The Paradox of Passion

The Paradox of Passion: How Rewards Covertly Control Motivation challenges conventional wisdom about motivation. It reveals why legacy research findings are often misinterpreted and overgeneralised, leading to unrealistic beliefs about the self and others. These beliefs foster ineffective strategy use, impeding optimal learning and performance.

The book provides cross-disciplinary evidence emphasising the essential role of rewards as a biological and behavioural driver of motivation. It challenges the clichéd idea of intrinsic motivation, pointing out the flaws in pursuing passion and purpose without considering how the brain regulates motivation through personalised rewards. Evidence reveals that a singular focus on passion is an unattainable ideal, akin to a mythical "motivation unicorn."

Instead of relying on hopes and dreams, the book offers practical insights and research-based strategies for enhancing learning and performance. It suggests effectively leveraging how the brain uses innate reward pathways to achieve what we want and sometimes obtain what we need.