Terra Kaffe - Shop now
Buy new:
-48% $16.49
FREE delivery Saturday, March 1 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$16.49 with 48 percent savings
List Price: $32.00
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, March 1 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Tomorrow, February 25. Order within 6 hrs 27 mins.
In Stock
$$16.49 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$16.49
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$14.02
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Good condition or better. Not an ex-library book. May have writing or highlights in text. Good condition or better. Not an ex-library book. May have writing or highlights in text. See less
FREE delivery Saturday, March 1 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Thursday, February 27. Order within 6 hrs 27 mins.
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$16.49 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$16.49
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence Hardcover – August 24, 2021

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 10,100 ratings

{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$16.49","priceAmount":16.49,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"16","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"49","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"rYF1zyZ8LEN6J8YgKkxyhSa15ekwTe8iZD%2BG7y1iel181RbRa5mZrFX2QJW6tHe7rz%2Bz3ulkGXWhoajM3TIDD%2FZnHB6Ky1YgrrkKJ0oi1L2Bt4qgZzfYWCyENfd7vB9cBtfbTHV9CEnt90whkd9qIg%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$14.02","priceAmount":14.02,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"02","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"rYF1zyZ8LEN6J8YgKkxyhSa15ekwTe8idvQvlD9q%2B8xzNoRRB0pygGc36I31Bru03ixyH8qIN6rK0quNeNi2gvM%2B0fsDeR%2FnAgwstH1rE9Iyhb7VsnToLH5u78E6PTM8XyFjcc8jRDXQtA0oX%2F2mAqQdw1Hrdi7RYdSLP9W5GdqQuGeFbI7JcQ%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES and LOS ANGELES TIMES BESTSELLER
“Brilliant . . . riveting, scary, cogent, and cleverly argued.”—Beth Macy, author of
Dopesick,
as heard on Fresh Air

This book is about pleasure. It’s also about pain. Most important, it’s about how to find the delicate balance between the two, and why now more than ever finding balance is essential. We’re living in a time of unprecedented access to high-reward, high-dopamine stimuli: drugs, food, news, gambling, shopping, gaming, texting, sexting, Facebooking, Instagramming, YouTubing, tweeting . . . The increased numbers, variety, and potency is staggering. The smartphone is the modern-day hypodermic needle, delivering digital dopamine 24/7 for a wired generation. As such we’ve all become vulnerable to compulsive overconsumption.
 
In
Dopamine Nation, Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain . . . and what to do about it. Condensing complex neuroscience into easy-to-understand metaphors, Lembke illustrates how finding contentment and connectedness means keeping dopamine in check. The lived experiences of her patients are the gripping fabric of her narrative. Their riveting stories of suffering and redemption give us all hope for managing our consumption and transforming our lives. In essence, Dopamine Nation shows that the secret to finding balance is combining the science of desire with the wisdom of recovery.
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.

Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.

Frequently bought together

This item: Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence
$16.49
Get it as soon as Saturday, Mar 1
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$17.10
Get it as soon as Saturday, Mar 1
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
$14.85
Get it as soon as Saturday, Mar 1
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Treatment
Choose items to buy together.
Popular Highlights in this book

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Anna Lembke deeply understands an experience I hear about often in the therapy room at the nexus between our modern addictions and our primal brains. Her stories of guiding people to find a healthy balance between pleasure and pain have the power to transform your life.”
Lori Gottlieb, “Dear Therapist” columnist at The Atlantic, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

“Just when you thought you knew all you needed to know about the addiction crisis, along comes Dr. Anna Lembke with her second brilliant book on the topic—this one not about a drug but about the most powerful chemical of all: the dopamine that rules the pain and pleasure centers of our minds. In an era of overconsumption and instant gratification,
Dopamine Nation explains the personal and societal price of being ruled by the next fix—and how to manage it. No matter what you might find yourself over-indulging in—from the internet to food to work to sex—you’ll find this book riveting, scary, cogent, and cleverly argued. Lembke weaves patient stories with research, in a voice that’s as empathetic as it is clear-eyed.”
Beth Macy, author of Washington Post Best Book of the Year, New York Times Notable Book of 2018 and bestseller Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America

“We all desire a break from our routines and those parts of life that upset us. What if, instead of trying to escape these things, we learn to turn toward them, to reach a peaceful harmony with our selves and the people we share our lives with? Lembke has written a book that radically changes the way we think about mental illness, pleasure, pain, reward, and stress. Turn toward it. You’ll be happy you did.”
Daniel Levitin, New York Times bestselling author of The Organized Mind and Successful Aging

“Explore[s] the dichotomy between seeking a readily accessible hit of dopamine—from our phones, gambling, or a bag of Fritos—and maintaining healthy, productive, stable lives.”
The New York Times, Inside the Bestseller List

