Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
Categories
Psychology
Weblink
http://www.sharonlbegley.com

CAN'T JUST STOP

Sharon Begley

An Investigation of Compulsions

Sharon Begley takes readers on a fascinating journey through the science behind both mild and extreme compulsive behavior -- using case studies to understand its deeper meaning and reveal how deeply human compulsion really is.

Continually checking your smartphone for messages, shopping with military precision, or hanging the tea towels just so are relatively mild compulsions. But others – gambling, drinking, hoarding and other addictive behaviors can be life-altering experiences. Sharon Begley’s meticulously researched book examines all of these behaviors – mild and extreme (OCD, hoarding, acquiring, exercise, even compulsions to do good) and shows that while forms of compulsion may look incredibly different, these are actually all coping responses to varying degrees of anxiety. Using fascinating case studies Begley employs a deep compassion for her subjects giving meaningful context to their plight. Along the way she explores the place of compulsion in our fast paced culture, the brain science behind it, and strange manifestations of the behavior throughout history.

Can’t Just Stop makes compulsion comprehensible and accessible, giving us a sense of its deeper meaning within human experience and exploring how we can realistically grapple with it in ourselves and those we love.

Sharon Begley is the senior science writer at STAT, the life sciences publication of The Boston Globe. She previously worked at Reuters, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, and The Wall Street Journal. She is the author of The Emotional Life of Your Brain (with Richard J. Davidson); Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain; and The Mind and the Brain (with Jeffrey Schwartz). She has received numerous awards for communicating science to the public.

Available products
Book Published 2017-02-07 by Simon & Schuster
Book Published 2017-02-07 by Simon & Schuster

Comments

Filled with emotionally resonant stories, Can't Just Stop helps us understand not only the underpinnings of some forms of mental illness, but also the everyday worries that drive so much of our behavior. A fascinating peek into the human mind in our age of anxiety.

CAN'T JUST STOP ws included in NYMAG.com/Science of Us "15 of the Best Science Books coming in 2017" Read more...

Sharon Begley is the liveliest science writer around. Can't Just Stop offers both a state of the science look at compulsions (and who doesn't have some?) and a delightful read.

British: Constable & Robinson ; Chinese (cc): Domain ; Chinese (si): Cheers ; Italian: Feltrinelli ; Korean: Bookie Publishing House ; Russian: Alpina

A fascinating read about human behavior and how it can go haywire.

Check out the first serial in The Wall Street Journal: “How Compulsions Help Us Manage Our Age of Anxiety” Read more...

Begley's final chapter on brain function in the compulsive mind contains fresh insight that could fundamentally alter how we think of, and treat, mental illness going forward.

At once fascinating and compassionate, funny and informative, this volume should be on the bookshelf of every psychiatrist, and on the nightstand of anyone who enjoys absorbing and incisive writing.

[Begley's] captivating, accessible anecdotes of individual cases lead to unforgettable scenarios.

In this fascinating read, Begley combines a personal topic with thoughtfulness and sensitivity.

Compelling... One of the strengths of this book is Begley’s rigorous clarity about her subject matter... Begley takes us on a tour of compulsions through history and the fascinating transition as they moved from being seen as a religious phenomenon to being regarded as a medical illness... [A] fine work.

Sharon Begley has done us all a service, writing about compulsion without writing about disease, and offering a new perspective on a phenomenon that is common if not universal. People troubled by their own compulsive behavior will appreciate her nuanced and balanced approach and perhaps come away with a new understanding of themselves.