Author: Paul Bloom

This book is an attempt to answer an important question about why we sometimes “choose to suffer.” It is an investigation into the types of suffering that are both chosen and imposed on humans.
The book also discusses the role that suffering plays in our ultimate sense of pleasure, or our feelings of superiority and control, or the possibility of escaping what is raging inside us.
The book then builds on the fundamental idea that pain and suffering are essential to happiness, pleasure, and a sense of meaning, and that the absence of them in life makes us feel bored and unable to achieve. It relies on a large number of studies, theories, concepts, and examples drawn from psychology, neuroscience, economics, philosophy, religion, literature, popular culture, and cinema.
What drives us to seek physical pain and emotional distress? What tempts us to watch sad or scary movies, eat spicy foods, soak in hot baths, run marathons, or even experience the pain and humiliation of performing sexual roles? What is the source of all these seemingly perverse desires?
In its seven chapters, "The Optimal Zone" argues that the right kind of suffering paves the way for a profound sense of pleasure. It asserts that selective suffering serves several social purposes, including demonstrating our strength and resilience or signaling our need for assistance in other contexts. Suffering also plays a deeper role, as the good life is not limited to pleasure; rather, there is meaning, which people strive to seek to strengthen their social relationships and achieve their meaningful pursuits.
A life without chosen suffering would be, in the words of author Paul Bloom, empty and, worse, boring. Therefore, this book challenges you to rethink your view of pain, suffering, and meaning in life.