hampton encourages us to not simply accept the unexpected circumstances of our lives, but to embrace them like the things we wished for all along.” —Matthew Logelin, New York Times bestselling author of Two Kisses for Maddy Bloom is an inspiring and heartfelt memoir that celebrates the beauty found in the unexpected, the strength of a mother’s love, and, ultimately, the amazing power of perspective. The author of the popular blog Enjoying the Small Things—named The Bump’s Best Special Needs Blog and The Blog You’ve Learned the Most From in the 2010 BlogLuxe Awards—Kelle Hampton interweaves lyrical prose and stunning four-color photography as she recounts the unforgettable story of the first year in the life of her daughter Nella, who has Down syndrome. Poignant, eye-opening, and heart-soaring, Hampton’s Bloom is ultimately about embracing life and really living it.

Lightning Flowers

Author : Katherine E. Standefer
Publisher : Little, Brown Spark
ISBN 13 : 0316450359
Total Pages : 281 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (164 download)

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Book Synopsis Lightning Flowers by : Katherine E. Standefer

Download or read book Lightning Flowers written by Katherine E. Standefer and published by Little, Brown Spark. This book was released on 2020-11-10 with total page 281 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This "utterly spectacular" book weighs the impact modern medical technology has had on the author's life against the social and environmental costs inevitably incurred by the mining that makes such innovation possible (Rachel Louise Snyder, author of No Visible Bruises). What if a lifesaving medical device causes loss of life along its supply chain? That's the question Katherine E. Standefer finds herself asking one night after being suddenly shocked by her implanted cardiac defibrillator. In this gripping, intimate memoir about health, illness, and the invisible reverberating effects of our medical system, Standefer recounts the astonishing true story of the rare diagnosis that upended her rugged life in the mountains of Wyoming and sent her tumbling into a fraught maze of cardiology units, dramatic surgeries, and slow, painful recoveries. As her life increasingly comes to revolve around the internal defibrillator freshly wired into her heart, she becomes consumed with questions about the supply chain that allows such an ostensibly miraculous device to exist. So she sets out to trace its materials back to their roots. From the sterile labs of a medical device manufacturer in southern California to the tantalum and tin mines seized by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to a nickel and cobalt mine carved out of endemic Madagascar jungle, Lightning Flowers takes us on a global reckoning with the social and environmental costs of a technology that promises to be lifesaving but is, in fact, much more complicated. Deeply personal and sharply reported, Lightning Flowers takes a hard look at technological mythos, healthcare, and our cultural relationship to medical technology, raising important questions about our obligations to one another, and the cost of saving one life.

Against Empathy

Author : Paul Bloom
Publisher : HarperCollins
ISBN 13 : 0062339354
Total Pages : 304 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (623 download)

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Book Synopsis Against Empathy by : Paul Bloom

Download or read book Against Empathy written by Paul Bloom and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2016-12-06 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New York Post Best Book of 2016 We often think of our capacity to experience the suffering of others as the ultimate source of goodness. Many of our wisest policy-makers, activists, scientists, and philosophers agree that the only problem with empathy is that we don’t have enough of it. Nothing could be farther from the truth, argues Yale researcher Paul Bloom. In AGAINST EMPATHY, Bloom reveals empathy to be one of the leading motivators of inequality and immorality in society. Far from helping us to improve the lives of others, empathy is a capricious and irrational emotion that appeals to our narrow prejudices. It muddles our judgment and, ironically, often leads to cruelty. We are at our best when we are smart enough not to rely on it, but to draw instead upon a more distanced compassion. Basing his argument on groundbreaking scientific findings, Bloom makes the case that some of the worst decisions made by individuals and nations—who to give money to, when to go to war, how to respond to climate change, and who to imprison—are too often motivated by honest, yet misplaced, emotions. With precision and wit, he demonstrates how empathy distorts our judgment in every aspect of our lives, from philanthropy and charity to the justice system; from medical care and education to parenting and marriage. Without empathy, Bloom insists, our decisions would be clearer, fairer, and—yes—ultimately more moral. Brilliantly argued, urgent and humane, AGAINST EMPATHY shows us that, when it comes to both major policy decisions and the choices we make in our everyday lives, limiting our impulse toward empathy is often the most compassionate choice we can make.