“[An] eye-opening survey on pleasure-seeking and addiction . . . Readers looking for balance will return to Lembke’s informative and fascinating guidance.” 
Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Fascinating case histories, and a sensible formula for treatment.”
Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Anna Lembke is the medical director of Stanford Addiction Medicine, program director for the Stanford Addiction Medicine Fellowship, and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. She is the recipient of numerous awards for outstanding research in mental illness, for excellence in teaching, and for clinical innovation in treatment. A clinician scholar, she has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and commentaries in prestigious outlets such as The New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA. She sits on the board of several state and national addiction-focused organizations, has testified before various committees in the United States House of Representatives and Senate, keeps an active speaking calendar, and maintains a thriving clinical practice.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dutton (August 24, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 152474672X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1524746728
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 1 year and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.22 x 1.05 x 9.34 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 10,100 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Anna Lembke
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
10,100 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the book insightful and thought-provoking. They describe it as an engaging read with compelling stories. The book explains the balance between pain and pleasure, and the author's empathy and caring are appreciated. However, some readers found the content disturbing or outdated, while others felt it provided valuable insights into addiction.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

185 customers mention "Insight"167 positive18 negative

Customers find the book provides valuable insights into their thoughts and habits. They find it thought-provoking and interesting, providing a greater understanding of humans and how it's in our nature to become addicted. The book has plenty of examples of addictive behaviors and explains some of the reasons behind them.

"...whole cycle of emotions and experiences and for the invaluable unvarnished truthful experience of people who shared information about their lives..." Read more

"I enjoyed the balance between advice and lecture. Very smooth to read and understand. Thanks Anna! I will advise my friends/family to read this." Read more

"...discourse on this neurobiological chemical and a scary one and true. Easy to understand, too...." Read more

"I thought provoking book that made me think about why I do the things I do." Read more

160 customers mention "Readability"140 positive20 negative

Customers find the book engaging and valuable. They praise the content and find it well-written. Readers read it cover-to-cover in one sitting and found it illuminating.

"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..." Read more

"...Not only is Anna an MD but also an incredible writer...." Read more

"The book for me was a great read and eye-opening to the world of dopamine and addiction. Pros: -..." Read more

"I enjoyed the balance between advice and lecture. Very smooth to read and understand. Thanks Anna! I will advise my friends/family to read this." Read more

17 customers mention "Story quality"12 positive5 negative

Customers find the stories compelling and true. They appreciate the author's vulnerability and courage to share information. The book is a resource for clergy, professionals, and victims.

"...clearly explains how the mechanism of "pain-pleasure" works, its fragility and complexity, but is also capable of radically changing our attitude..." Read more

"This is a great book. She is a psychiatrist: her patient stories are true and very scary...." Read more

"...It’s very basic and not very in-depth. No new info." Read more

"...Huberman podcast, I thought it was very insightful with a lot of great stories and examples. Many great takeaways...." Read more

11 customers mention "Pain level"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful. It explains the balance between pain and pleasure, and how pain can bring pleasure. The book also provides the science behind why we feel bad and why that's sometimes needed.

"Enjoyable book which describes very well our reward and pain mechanisms. I recommend" Read more

"This book explains the balance between pain and pleasure and how pain can bring pleasure and pleasure bring more pain depending on how much pleasure..." Read more

"...of eating, BDSM can increase the pleasure of sex, and exercise can induce a welcomed pain...." Read more

"...feeling 'empty' in modern life - includes practical solutions to reset your pleasure/pain balance." Read more

5 customers mention "Empathy"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's empathy and understanding. They find it clear and caring, showing the author's heart on each page.

"...I especially appreciated Lembke’s empathic and positive framing of addiction—I would love to see another book with more of a focus on what she..." Read more

"...Definitely worth having on the shelf as a recalibration tool, empathetic and understanding while providing real-talk messages for those who struggle..." Read more

"The book is clear and shows lots of caring (and skill) at helping people get unembedded from addictions. Thought-provoking read" Read more

"A must read book for everyone to develop empathy and care to us and to others. Many thanks to DR. LEMBPKE" Read more

5 customers mention "Sensitivity"2 positive3 negative

Customers have different views on the book's sensitivity. Some find it disturbing and graphic, while others feel it lacks new insights into addiction.

