The Curious Habits Of Man

The Curious Habits of Man shares an amusing glimpse at life as one man contemplates many of our greatest--and smallest--questions. In this collection of essays the author tackles hundreds of life's questions while exploring a vast array of subjects -- from tubas to two-year-olds, from field goals to child labor laws, and from high school shop class to the worst round of golf ever played. With an ascerbic wit and an honest approach, Swain shares his perspective on such pivotal matters as how to ski without losing a limb or your self-esteem, how to correctly prepare and consume lobster according to Maine standards, and whether marketing ploys hypnotically convince consumers to replace perfectly functioning items without a second thought.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1979.

Also includes A Draft of Cantos XXX.

A curious habit is helpful... until it's not.Attention to detail is great – perfectionism is a curious habit.Chocolate is awesome – using it to treat anxiety is a curious habit.Honest self-awareness is admirable – constantly beating yourself up is a curious habit.We have habits for a reason, we repeat things that feel good and move away from the stuff we don't like. Our habits solve a problem and make life easier. Unfortunately, our habits can turn on us. This book teaches us how to use curiosity as a superpower. It takes the blame and shame out of habit change so that we make the change not because we HAVE to, but because we WANT to.Drawing from the collective wisdom of evolutionary biology, neuroscience, Stoic philosophy and even Instagram, leading mindset coach Luke Mathers helps us embrace the power of curiosity to recognise when habits start to impact negatively our health and happiness. Curious Habits offers an entertaining, thought-provoking and non-judgmental exploration into why we do the things we do, and how to reset for a healthier, happier and more fulfilling life.