The Pleasure Trap: Mastering the Hidden Force that Undermines Health & Happiness
by Alan Goldhamer, Douglas J. Lisle
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Book Summary Information
Author: Alan Goldhamer, Douglas J. LisleEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-04-01
ISBN: 1570671974
Number of pages: 228
Publisher: Book Publishing Co.
Book Reviews of The Pleasure Trap: Mastering the Hidden Force that Undermines Health & Happiness
Book Review: A Collection of Sermons from the Church of Evolution and Secular Humanism
Summary: 1 Stars
Initially, I was delighted to acquire this book, having just completed a major weight loss and total diet change. I went from the unhealthy "Standard American Diet" to a healthy vegan whole-grain dietstyle over the course of about three years. So, with that as a basis, I sought to learn more about how to keep this weight off and better understand the mechanisms that caused it in the first place.
I had heard generally good things about "The Pleasure Trap" and started reading it with high hopes... What a huge disappointment - and waste of time - to read this poorly written collection of sermons which pay homage to the god of evolution and secular humanism. The authors employ snippets encouraging healthy eating and care for oneself among their near-constant banging of the humanist drum (thankfully they do promote a plant-based diet and avoidance of alcohol and drugs). McDougall, Robbins, Ornish, et al, say it much better and without the humanistic appeals.
Rather than providing a balanced treatment of the whole body and mind, the authors focus on the physical - entirely ignoring the spiritual aspects of life, which are possibly most critical to good health. Instead, the writers choose to hang out in the ridiculous theater of man's alleged monkey heritage. In this book we read about our "ancient ancestors" and how "nature designed us", and that "billions of years" of history bears out the "adaptation" that makes us who we are today as humans - not just once, but repeatedly, ad nauseum. The message declares that we're nothing more than higher-advanced animals - and our "motivational triad" makes us utterly powerless to do anything other than seek pleasure, avoid pain, and conserve energy doing it (and don't worry if you miss that point the first time, you'll read it again and again and again.) Lisle and Goldhamer seem to be latching onto the old Arabic proverb, translated, "Repetition teaches the donkey".
To be fair, the authors include some small measures of actually sound information about diet and caring for one's health as this book tediously wends it way through the evolutionary love offerings... but regrettably they are few and far between. I'm sure their buddy Richard Dawkins must've sent them a box of cookies (animal crackers, no less!) as a reward for their faithfulness. And then at the end (spoiler disclaimer!!) the authors grieve us with not just one, but three chapters pushing their "water based fasting" and shamelessly advertising for their clinic.
NO THANK YOU - Lisle and Goldhamer have it all wrong. They've been deceived by Dawkins and his ilk, totally buying into the Big Lie; and I'll have none of it. I caution readers to fully investigate this book before bothering with it. Having been on this journey of weight loss and health restoration convinces me that it is a "whole person" matter - which includes spiritual connectedness to God. This is what gives purpose to the individual in all facets of life - not just avoidance of those "pleasure traps" into which we fall almost daily. Save your time and money.
Summary of The Pleasure Trap: Mastering the Hidden Force that Undermines Health & Happiness
The authors offer unique insights into the factors that make us susceptible to dietary and lifestyle excesses, and present ways to restore the biological processes designed by nature to keep us running at maximum efficiency and vitality.Alternative Medicine Books
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