Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence Paperback – January 3, 2023

I have actually listened to a few of the authors interviews on YouTube and from there decided to purchase the book. I didn’t realize the book would cover addiction as much as it did. But the reality is that we are all addicted to some things even if it’s not drugs or alcohol etc. As the book progressed I slowly started to see the practical application in my own life more fully. I will say the way the book ends is fantastic and inspiring. Thank you Anna, I look forward to your next interview and book.

Such a helpful book. Filled with raw and honest stories of people like YOU and ME with different vices that have taken over. The author uses research and science to explain and support the steps involved with resetting our dopamine addicted brains and behaviors. I recommend this to ALL people. Nothing to lose and everything to gain from this book.

Very sound insights into some very pertinent issues of our day. The information and thoughts about dopamine were invaluable and caused me to consider how I live. Will be making a huge dent in my social media activity. I also found the information on dopamine helpful in what I do for a living as a therapist. I thought that was done masterfully in this book. My criticism is that at times the book was written in a disjointed way as the writer moved from sun jest to subject, at times there were a couple sections that seemed completely out of place. Also, for the last third of the book I felt it stepped away from the topic of dopamine altogether. But again, overall a very worthwhile read. Kudos to Dr. Lembke!

So well written! The author really moves you along with incredible writing and compelling story, which is difficult to find within this genre. Fantastic read for those with and without addiction, and with or without mental health conditions. For me — as someone who was partially hospitalized for their mental health— this book was important to my recovery process, and changed the way I think about wellness, happiness, pain, pleasure, and my own brain chemistry. High reccomend.

As someone who is taking a step back from social media use, this book was recommended to me at the right time.

This is an amazing book that not only clearly explains how the mechanism of "pain-pleasure" works, its fragility and complexity, but is also capable of radically changing our attitude towards people suffering from various addictions. Thanks to this book, many will be surprised to notice and think about many systematic things that we do every day, but do not realize them as an addiction. This awareness can be painful and unpleasant, but very useful. I thank the author for the whole cycle of emotions and experiences and for the invaluable unvarnished truthful experience of people who shared information about their lives with their addictions.

Lots to think about. The concept that the motivation to do something doesn't necessarily mean you like what you're doing reminded me of what Emily Nagoski talks about in "Come As You Are" about sexual desire and enjoyment. A lot of the concepts are very spiritual: live in the now, embrace pain. I thought she was too puritanical at first but I came around and respect her. HOWEVER the stuff she says about weed kind of made me question everything she said bc it made NO sense. I "pot addict" was smoking 10MG of weed ... What?! The smallest amount you can buy is 1g and he's smoking a hundredth of that? Lol no. And another severe "pot addict" consumed a gram of weed a day (maybe she meant THC? Idk). Anyway I feel an editor or someone should have caught this obvious BS.

The book for me was a great read and eye-opening to the world of dopamine and addiction.Pros:- I liked its stories and wisdom from addictive person that the author succeeded in delivering it.- research based- DOPAMINE framework is interesting to follow- Addictive behavior is not limited to popular things (durgs, p*rn..) ... each one can have his/her "drug of choice" so we be aware of our behavior.Cons:- The narrative style of the book made me sometimes lose the direction of the chapter or who is talking right now.- it lacks "chapter summary" which would be a great add-on to summarize the key lessons in each chapter... the book is very close to being a nonfiction novel than a book to get how-to or clear steps to follow. Even DOPAMINE framework presented in a narrative style not a how to.- some addictions stories have extra details and descripe step-by-step that may be cross the line to trigger the readers to try it.- almost all of the stories are for severe addiction level. I was hoping to see some stories on other low-mid addictions like using social media, buying, light p*rn......etc. However, these stories of severe addiction levels enlighten me on how far addictive behavior can take us.Finally, I thank Dr. Anna, thank you for sharing these insights from her practice.