The Molecule of More - Quick Review

"A road ignited by hope is better than reaching the destination"

Dopamine is something incredible – it gives us a boost, motivates us to take action, pushes us toward the unknown, and fuels discovery. The problem begins when there’s too much of it, and nowadays, that's not hard to achieve. We can "consume" dopamine in countless ways almost constantly: shopping, media (online and beyond), sex, or substances.

Recently, I picked up the book "The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity―and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race" and must admit, I learned a lot from it – especially about myself. The book explains why dopamine affects us the way it does and reveals that some people have a dopaminergic personality. These individuals don’t find joy in the present moment. Instead, they thrive on planning, forecasting, and chasing the proverbial rabbit. The journey to the summit is far more fulfilling than standing at the top. In fact, once they’re there, there’s no time for celebration – they’re already looking ahead, planning the next adventure.

This has its bright side because, without dopamine, we wouldn’t have the motivation to act. Rats deprived of dopamine rarely fought for food, even when faced with starvation, compared to their healthy counterparts. On the other hand, dopamine doesn’t merely ask for attention – it demands it. It can push us toward aggression, deceit, or self-destruction, reducing everything to a means of achieving our goals. What’s more, while the dopamine boost feels euphoric, failure or loss stings much more deeply – just like with drugs.

The book is filled not only with expert knowledge but also with fascinating insights and practical advice related to dopamine. It's challenging to keep it in check, but there’s quite a lot we can do to simply live better: focus on the present moment, reduce the number of external stimuli, or engage both the mind and body in activities like woodworking, gardening, or sports. Honestly? I don’t know where I’d be today if I hadn’t embarked on a path of physical activity several years ago.

I highly recommend this book – perhaps the best endorsement is that I’m currently reading another one on a similar topic, but with a slightly different perspective.