"Although some of the examples in the book are sexually graphic, the author covers quite a wide spectrum of addictions...." Read more

"...She is a psychiatrist: her patient stories are true and very scary...." Read more

"...basically states various cases of addiction, very disturbing content about sexual addiction cases, which I don’t know why the author had to spend..." Read more

"Scary and yet insightful. Easy read." Read more

Good tool, you should read it from time to time
5 out of 5 stars
Good tool, you should read it from time to time
Really good book, I read dopamine by Daniel and was a good one but if I'm not mistaken, I didn't found tools or instructions like I did with this one, all the info, the stories from her patients are really good for us to see that we might (most likely) have some kind of addiction or over-consumption behavior that we should work on and she is giving us some ways to do so, I really liked they way she is sharing all that wisdom we may use to improve some aspects of our lives
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2025
    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.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2025
    This book had me itching to learn more chapter to chapter (I know, ironic given the subject matter...) Not only is Anna an MD but also an incredible writer. The very first is so shocking and so grabby that I just knew instantly that she wrote this precisely for anyone that struggles with chasing too much dopamine.

    For me it has always been my phone (scrolling social media) that has had a death grip on my attention and it was making me anxious and depressed. But I put Anna's practices into play as I was finishing the book and I have not struggled with scrolling addiction since. You really have to commit if you want to see the results, but I gaurantee it's worth it. I feel like have a small part of freedom back in my life so far. If she writes another book I'll be buying it in a heartbeat.
    12 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2025
    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.
    13 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2025
    I enjoyed the balance between advice and lecture. Very smooth to read and understand. Thanks Anna! I will advise my friends/family to read this.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2024
    This is a great book. She is a psychiatrist: her patient stories are true and very scary. Because of dopamine one can essentially get addicted to almost anything.

    One correction however. She references a book entitled "Llstening to Prozac"' saying that one can become addicted to antidepressants. This is absolutely false as proven by multiple tests on Prozac, other SSRIs and SNRIs.

    The book was published right after Prozac came out and was on the cover of Time and Newsweek. The author reported that Prozac could make you feel "better than good." I'd doesn't. Also, like ALL antidepressants except the rarely prescribed MAOIs (the first antidepressant which have a success rate of about 90%) they work only 40% of the time.

    The popularity of Prozac (and the other SSRIs and SNRIs that followed) was in part because of this: what psychiatrists previously used an antidepressants, TCAs, were lethal in very small does (5 pills); fear of suicide w/depression. So GPs, internists would not prescribe them and refer them to psychiatrists (no potentially liability.) But w/SSRis and SNRIs, with which you can't kill yourself, GPs and interneests went to town.

    But benzodiazepines, Ambien, and meds for ADHD and ADH highly addictive-dopamine. The book is a wonderful discourse on this neurobiological chemical and a scary one and true. Easy to understand, too.
    The sad case of Jacob's life long sex addiction is, frankly, sick and depressing
    29 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2025
    I thought provoking book that made me think about why I do the things I do.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2025
    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.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2025
    If you have a habit that makes you feel guilty and want to change, this is a great starting point. While digging deeper requires reading other books, this is a great grasp of the fundamentals of addiction and how to begin the process of gaining control of your life.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • DiegoCh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book
    Reviewed in Mexico on September 19, 2024
    This book clearly shows us the state of addiction we have to so many things in our modern lives, and how to retake control over it. A must read!
  • Killerkralle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Vielleicht eines der wichtigsten Bücher unserer Zeit
    Reviewed in Germany on January 15, 2025
    Anhand von vielen Beispielen erklärt die Autorin anschaulich, wie der Dopaminhaushalt des Menschen funktioniert. Sie zeigt auch, wie man ihn durch eigene Entscheidungen wieder ins Gleichgewicht bringen kann bzw. welche Alltagsfallen gefährlich sind. Durch ihre klinische Erfahrung hat die Autorin eine hohe Glaubwürdigkeit. Man muss sicher nicht jede einzelne Empfehlung nachmachen. Aber als praktischer Leitfaden mit ein wenig Theorie ist das Buch sehr gut geeignet. Dicke Empfehlung.
  • Ali
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on November 20, 2024
    Great book
  • fabio
    5.0 out of 5 stars libro
    Reviewed in Italy on October 26, 2024
    come descritto, okok
  • Neasa MacErlean
    5.0 out of 5 stars The pain-pleasure balance
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2024
    More and more of us are likely to become addicted, suggests Anne Lembke in this fascinating book. Routes into addiction are easy supply (which we have in rich countries), lack of stimulation (which we also have, as we become more comfortable and further removed from risk) and a fear of pain. What we did not know until a few years ago was that pain and pleasure exist together in our neural systems, balancing each other like a see-saw. But, just as with a see-saw, we continually seek pleasure, the mechanism cannot operate properly anymore, and the pain side of the see-saw will pull individuals down again. This is why heroine or alcohol addictions, for instance, bring pain on top of the immediate pleasure. Even the author herself had an addiction (to reading romantic novels), and many of us also have slightly unhealthy habits which can undermine the satisfaction of our lives. Becoming chubby or becoming a workaholic, for instance, can destroy someone's self-confidence or home life. This is well worth reading both by people who are interested in the subject and those who think they have an addition problem.