Book · 2021 · Social psychology
The Sweet Spot
The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning
- mentions
- 7
- people
- 4
- podcasts
- 3
- episodes
- 6
- recommendations
- 3
A little bit of suffering is part of what gives life its meaning.
What they say about it
- Discussing the book's premise“how there is a sweet spot”2
The best things said about it
Paul Bloom's most recent book, The Sweet Spot, is great, and he interviewed a dominatrix for it, and he was trying to work out why it is that some people in suffering is part of a good life and how pain sort of contributes to our sense of enjoyment.
Chris Williamson Modern Wisdom · Dec 2021 He wrote this book called The Sweet Spot and it really was I think a kind of like manifesto on how there is a sweet spot of discomfort. The reason why he wants to say sweet spot is it's not more is all better.
Paul Bloom has a new book coming out I'm looking forward to call The Sweet Spot which is about the fact that people like seem to take on things that lead to suffering.
Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
4 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
The Sweet Spot by Paul Bloom is a psychology book that investigates why human beings voluntarily seek out pain, suffering, and challenging experiences as part of a meaningful life. Chris Williamson recommended the book on Modern Wisdom, highlighting the author's interviews with unexpected subjects like a dominatrix to understand how suffering contributes to human enjoyment and a well-lived life, while also promoting the title in episode show notes. Russ Roberts discussed the publication on EconTalk, noting his anticipation for the release and later returning to its core theme that a certain amount of struggle and discomfort is essential for giving life meaning. On No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth and Mike Maughan explored the book as a manifesto on discomfort, emphasizing the author's argument that moderation is key and that more discomfort is not always better. Duckworth also mentioned the work while analyzing research on happiness and parenthood. Across these podcasts, hosts and guests consistently praised the publication for challenging conventional views on pleasure and pain, demonstrating how voluntary hardships, difficult pursuits, and emotional struggles ultimately yield deep personal satisfaction and psychological resilience.
Every mention
Chris Williamson Paul Bloom's most recent book, The Sweet Spot, is great, and he interviewed a dominatrix for it, and he was… 2
“Paul Bloom's most recent book, The Sweet Spot, is great, and he interviewed a dominatrix for it, and he was trying to work out why it is that some people in suffering is part of a good life and how pain sort of contributes to our sense of enjoyment.”
“paul bloom ladies and gentlemen the sweet spot suffering pleasure and the key to a good life will be linked in the show notes below”
Russ Roberts paul bloom has a new book coming out i'm looking forward to call the sweet spot which is about the fact tha… 2
“this comes back to a book uh a psychologist wrote uh he's on my program right now which was that there's a sweet spot uh and and that a little bit of suffering is part of what gives life its meaning.”
“paul bloom has a new book coming out i'm looking forward to call the sweet spot which is about the fact that people like seem to take on things that lead to suffering”
Angela Duckworth so his most recent book is called The Sweet Spot 1
“so his most recent book is called The Sweet Spot”
Mike Maughan he wrote this book called the sweet spot and it really was I think a kind of like Manifesto on how there is… 1
“he wrote this book called the sweet spot and it really was I think a kind of like Manifesto on how there is a sweet spot of discomfort”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker1
“And he wrote this book called The Sweet Spot and it really was I think a kind of like manifesto on how there is a sweet spot of discomfort. The reason why he wants to say sweet spot is it's not more is all better.”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (6: passing, ad reads, own books)
“it may have even been from you the night from The Sweet Spot I I actually I I had the debate”
“it was last year in October of 2021 talking about his book The Sweet Spot”
“i have come up with a new book uh called uh the sweet spot uh the pledge was suffering a search for meaning”
“and he's back to talk about suffering in his new book the sweet spot the pleasures of suffering in the search for meaning”
“so you know my book is titled the sweet spot and i have vowed not to try to insert the phrase to sweet spot into every conversation i fall into because it's very tempting”
“so this book is is you know however this might pain my publicist to hear this not a self-help book it's just an exploration but but i i got some i got something out of writing it my guest today has been paul bloom his book is the sweet spot”