“Following Jonah Lehrer's curiosity, as he unravels the mystery of mysteries, was an absolute delight. I loved this book and learned something on every page.” —Malcolm Gladwell, author of Talking to Strangers

“Through interviews with schoolteachers and business owners and writings on topics ranging from Shakespeare to American sports, Lehrer makes an enticing case for how humans have harnessed mystery and suspense to revolutionize society.” —New York Times

“‘I know,’ says the wise man. ‘You don’t have to tell me, I already know.’ That’s not wisdom, says this book. It’s what we don’t know that makes us hungry, human—and wise. Jonah Lehrer takes us on an ‘I-can’t-figure-this-out’ tour that includes a boy opening a sack of toys, a few inches added to a pitching mound, a mechanic puzzled by a Porsche, and any number of telling stories that salute the power of not knowing—and loving, truly loving, the mystery.” —Robert Krulwich, former co-host of Radiolab

“It’s no longer a mystery how to bring together psychology, literature, and the arts in an exciting and interesting way since Jonah Lehrer has done it in this gem of a book. I savored every page.” —Ellen Langer, Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and author of Mindfulness

“Jonah Lehrer has done it again—this time addressing The Big Why: How the ‘mysteries within mystery’ hook our brains and won’t let go. With his usual charm and unexpected surprises, Lehrer shows us how the hard-wiring of our minds loves to scratch that insistent mysterious itch.” —Bruce Nelson, Vice-Chairman, Omnicom (ret.)

“In this fascinating and rigorous new book, Jonah Lehrer solves the mystery of mystery itself—why mystery is so seductive for human beings, and how we can use this device in our everyday lives. Everyone will find it compelling—it explains so much.” —Johann Hari, author of Lost Connections

PRAISE FOR JONAH LEHRER AND A BOOK ABOUT LOVE:

“Good writers make writing look easy, but what people like Lehrer do is not easy at all. . . . Jonah Lehrer has a lot to offer the world.” —David Brooks, The New York Times Book Review

"Lehrer is a talent. . . . The animating idea of his intriguing new book is that two opposing psychological laws, habituation and love, shape much of human experience. . . . Lehrer uses scores of detailed vignettes to traverse a complicated intellectual landscape, eventually arriving at modern theories of love." —Matt McCarthy, USA Today

HOW WE DECIDE:

“Jonah Lehrer ingeniously weaves neuroscience, sports, war, psychology, and politics into a fascinating tale of human decision making. In the process, he makes us much wiser.” —Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational

"Lehrer proves once again that he’s a master storyteller and one of the best guides to the practical lessons from new neuroscience.” —Chris Anderson, editor in chief of Wired and author of The Long Tail

PROUST WAS A NEUROSCIENTIST:

"Jonah Lehrer is a brilliant young writer. His clear and vivid writing—incisive and thoughtful, yet sensitive and modest—is a special pleasure." —Oliver Sacks

"Marks the arrival of an important new thinker, who finds in the science and the arts wonder and beauty, and with equal confidence says wise and fresh things about both." —Jesse Cohen, Los Angeles Times Book Review