When I was stuck in a deep rut and YouTube rabbit hole a few months ago, I randomly came across an interview with Dr. Anna Lembke — a psychiatrist, author, and addiction specialist. Unexpectedly, I heard her say something that pierced through my apathetic slumber:
“We’ve reached a tipping point where abundance itself has become a physiological stressor. So it’s not that we’re morally weak or lazy or even indulgent … It’s that the world has become a place that is mismatched for our basic neurology and physiology. And we’re trying to figure it out, but it’s super, super hard. And we’re getting sick in the process.”
Something clicked when I heard her say that. The world has become a place that is mismatched for our basic neurology. I found this message so timely that I didn’t just buy Dr. Lembke’s book, Dopamine Nation, but also made it the first pick of my book club, The Bibliosopher’s Club.
And yet, after reading Dopamine Nation for 45 days and spending roughly 15,000 words on chapter reflections, I can’t recommend this book. The science felt superficial. The stories bland. The advice half-hearted. It was like dipping toes into the water, stirring it around, and eventually deciding you won’t plunge in.