When the Apricots Bloom

Author : Gina Wilkinson
Publisher : Kensington Books
ISBN 13 : 1496729366
Total Pages : 322 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (967 download)

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Book Synopsis When the Apricots Bloom by : Gina Wilkinson

Download or read book When the Apricots Bloom written by Gina Wilkinson and published by Kensington Books. This book was released on 2021-02-02 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Breathtaking…Riveting and profound! I adored this book!” —Ellen Marie Wiseman, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan Collector “A deeply involving and important novel by a master storyteller.” —Susan Wiggs, # 1 New York Times bestselling author INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER In this moving, suspenseful debut novel, three courageous women confront the complexities of trust, friendship, motherhood, and betrayal under the rule of a ruthless dictator and his brutal secret police. Former foreign correspondent Gina Wilkinson draws on her own experiences to take readers inside a haunting story of Iraq at the turn of the millennium and the impossible choices faced by families under a deadly regime. A BuzzFeed Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Release A Target Book Club Pick A Publishers Marketplace Buzz Books Selection At night, in Huda’s fragrant garden, a breeze sweeps in from the desert encircling Baghdad, rustling the leaves of her apricot trees and carrying warning of visitors at her gate. Huda, a secretary at the Australian embassy, lives in fear of the mukhabarat—the secret police who watch and listen for any scrap of information that can be used against America and its allies. They have ordered her to befriend Ally Wilson, the deputy ambassador’s wife. Huda has no wish to be an informant, but fears for her teenaged son, who may be forced to join a deadly militia. Nor does she know that Ally has dangerous secrets of her own. Huda’s former friend, Rania, enjoyed a privileged upbringing as the daughter of a sheikh. Now her family’s wealth is gone, and Rania too is battling to keep her child safe and a roof over their heads. As the women’s lives intersect, their hidden pasts spill into the present. Facing possible betrayal at every turn, all three must trust in a fragile, newfound loyalty, even as they discover how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect their families. “Vivid…secrets and lies mingle as easily as the scent of apricot blossoms and nargilah smoke. Wilkinson weaves in the miasma of fear and distrust that characterized Hussein’s regime with convincing detail. Richly drawn characters and high-stakes plot.” —Publishers Weekly

101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married

Author : Charlie Bloom
Publisher : New World Library
ISBN 13 : 1577313453
Total Pages : 146 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (773 download)

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Book Synopsis 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married by : Charlie Bloom

Download or read book 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married written by Charlie Bloom and published by New World Library. This book was released on 2010-09-24 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the divorce rate soaring at a dizzying 60 percent, young couples and experienced partners may lack the skills and understanding to sustain a committed relationship. Linda and Charlie Bloom present 101 nuggets of wisdom that deliver practical guidance and make it clear that regardless of past experience anyone can develop the basic strengths, skills, and capacities needed for a great relationship. Each lesson is presented as a simple, one-sentence thought followed by an explanation using real-life examples. This book demonstrates how couples can enrich their own relationships by working through love's challenges.

Gloom to Boom

Author : Andrea Bonime-Blanc
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1000709523
Total Pages : 316 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (7 download)

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Book Synopsis Gloom to Boom by : Andrea Bonime-Blanc

Download or read book Gloom to Boom written by Andrea Bonime-Blanc and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2019-10-16 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Leaders – whether in business, government or the nonprofit sector – take risks but often without fully understanding risk at a strategic level. Expanding upon the well-known "ESG" risks, this book explains the key nonfinancial (environmental, social, governance and technological or ESGT) risks. For many leaders (including board members), taking risk without knowledge or preparation can lead to organizational crisis, scandal and value destruction. For those who are prepared, resilience follows and so does the ability to transform ESGT risk into opportunity and value for stakeholders. In this book, global governance, risk, ethics and cyber strategist, author and board member, Andrea Bonime-Blanc, shows practitioners at all levels how to effectively identify and manage their top ESGT risks to avoid crises and transform risk into sustainable long-term resilience and value. Gloom to Boom is a book for everyone – from the highest levels of leadership in an organization (the board, CEO and C-suite), to other senior leaders (the chief risk officer, CFO, general counsel, head of CSR and sustainability, CISO, CHRO), and midlevel leaders, students and folks simply interested in current affairs and the role and impact of strategic risk and opportunity on their lives.

