Novelty & Cheap Dopamine — How Kindle is Destroying My Reading Life

But there’s a simple solution.

Download sample. Purchase.

Return sample. Purchase.

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I’ll come across an interesting book, get excited, download it to my Kindle and start reading. Forget about the 2 other books I was so enthusiastic about last week.

About 30–35% into the book, I lose interest.

But not to worry!

I quickly get distracted by the promise of another book.

Like a spoiled kid on Christmas morning.

It bothers me. Why can’t I focus? Why don’t I finish anything? Is it me? Is it the books?

It turns out it has everything to do with:

1. My brain’s obsession with novelty
2. A neurotransmitter called dopamine

Novelty is the most powerful signal to determine what we pay attention to in the world.

That makes a lot of sense from an evolutionary standpoint:

• Learning: As prehistoric nomads, our scenery was constantly changing. By exploring the new and the unknown, we learned. The more…