Books › The hungry brain
The hungry brain
304 pages
An eye-opening, humorous journey into the ancient brain circuits that hijack our modern diets.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting down with a brilliant, witty neuroscientist who finally explains why your brain works against your best intentions. The prose is brisk and highly accessible, translating cutting-edge science into engaging storytelling that replaces guilt with genuine curiosity. It cultivates an illuminating, pragmatic mood, guiding the reader through the evolutionary mismatch between our ancient survival instincts and the modern food environment. Rather than relying on willpower-heavy lectures, the narrative maintains an empathetic, humorous tone that demystifies compulsive eating and weight loss. It is perfect for readers who want to understand the biological 'why' behind their habits, offering an empowering arc that moves from behavioral frustration to practical, science-backed clarity.
- Mood
- curious
- illuminating
- pragmatic
- Tone
- humorous
- engaging
- informative
- empathetic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- evolutionary mismatch · the science of appetite · understanding behavior · practical wellness
- The writing
- Accessible and humorous, translating complex neuroscience into engaging, relatable storytelling.
- The arc
- Moves from a frustrating sense of behavioral mystery to an empowering, scientifically grounded understanding of oneself.
- Who it's for
- Readers seeking a science-backed, guilt-free understanding of their eating habits and practical strategies for change.
Content notes
- discussions of obesity
- eating disorders
- compulsive eating
- weight loss
About the book
"From an obesity and neuroscience researcher with a knack for engaging, humorous storytelling, The Hungry Brain uses cutting-edge science to answer the questions: why do we overeat, and what can we do about it? No one wants to overeat. And certainly no one wants to overeat for years, become overweight, and end up with a high risk of diabetes or heart disease--yet two thirds of Americans do precisely that. Even though we know better, we often eat too much. Why does our behavior betray our own intentions to be lean and healthy? The problem, argues obesity and neuroscience researcher Stephan J. Guyenet, is not necessarily a lack of willpower or an incorrect understanding of what to eat. Rather, our appetites and food choices are led astray by ancient, instinctive brain circuits that play by the rules of a survival game that no longer exists. And these circuits don't care about how you look in a bathing suit next summer. To make the case, The Hungry Brain takes readers on an eye-opening journey through cutting-edge neuroscience that has never before been available to a general audience. The Hungry Brain delivers profound insights into why the brain undermines our weight goals and transforms these insights into practical guidelines for eating well and staying slim. Along the way, it explores how the human brain works, revealing how this mysterious organ makes us who we are"--
Description from Open Library.
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