"A mind-blowing tour de force that unwraps the myriad objects of addiction that surround usā¦Intelligent, incisive, and sometimes grimly entertaining."
āRod Phillips, author of Alcohol: A History
"A fascinating history of corporate America's efforts to shape our habits and desires."
āVox
We live in an age of addiction, from compulsive gaming and shopping to binge eating and opioid abuse. Sugar can be as habit-forming as cocaine, researchers tell us, and social media apps are deliberately hooking our kids. But what can we do to resist temptations that insidiously rewire our brains? A renowned expert on addiction, David Courtwright reveals how global enterprises have both created and catered to our addictions. The Age of Addiction chronicles the triumph of what he calls "limbic capitalism," the growing network of competitive businesses targeting the brain pathways responsible for feeling, motivation, and long-term memory.
"Compulsively readableā¦In crisp and playful prose and with plenty of needed humor, Courtwright has written a fascinating history of what we like and why we like it, from the first taste of beer in the ancient Middle East to opioids in West Virginia."
āAmerican Conservative
"A sweeping, ambitious account of the evolution of addictionā¦This bold, thought-provoking synthesis will appeal to fans of 'big history' in the tradition of Guns, Germs, and Steel."
āPublishers Weekly
- 337 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF
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Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Contents
- Introduction
- 1. Newfound Pleasures
- 2. Mass Pleasures
- 3. Liberating-Enslaving Pleasures
- 4. Anti-Vice Activism
- 5. Pro-Vice Activism
- 6. Food Addictions
- 7. Digital Addictions
- 8. Against Excess
- Abbreviations
- Notes
- Acknowledgments
- Credits
- Index
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Yes, you can access The Age of Addiction by David T. Courtwright in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & Consumer Behaviour. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.