CASTAMATIC Features

DOPAMINE NATION: Why the Modern World Puts Us All at Risk for Addiction

The Next Big Idea

Dec. 9, 2021

In “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence,” Dr. Anna Lembke says today’s superabundance of pleasurable stimuli makes us all vulnerable to overindulgence. But don’t lose hope. Anna, the medical director of addiction medicine at Stanford, says that by understanding how modern stimulants — from Instagram to masturbation machines — prey on our primitive brains, we can find ways to overcome the unhealthy dependencies that prevent us from leading balanced lives.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out our conversation with Dr. Carl Hart about responsible drug use and our interview with Edward Slingerland about alcohol's role in the rise of civilization.

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