Die Dopamin-Nation

What the search for a constant kick does to our hormones

This book is about pleasure and pain. It explores 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 sensory 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 when we maintain control over our dopamine. The experiences of her patients provide the compelling material for her narrative. Their stories of suffering and paths to redemption inspire us to take control of our own consumption. This book shows 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 the field of mental illness, her teaching, and innovative treatment approaches.

"Brilliant ... gripping, disturbing, persuasive, and cleverly presented." - Beth Macy, bestselling author of Dopesick.