The Compass of Pleasure is an entertaining look at vice and virtue through cutting-edge science    Neuroscientist David J. Linden weaves empirical science with entertaining anecdotes to explain how the gamut of behaviors that give us a buzz actually operates. The Compass of Pleasure makes clear why drugs like nicotine and heroin are addictive while LSD is not, how fast food restaurants ensure that diners will eat more, why some people cannot resist the appeal of a new sexual encounter, and much more.  Provocative and illuminating, this is a radically new and thorough look at the desires that define us. “This cheerful summary of the brain's reward system is a profound experience... Pleasure is a superb book. My brain has been changed by reading it.” - The Guardian