The Hacking of the American Mind: an interesting look into the blurred lines between pleasure and happiness

The Hacking of the American Mind by Robert H. Lustig, MD, MSL, is the result of a discovery he made while researching and writing his New York Times bestseller Fat Chance, that the pursuit of happiness has been taken over by a culture of addiction and depression as well as pleasure being confused with happiness. He starts by explaining the differences between dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine is the “reward” neurotransmitter that tells our brains we want more and substances and behaviors that release dopamine in the extreme lead to addiction. Serotonin is the “contentment” neurotransmitter that tells our brains that we don’t need any more and when it is in short supply, it leads to depression. Ideally, both neurotransmitters are needed. Dr. Lustig then presents studies, societal roles and government policies in the past 40 years that have promoted the pursuit of pleasure combined with the constant stress that has led to an epidemic of addiction, anxiety, depression, and chronic disease. The American people have been successfully imprisoned in an endless loop of desire, consumption and disease which escape is extremely difficult. As he presents a very hopeless picture, he offers a plan, a call to action that we can take back our health, well-being and the pursuit of happiness on our own terms. 

The Hacking of the American Mind was recommended to me by my cousin-in-law. I was intrigued by the premise. Divided into five parts, Lustig breaks down the biochemistry of dopamine (the pleasure neurotransmitter) and serotonin (the contentment neurotransmitter) and how they are produced and function in the brain, and how advertisers and the governments has “hacked” our minds into believing that pleasure is the same as happiness. He also offers a way that people can break free from this “hacking.” He proposes what he calls the Four Cs: Connect, Contribute, Cope, and Cook. There were a lot that I liked about the book. The sections on biochemistry, while scientific, are broken down in a way that it helps the reader understand why these two neurotransmitters are important. It is relatable as how sugar has invaded the food supply and has created a host of health issues. I liked that he admitted that obesity doesn’t always mean an individual is unhealthy. There were a few things I disliked about the book as well. Dr. Lustig is a bit preachy and condescending. At one point, he discusses studies on happiness, he states that 43% of Americans are unhappy, at least “those who admit it.” So anyone who claims to be happy is lying? Some may lie but not everyone. He takes some subtle and unnecessary political jabs that it’s obvious where he lies politically. While presenting the whys to our health issues, he often ignores other causes that happen along with the others. Overall, I recommend The Hacking of the American Mind as it is worth the read. 

The Hacking of the American Mind is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.