Description
“A thoughtful, funny, and at times lyrical” (Wall Street Journal) exploration of why people all over the world love to engage in pain on purpose–from dominatrices, religious ascetics, and ultramarathoners to ballerinas, icy ocean bathers, and sideshow performers
Masochism is sexy, human, reviled, worshiped, and delightfully bizarre. Deliberate and consensual pain has been with us for millennia, encompassing everyone from Black Plague flagellants to ballerinas dancing on broken bones to competitive eaters choking down hot peppers while they cry.
At its core, masochism is about feeling bad, then better—a phenomenon that is long overdue for a heartfelt and hilarious investigation. And Cowart would know: They are not just a researcher and science writer, they’re an inveterate, high-sensation seeking masochist. In Hurts So Good, Cowart unveils how our minds and bodies find meaning and relief in pain—a quirk in our programming that drives discipline and innovation even as it threatens to swallow us whole.
A review by AYLI Staff Member Ruth-
'When we got this book in the store for the first time, I was so excited that I bought the only copy for myself. I had never heard of it before but the subtitle is what drew me in: The Science and Culture of Pain on Purpose. This book is about masochism and it is a complete primer on the topic. I am naturally curious about the inner workings of the brain and body; it’s always been interesting to learn about how the physical mechanics of our brains and bodies actually work together to create the human experience. This book does not disappoint on that front. There are few chapters that cover the “wet electrics” of how our brains translate pain from a physical sensation into an emotional process. Author Leigh Cowart seems to share my sense of intrigue and rises to find answers to questions from multiple neuroscientists and behavioral experts doing research on pain.
Hurts So Good is not simply about sexual masochism. Cowart focuses on more socially acceptable outlets; some that you might not even consider to be masochism. They interview ultramarathoners who run hundreds of miles until their bodies fail them, hot pepper eating champions, martial artists, and more. Obviously, Cowart also interviews some established kinksters (and even some kinksters that intersect both groups!), but the book itself is more about the nuance of pain and how it relates to the human experience we all share.'
About the Author
Leigh Cowart is a researcher and journalist whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, New York Magazine, BuzzFeed, and other outlets. Before becoming a journalist, Cowart was immersed in academia, doing research on subjects like sexual dimorphism in leaf-nosed bats and resource allocation in flowers. They live in Asheville, NC.
210 Pages. Softcover.