NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The author of The Comfort Crisis asks: Are we hardwired to crave
more? From food and stuff to information and influence why can’t we ever get enough?
“Reveals the biological and evolutionary foundations behind your brain’s fixations so you can
stop seeking and start living.”—Melissa Urban Whole30 CEO and author of The Book of Boundaries
“Michael Easter’s genius is that he puts data around the edges of what we intuitively believe.
His work has inspired many to change their lives for the better.”—Dr. Peter Attia author of
Outlive Have you ever found yourself wondering “Why do I want more than I have?” Michael
Easter author of The Comfort Crisis and one of the world’s leading experts on behavior change
shows that the problem isn’t you. The problem is your scarcity mindset left over from our
ancient ancestors. They had to constantly seek and consume to survive because vital survival
tools like food material goods information and power were scarce and hard to find. But with
our modern ability to easily fulfill our ancient desire for more our hardwired “scarcity
brain” is now backfiring. And new technology and institutions—from dating and entertainment
apps to our food and economic systems—are exploiting our scarcity brain. They’re bombarding us
with subversive “scarcity cues ” subtle triggers that lead us into low-reward cravings that
hurt us in the long run. Scarcity cues can be direct and all-encompassing like a sagging
economy. Or they can be subtle and slight like our neighbor buying a shiny new car. Easter
traveled the world to consult with remarkable innovators and leading scientists who are finding
surprising solutions for our scarcity brain. He discovered simple tactics that can move us
towards an abundance mindset cement healthy habits and allow us to live our lives to the
fullest and appreciate what we have including how to: • Detect hidden scarcity cues to stop
cravings before they start from a brilliant slot machine designer in a Las Vegas casino
laboratory • Turn alone time into the ultimate happiness hack from artisanal coffee-making
Benedictine monks • Reignite your exploration gene for a more exciting and fulfilling life
from an astronaut onboard the International Space Station • Reframe how we think about and fix
addiction and bad habits from Iraq’s chief psychiatrist • Recognize when you have enough from
a woman who left a million-dollar career path to adventure the world Our world is overloaded
with everything we’re built to crave. The fix for scarcity brain isn’t to blindly aim for less.
It’s to understand why we crave more in the first place shake our worst habits and use what
we already have better. Then we can experience life in a new way—a more satisfying way.
