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Summary of The Molecule of More 

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Short summary

The Molecule of More explains love, dominance, creativity, and progress and connects them all to the influence of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that carries signals between brain cells. It reveals that dopamine is the single chemical that drives the fate of the entire human race. Daniel Z. Leberman, MD, and Michael E. Long offer us a better understanding of ourselves and humanity as a whole. Daniel Z. Leberman, MD, works at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University as a professor and vice chair for clinical affairs. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a recipient of the Caron Foundation Research Award. Michael E. Long is a physicist, speechwriter, screenwriter, and playwright. He is a lecturer at Georgetown University and the former director of writing for Georgetown’s graduate program in public relations. “Dopamine is one of the instigators of love, the source of the spark that sets off all that follows.” ~ Daniel Z. Lieberman, MD, Michael E. Long

Table of content

  • Summary of The Molecule of More
  • About the author
  • What is The Molecule of More about?
  • Who should read The Molecule of More
  • Topics in The Molecule of More
first key point

The brain is a vital part of the body that controls and coordinates actions and reactions

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Two ways of thinking occur in the brain. The first, the down world, is managed by chemicals — neurotransmitters — and lets you experience satisfaction and enjoy whatever you presently have. These down chemicals are called Here & Now and allow you to experience what’s in front of you. The second way is the up world, where your brain relies on a single molecule that makes you go beyond your current realities. It also motivates you to control and pursue things in the future and drives you to seek out things far away, both material and nonmaterial.
The brain transmits chemicals that play a role in how you feel and function daily.
The up chemical makes you desire what you don’t have and drives you to seek new things. To your brain, this molecule is the highest multipurpose tool that urges you to go beyond the excitement of just existing. It allows you to make use of your imagination to explore diverse possibilities. Most living things like reptiles, fish, mammals, and birds all have this chemical inside their brains, but human beings have more of it; it is called dopamine.

In this summary, you will learn how dopamine influences romantic relationships, goal setting, and much more and will enlighten you on how to turn your imagination into reality.
Understanding dopamine turns out to be the key to explaining and even predicting behavior across a spectacular range of human endeavors. ~ Daniel Z. Lieberman, MD, Michael E. Long
second key point

Dopamine: the feel-good hormone that makes you fall in love but doesn’t sustain it

In 1957, researcher Kathleen Montagu discovered dopamine in the brain. When tested on drug addicts, dopamine got the nickname “the pleasure molecule” because the drugs lit up dopamine circuits, and the participants experienced euphoria. However, the reverse occurred when researchers replaced the drugs with food and discovered that unexpected rewards triggered dopamine release. The dopamine rush humans experience comes from promising surprises such as a sweet note from your lover or an email message from a friend you haven’t seen in years. However, when these things become frequent, they lose their novelty, and the dopamine rush reduces, and a more interesting note or a long email won’t bring it back. That’s why falling in love isn’t long-lasting. When a couple is in love, all they can picture is the exciting and perfect future they will have together. But when reality dawns, their imaginations tend to shatter, leading to a possible end of the relationship and a new search for dopaminergic thrills — the excitement of anticipation. Alternatively, this passionate love can transform into companionate love, which may not thrill the way dopamine does. However, it has the power to deliver long-term happiness based on here & now (H&N) neurotransmitters.
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third key point

Giving in to a craving doesn’t necessarily lead to pleasure because wanting is different from liking

fourth key point

Create a bridge between your imagination and reality by setting strategies that propel you towards achieving your goals

fifth key point

The risk and reward of the highly dopaminergic brain

sixth key point

Dopamine facilitates migration because it determines how people seek out opportunities to maximize resources

seventh key point

Conclusion

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Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

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