In Bloom

Author : Clare Nolan
Publisher : Hachette UK
ISBN 13 : 0857837699
Total Pages : 655 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (578 download)

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Book Synopsis In Bloom by : Clare Nolan

Download or read book In Bloom written by Clare Nolan and published by Hachette UK. This book was released on 2019-04-26 with total page 655 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'I absolutely adore Clare Nolan's approaches to garden planning and creative use of color in her designs. This gem is sure to delight any flower lover.' - Erin Benzakein of Floret Flower Farm Planting cut flowers brings that 'grow-your-own' excitement to a whole new level - being able to step out of the back door and pick a single stem for beside the bed or pull together a posy for a friend is a joy. In this beautifully designed book, brimming with inspirational photographs, Clare Nolan reveals her secrets for growing a bountiful harvest as well as styling spectacular homegrown displays that will fill your home with colour and the gorgeous scent of the garden year-round. She takes the mystique out of what to grow and guides you through the entire process - from choosing the plants to suit both your garden and home décor and laying out your cutting patch, to planning ahead so you get your perfect palette of colour, texture and shape to play with at the right time. A whole chapter on arranging will inspire you to create spectacular arrangements for your home without the need for complicated floristry techniques.

Bloom

Author : Wil McCarthy
Publisher : Del Rey
ISBN 13 : 9780345485373
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (853 download)

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Book Synopsis Bloom by : Wil McCarthy

Download or read book Bloom written by Wil McCarthy and published by Del Rey. This book was released on 1999-08 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A man-made fungus called mycora has wiped out most of humanity on Earth and on several planets, but reports persist of human survivors in colder climes. A voyage of exploration is mounted to contact them, but the ship is attacked by mycora's allies.

The Sweet Spot

Author : Paul Bloom
Publisher : HarperCollins
ISBN 13 : 0062910582
Total Pages : 304 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (629 download)

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Book Synopsis The Sweet Spot by : Paul Bloom

Download or read book The Sweet Spot written by Paul Bloom and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2021-11-02 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “This book will challenge you to rethink your vision of a good life. With sharp insights and lucid prose, Paul Bloom makes a captivating case that pain and suffering are essential to happiness. It’s an exhilarating antidote to toxic positivity.” —Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and host of the TED podcast WorkLife One of Behavioral Scientist's "Notable Books of 2021" From the author of Against Empathy, a different kind of happiness book, one that shows us how suffering is an essential source of both pleasure and meaning in our lives Why do we so often seek out physical pain and emotional turmoil? We go to movies that make us cry, or scream, or gag. We poke at sores, eat spicy foods, immerse ourselves in hot baths, run marathons. Some of us even seek out pain and humiliation in sexual role-play. Where do these seemingly perverse appetites come from? Drawing on groundbreaking findings from psychology and brain science, The Sweet Spot shows how the right kind of suffering sets the stage for enhanced pleasure. Pain can distract us from our anxieties and help us transcend the self. Choosing to suffer can serve social goals; it can display how tough we are or, conversely, can function as a cry for help. Feelings of fear and sadness are part of the pleasure of immersing ourselves in play and fantasy and can provide certain moral satisfactions. And effort, struggle, and difficulty can, in the right contexts, lead to the joys of mastery and flow. But suffering plays a deeper role as well. We are not natural hedonists—a good life involves more than pleasure. People seek lives of meaning and significance; we aspire to rich relationships and satisfying pursuits, and this requires some amount of struggle, anxiety, and loss. Brilliantly argued, witty, and humane, Paul Bloom shows how a life without chosen suffering would be empty—and worse than that, boring.