The Hungry Brain Book Summary

In 'The Hungry Brain,' Dr. Stephan Guyenet explores the intricate science of hunger and the brain's role in regulating appetite. He reveals how our evolutionary history has shaped our cravings and behaviors around food, leading to the modern epidemic of obesity. Through a blend of neuroscience and psychology, Guyenet uncovers the hidden mechanisms that drive our eating habits. This thought-provoking journey challenges conventional dieting wisdom and offers fresh insights into maintaining a healthy weight. Are you ready to discover what truly drives your hunger?

By Stephan J. Guyenet, Ph.D.

Published: 2018

"Our brains are wired to seek out food and pleasure, but understanding these instincts is the first step to mastering them."

Book Review of The Hungry Brain

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year From an obesity and neuroscience researcher with a knack for engaging, humorous storytelling, The Hungry Brain uses cutting-edge science to answer the questions: why do we overeat, and what can we do about it? No one wants to overeat. And certainly no one wants to overeat for years, become overweight, and end up with a high risk of diabetes or heart disease--yet two thirds of Americans do precisely that. Even though we know better, we often eat too much. Why does our behavior betray our own intentions to be lean and healthy? The problem, argues obesity and neuroscience researcher Stephan J. Guyenet, is not necessarily a lack of willpower or an incorrect understanding of what to eat. Rather, our appetites and food choices are led astray by ancient, instinctive brain circuits that play by the rules of a survival game that no longer exists. And these circuits don’t care about how you look in a bathing suit next summer. To make the case, The Hungry Brain takes readers on an eye-opening journey through cutting-edge neuroscience that has never before been available to a general audience. The Hungry Brain delivers profound insights into why the brain undermines our weight goals and transforms these insights into practical guidelines for eating well and staying slim. Along the way, it explores how the human brain works, revealing how this mysterious organ makes us who we are.

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Our brains are wired to seek out food and pleasure, but understanding these instincts is the first step to mastering them.

The Hungry Brain

By Stephan J. Guyenet, Ph.D.