Super Short Summary

In Why?: What Makes Us Curious, Mario Livio delves into the essence of human curiosity, blending psychology, neuroscience, and history to explore why humans are uniquely driven to seek knowledge. Livio examines curiosity's dimensions, drawing on works by Daniel Berlyne, and illustrates his points with examples from notable figures like Leonardo da Vinci and Brian May. The book also discusses the biological mechanisms behind curiosity and its limits. Examples from literature and folklore, such as "The Story of an Hour" and the Biblical tale of Adam and Eve, are used to illustrate various facets of curiosity. The destruction of knowledge by autocrats is highlighted, emphasizing curiosity's power to challenge authoritarianism. Sensitive topics include references to grisly folklore and the destructive actions of authoritarian regimes.