Though this is the first introduction of mine to the significance and inescapable influence that dopamine has in life, I couldn't imagine a better introduction to it than this book. It is ever present in almost every thought and action in our lives.

The first few chapters covering sex, desire, and aspirations I felt were spot on. Incredibly educational and presented in a very accessible manner. Though as it went on I thought it to be a bit reaching. Yes it has its own part to play on politics, early human migration, and mental illness, though there are many other factors present that have greater influence on those areas of the human condition. Though in the end the book is a about dopamine, the focus of the book does not concern any other factors at play.

I felt the significance of dopamine was over exaggerated and not the all powerful force it was portrayed to be in those scenarios. I got the impression the authors had the aim of covering a wide variety of subjects to highlight how dopamine plays its part in all aspects of life. I am not arguing that it is not, but that there may have been better areas to explore or expand upon such the topics in the earlier chapters.

What really hit this thought home for me was when it dived into apocalypse end of the world scenarios. I don't think I am being unfair to say that it won't be dopamine that ultimately is what will be to blame in the ultimate undoing of the human race as we know it. Yeah, dopamine will play its own part, though it would be far down the list of things worth considering when dealing with the end of life as we know it.

I still think it is an essential read for understanding of human behavior and why we desire what we desire despite these criticisms. I do concede as well I have my own shortcomings on how the human brain works. Ignoring the reservations I hold, the book does excel in all other areas of the content it covers.