Why?: What Makes Us Curious

"Filled with fascinating stories, tidbits, and psychological insights, Why? is a delightful romp through every aspect of human curiosity. It will surprise you, make you smarter, and put a spring in your step."--Steven Strogatz, Schurman Professor of Applied Mathematics, Cornell University, and author of The Joy of X

"It's impossible to imagine creativity or invention without curiosity, and one could hardly ask for a richer or more engaging exploration of human curiosity than the one provided by Mario Livio in Why?. This book is an intellectual feast for any curious person."--Jeffrey M. Schwartz MD, Research Psychiatrist UCLA, author of (with Sharon Begley) The Mind and the Brain and (with Rebecca Gladding) You are Not Your Brain

"Have you ever wondered why we wonder why? Mario Livio has, and he takes you on a fascinating quest to understand the origin and mechanisms of our curiosity. I thoroughly recommend it."
--Adam Riess, Nobel Prize Winner in Physics, 2011

"This cogent book presents the scientific research on curiosity in understandable ways without too much jargon. It answers many (although not all) of our potential questions about curiosity--including what many originally believed killed the cat."--Joseph Peschel "Science "

"In Why?, astrophysicist Mario Livio argues that humans are the only species to ask not just what, where or who, but also why. . . . [He} includes some fascinating tidbits along the way."--Katherine Harmon Courage "The Washington Post "

"An energetic look at the psychology and neuroscience of our inquisitiveness."--Dan Jones "Nature "

"Lively. . . . Provocative."--USA Today

"A lively, expert, and definitely not dumbed-down account of why we're curious."--Kirkus Reviews