Die Dopamin-Nation

What the search for a constant kick does to our hormones

This book explores pleasure and pain. It delves into the fine line of balance between these two states and why it is more important than ever to find this equilibrium today. We live in an era of unprecedented dopamine-stimulating overload: whether through drugs, food, social media, gambling, shopping, sex, or the constant reach for our smartphones, which have become the digital injection needles of our time. The variety of addictions is overwhelming.

The author packages complex neuroscience into easily understandable metaphors and explains that true satisfaction and connection can only be achieved if we maintain control over our dopamine. The experiences of her patients are the captivating fabric of her narrative. Their stories of suffering and paths to redemption encourage us to get a grip on our own consumption. This book reveals that the secret to balance lies in connecting longing and healing.

Dr. Anna Lembke is a professor of psychiatry and addiction medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the director of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. She has received numerous awards for her outstanding research in mental health, her teaching, and innovative treatment approaches.

"Brilliant ... compelling, disturbing, persuasive, and intelligently presented." - Beth Macy, bestselling author of Dopesick.