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Satisfaction: The Science of Finding True Fulfillment Hardcover – Bargain Price, August 11, 2005

by
Gregory Berns (Author)
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3.7 out of 5 stars 15 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (September 1, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 080507600X
  • ASIN: B001063KJQ
  • Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,290,884 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3.0 out of 5 starsPositive psychology with a medical emphasis
By Raymond Mathiesen on August 14, 2008
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Gregory Berns is a psychiatrist and this book is his contribution to the new field of positive psychology. As a result of Brens' background the work takes a heavily medical view, rather than a cognitive/behavioral view (as taken by authors such as Martin E. P. Seligman). Berns closely examines the role of dopamine as it operates in the Striatum (a part of the lower brain/brain stem). Dopamine is the motivating neurochemical which moves us to action. It is thus not surprising that the book examines 'satisfaction', that is the joy of doing things, as opposed to 'happiness', which is a more permanent personality characteristic, and 'pleasure', which is a very transitory feeling.

The book covers various possible sources of satisfaction, including:

Gaining money,
Solving puzzles,
Eating,
Electric stimulation of the brain,
Avoiding pain,
Long distance running,
Having a sense of place and an interest in mythology, and,
Sex and love.

This text is written in a very chatty style which is very readable. Each chapter contains an autobiographical story in which Berns runs an experiment, interviews an expert, goes to visit a place, etc. The science is inserted into these stories as condensed educational packets. The book is definitely written for the general public, not professionals who I think would be rather annoyed by having to read through the personal guff. Sometimes this method of combining stories and science works well. A successful chapter is, for example, "The Electric Pleasuredome" which examines Robert Heath's experiments in electrically stimulating the brain. But at other times this approach is simply not enlightening.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsUnusual, Diverse & Interesting
By Stephen Axel on September 17, 2005
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
In exploring what creates 'personal satisfaction' this little gem explores a broad range of drivers, from neurochemistry to the laws of econonomics. While its core theme is nailed down to 'novelty produces dopamine--the brain's fuel--that drives satisfaction', it artfully weaves interesting lessons about sex, money, and personal well-being along the way. And even when the author gets a little carried away describing the more technical aspects of neuroscience, it is over in a page or two. If you like a book that makes you think, as well as giving you something new to talk to your friends about, this one is dynamite.
Comment 21 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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2.0 out of 5 starsThe science of finding out how big Gregory Berns ego is
By Egocheck_now on March 14, 2006
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
The title of this book is totally misleading. First of all Berns is no great writer. He inserts a lot of dialog that sounds faked. But the overall premise, that he's out looking for "True Fulfillment" is ridiculous; he is clearly not doing anything of the kind. What he is doing is repeating over and over and over his basic premise that novelty is what the brain requires. (This is because novelty stimulates the brain in particular ways that result in the release of dopamine, and this happens in a particular part of the brain called the striatum.) Then he goes on these long, boring investigations into the ways in which novelty is found in eating fine foods, sex, running, solving puzzles, etc. This book was BORING. The argument about novelty is not very convincing. He just does not justify the notion that the pursuit of novelty or novelty itself results in "true fulfillment." I mean, you can give all the examples of "novelty" you want, but if you haven't really bothered to show how fulfilling that is, do I care? True fulfillment? Hardly.
2 Comments 42 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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5.0 out of 5 starsVery interesting and well written account
By magellan HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWER on August 16, 2005
Format: Hardcover
Part personal memoir part scientific odyssey, this book explores the relationship between pleasure and pain in the brain and how they are mediated and controlled. Ultimately, the author's goal is to explain how we attain true satisfaction in life, not merely physical pleasure, no matter how intense, since that is fleeting.

The author's quest takes him from the labs of distinguished scientists to clubs frequented by the S & M crowd, and to countries like, oddly enough, Iceland, where he describes an interesting genetic study that is taking place. The author does a superb job of discussing the relevant neuroscience without getting too technical, covering the relevant history and scientists who have contributed to various areas of the brain research into pleasure and pain. The account of Dr. Robert Heath's work was fascinating, and that's just one of the many people discussed in the book. Add in some frank discussions of de Sade's and Masoch's lives and works, and how their writings relate to the issue of pain becoming pleasure and you have one of the most interesting brain books for the layman I've encountered in recent years.
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3.0 out of 5 starsIsabella not a good book also been tring to ease into the subject ...
By rob beasley on September 15, 2015
Format: Hardcover
Isabella not a good book also been tring to ease into the subject let me know if there's something that's a better read
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2.0 out of 5 starsSpoiler
By Una on March 27, 2013
Format: Hardcover
This book is a thin gloss on many other, deeper books about the search for escape from midlife boredom. It nods at our biology, natural history, and Western culture. Then, in the last few pages there appears almost as if out of the blue an epiphany. The author and his wife read David Schnarch's amazing book "Constructing the Sexual Crucible: An Integration of Sexual and Marital Therapy" and begin to put some of Schnarch's recommendations into practice and their sex life transforms from routine to ecstatic.

The author recommends you read David Schnarch's "Crucible". I second that, or if you prefer a less technical book read David Schnarch's "Passionate Marriage: Keeping Love and Intimacy Alive in Committed Relationships".
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