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The Molecule of More
Daniel Z. Lieberman & Michael E. Long
Dopamine is not the pleasure molecule — it's the molecule of wanting more. This microbook reveals how a single brain chemical shapes romantic obsession, addiction, creative genius, political beliefs, and humanity's restless drive to conquer the future, and what it takes to finally feel satisfied without losing your spark.
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Who it is for
For anyone who achieves a goal and immediately feels empty, struggles with compulsive habits, or wonders why excitement always fades — and wants to understand the brain chemistry driving that relentless hunger for more.
About the Author
Daniel Z. Lieberman is the author of The Molecule of More, a work that challenges the popular notion of dopamine as the brain's pleasure chemical. Lieberman reframes it as the anticipation molecule, exploring how it shapes human behavior, drives addiction, and fuels ambition. His writing offers a compelling lens through which to understand the neurochemical forces behind desire and decision-making.
View author profileLessons
- Understand why desire and pleasure are two separate brain systems that can work against each other.
- Discover how dopamine shapes not just love and addiction, but creativity, politics, and civilization itself.
- Learn to balance the drive for more with present-moment satisfaction to build a genuinely fulfilling life.
Key Takeaways
- Dopamine is the molecule of anticipation and wanting, not pleasure — it fires hardest in the chase, not the catch.
- Addiction hijacks the brain's survival circuits by flooding dopamine far beyond what any natural reward can deliver, separating wanting from liking entirely.
- The deepest human fulfillment comes from harmonizing dopamine's future-pulling drive with the Here and Now chemistry of touch, connection, and craft.
More knowledge in less time
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