The Science of Sin: Why We Do The Things We Know We Shouldn't

(Paperback)

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'Entertaining and enlightening ... offers ways to temper our anti-social tendencies.' Dr Michael Mosley, science journalist and TV presenter It can often seem that we are utterly surrounded by temptation, from the ease of online shopping and the stream of targeted advertising encouraging us to greedily acquire yet more stuff, to the coffee, cake and fast-food shops that line our streets, beckoning us in to over-indulge on all the wrong things. It can feel like a constant battle to stay away from the temptations we know we shouldnt give in to. Where exactly do these urges come from If we know we shouldnt do something, for the sake of our health, our pockets or our reputation, why is it often so very hard to do the right thing Anyone who has ever wondered why they never seem to be able to stick to their diet, anyone to whom the world seems more vain and self-obsessed than ever, anyone who can't understand why love-cheats pursue their extra-marital affairs, anyone who struggles to resist the lure of the comfy sofa, or anyone who makes themselves bitter through endless comparison with other people, anyone who is addicted to their smartphone this book is for you. The Science of Sin brings together the latest findings from neuroscience research to shed light on the universally fascinating subject of temptation where it comes from, how to resist it and why we all tend to succumb from time to time. With each chapter inspired by one of the seven deadly sins, neurobiologist Jack Lewis illuminates the neural battles between temptation and restraint that take place within our brains, suggesting strategies to help us better manage our most troublesome impulses with the explicit goal of improving our health, our happiness and our productivity helping us to say no! more often, especially when it really counts.

Reviews

Raises some interesting questions about the brain's role in bad behaviour. * Sunday Times Culture *
Offers entertaining and enlightening insights into the neurobiology behind some of our favourite sins. It combines fascinating contemporary and historical stories with cutting edge science and offers ways to temper our anti-social tendencies. -- Dr Michael Mosley, science journalist and TV presenter
This book is a rollercoaster ride through the brain in search of what actually causes the dark side of human nature. It brings together science, religion and philosophy in a way that casts light on everyones battle with temptation. -- Johnny Ball, TV personality and author of Wonders Beyond Numbers
Writing with breadth, clarity and wisdom, Jack Lewis takes us through the religious antecedents. Each sin is treated in the same careful and systematic way; highlighting their glory and their devastating consequences, their origins and what it means to commit them or not. The way that difficult issues are underwritten by deeply informed neuroscience lends the book a reassuring authority. * Karl Friston FRS, Professor of Neuroscience, University College London, UK *
The neurological circuits responsible [for our sins] are named and shamed. * Strong Words Magazine *

Author Bio

Jack Lewis is a neurobiologist and television presenter. He earned a PhD in neuroscience from University College London, continuing his research using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to investigate how human brains integrate sound and vision as a post-doc at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics. For the past 10 years he has focused on bringing the latest neuroscience research to the attention of the widest possible audience. He has co-authored two popular science books, Sort Your Brain Out and The Mice Who Sing for Sex. His TV career kicked off in 2008 as a presenter on the BBC series People Watchers, which involved roaming the streets of London conducting secretly filmed social psychology experiments on unsuspecting members of the public. He went on to make regular appearances as an expert on ITV's This Morning, and presented Discovery Sciences The Tech Show, the ITV series How to Get More Sex, and the second series of his latest show, Secrets of the Brain, is currently airing in 20 countries from the United States to South Korea. His Geek Chic Weird Science podcast is careering towards its 100th episode, and his brain blog www.drjack.co.uk recently celebrated its 8th birthday. @DrJackLewis