The Hacking of the American Mind
The Science Behind the Corporate Takeover of Our Bodies and Brains
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The Hacking of the American Mind
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Narrated by:
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Robert H. Lustig
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Written by:
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Robert H. Lustig
About this listen
The New York Times best-selling author of Fat Chance reveals the corporate scheme to sell pleasure, driving the international epidemic of addiction, depression, and chronic disease.
While researching the toxic and addictive properties of sugar for his New York Times best seller Fat Chance, Robert Lustig made an alarming discovery - our pursuit of happiness is being subverted by a culture of addiction and depression from which we may never recover.
Dopamine is the "reward" neurotransmitter that tells our brains we want more; yet every substance or behavior that releases dopamine in the extreme leads to addiction. Serotonin is the "contentment" neurotransmitter that tells our brains we don't need any more; yet its deficiency leads to depression. Ideally, both are in optimal supply. Yet dopamine evolved to overwhelm serotonin - because our ancestors were more likely to survive if they were constantly motivated - with the result that constant desire can chemically destroy our ability to feel happiness, while sending us down the slippery slope to addiction. In the last 40 years, government legislation and subsidies have promoted ever-available temptation (sugar, drugs, social media, porn) combined with constant stress (work, home, money, Internet), with the end result of an unprecedented epidemic of addiction, anxiety, depression, and chronic disease. And with the advent of neuromarketing, corporate America has successfully imprisoned us in an endless loop of desire and consumption from which there is no obvious escape.
With his customary wit and incisiveness, Lustig not only reveals the science that drives these states of mind, he points his finger directly at the corporations that helped create this mess and the government actors who facilitated it, and he offers solutions we can all use in the pursuit of happiness, even in the face of overwhelming opposition. Always fearless and provocative, Lustig marshals a call to action, with seminal implications for our health, our well-being, and our culture.
©2017 Robert H. Lustig (P)2017 Penguin AudioYou may also enjoy...
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 274
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What the critics say
"Our health, resistance to disease, and ability to function on a day-to-day basis have essentially been hijacked, all in the name of corporate profits. Dr. Lustig explores how industry has manipulated our most deep-seated survival instincts to motivate our food choices in a way that directly undermines our ability to survive. But more importantly, The Hacking of the American Mind eloquently reveals how we can disengage from this influence and re-establish ourselves on a path to wellness." (David Perlmutter, MD, author of the number-one New York Times best seller, Grain Brain and Brain Maker)
"A provocative, persuasive plea to stop seeking the wrong kind of happiness. Take it from the neuroscientist/endocrinologist who sounded the alarm about sugar: chasing rewards is far less rewarding than finding contentment.” (Adam Grant, author of New York Times best sellers Originals and Give and Take, and coauthor of the New York Times best seller Option B)
"Robert Lustig takes on one of the greatest paradoxes of our time: how can it be that we have more sources of pleasure than ever before in human history, and yet are increasingly sick, broke, and unhappy? By deftly weaving together neuroscience, history, economics, and more, he provides a much-needed explanation of how the 'pernicious peddling of pleasure' causes real happiness to elude so many of us - and also provides a desperately needed roadmap for escaping the pleasure trap." (Sharon Begley, coauthor of the New York Times best seller The Emotional Life of Your Brain)
What listeners say about The Hacking of the American Mind
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lynne
- 2019-01-02
Meticulous, Insightful
I will have to delve back into this at some point- took a while to read but was definitely digestible during some longer drives. The book delivers what it promises, but I found that it was a lot of topic jumping to absorb at times- I would find my mind wandering then have to rewind a bit to get back on track because I was worried I'd missed a crucial detail (a lot of the details feel crucial in this book; it builds as you become more familiar with the brain's dopamine/serotonin inner workings).
This has really helped me at points where my willpower dwindles or I feel compelled to indulge in less-than-healthy behaviour. It also has helped me to understand what drives the compulsive (and impulsive, come to think of it), unhealthy behaviours of others, as well as why it's so darn easy to get drawn in. It's really an explanation of WHY so many of us are stressed and unhappy- lots of detail but also painted in a broader scope- followed by HOW to go about striving for true joy, contentment- long-lasting well-being that far transcends the dopamine-filled pleasure trap that plagues today's society.
A great science/logic-based starting point for anyone who feels chronically depressed/fatigued, stressed, anxious, addicted, unfulfilled, etc.- or who just wants to better understand the subtle yet pervasive school of thought (that of instant pleasure or gratification) that affects Western society- and likely, the majority of the technologically-developed world- in ways ranging from marketing to social norms to government, food, sugar, drug consumption (including caffeine), etc.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mike G Girardin
- 2017-12-14
Perhaps the Most Fascinating Book I have ever Read
I picked this one up with much different expectations, but it was well worth it. This book was absolutely fascinating, and really eye opening. It's amazing to understand the science and chemistry behind the way our brains function, and why people do what they do.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jayakumar Nathan
- 2019-10-07
Dangerous sugar addiction
Entire humanity is under the grips of sugar addiction;
Children are the primary victim; I wish I knew this when I was young;
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Vesna
- 2019-02-10
Another Amazing Book
Robert Lustig writes another great book about how we've been loured into being "addicted" but this time to technology and buying. This book helps to raise awareness and gives a person some power over how we are being controlled by big corporations that have hacked our minds for our money.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jacqueline LaBlonde
- 2021-07-20
♡♡♡♡♡
Absolutely ♡ this book. Educational, entertaining, funny. There is so much useful information in this book that I'm going to have to listen again. The only negative thing that I can say is that the Chapters are not identified, except numerically. This book made me "happy" 😉
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2023-04-26
Loved it
Practical information that was easy to understand. I'll listen to it again. Good stuff for sure.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jonathan Newfeld
- 2022-03-11
Must Read¡
Dr. Lustig is fantastic at getting down to brass tacks on serious issues. This is a must read book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Patrick Hogan
- 2017-12-15
A must read for most of us
The author while by training is expert in the science of human chemistry paves a clear narrative on the larger picture of modern living and the convincing arguments that pits human health and well being against corporate greed and profits that has resulted in a compromised food supply, a devolving society that is addicted to many legal products especially refined sugar. And the fact that governments are largely unconcerned about it. A real eye-opener that offers solutions for the individual to take better responsibility for our well being and that of our loved ones. The science on sugar is in. Find out for yourself.
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