Feeling Like It

This philosophical exploration tackles the puzzling relationship between our inclinations and our decisions, examining whether we're truly in control when we act on impulse. Schapiro dissects the crucial moment between feeling an urge and choosing to act, questioning how we can be both the source and the subject of our own motivations. The book challenges conventional thinking about free will by asking whether our relationship to spontaneous desires resembles a rider controlling a horse or something more immediate like perception itself. This isn't abstract speculation but a concrete investigation into the mechanics of human agency.

What makes this work compelling is its refusal to settle for easy answers about willpower versus impulse, instead offering fresh frameworks for understanding everyday moments of hesitation and choice. Readers interested in philosophy of mind, moral psychology, or simply understanding their own decision-making processes will find rich material here. Schapiro's clear analysis transforms ordinary experiences—like wanting another cookie or putting off a task—into profound questions about autonomy. The result is a thought-provoking examination that will change how you perceive your own motivations long after you've finished reading.