A review by 3thingsaboutthisbook
The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning by Paul Bloom

4.0

If we have to sit down and do nothing for a long period of time, we might like it at the beginning. Having nothing keeping our brain and/or hands occupied should be nice for a change. But then probably after couple of hours of “hedonism”, we will start fidgeting. If not our body, our mind will start to go from nice and quiet to let’s think about all the things we could be doing right now or work the next day. So even when we are given the option not to stress ourselves, we still end up asking for it. Because we, humans, like certain level of pain, displeasure and struggle in our lives. Otherwise, what are we going to whine about all day?

Paul Bloom talks about that “necessary” level of struggle that we bring onto ourselves to find meaning and sense of accomplishment. No one likes to talk about “I took x number of breaths today” or “my heart circulated blood x times”. Although these are accomplishments and very necessary things that we need to do ongoing basis