Reading Series
Hits and Hooks
Why certain things feel impossible to quit.
Addiction beyond drugs and alcohol. The books also examine food, screens, gambling, porn, work, and the reward systems designed to keep people coming back.
13 booksThere’s no required order. Start wherever you want.
In this series
Browse all books- 01ADDICTIONFrom opium and cigarettes to OxyContin, rehab, vapes, apps, and infinite scroll, ADDICTION follows the industries that learned how to sell dependence.35 min read
- 02The Drug BookA poetic field guide exploring psychoactive substances through personal narrative, cultural context, and the altered states they produce.53 min read
- 03AlcoholA sweeping history of how alcohol shaped civilization, from ancient fermentation to Prohibition to modern drinking culture and its effects on the human brain.43 min read
- 04
High SocietyA sweeping history of cannabis from ancient spiritual rituals to Nixon's War on Drugs, exposing how a plant became a weapon of social control.38 min read - 05
NicotineNicotine's path from sacred plant to imperial crop, cigarette machine, vape, pouch, and craving loop.29 min read - 06
CAFFEINEA deep dive into how caffeine shaped empires, fueled capitalism, and turned billions of people into functional addicts who swear they just like the taste.43 min read - 07
The Sweet LieAn exposé on diet soda's hidden impacts and the addictive grip of zero-calorie sweeteners on modern consumers.25 min read - 08
Biochemical RomanceAn exposé of how fast food companies engineered their products to hack your brain chemistry and override your natural hunger signals.47 min read - 09
This Will Make a Blue-Collar Worker CryAn exposé of how 24/7 convenience stores trap blue-collar workers in cycles of caffeine, nicotine, sugar, and alcohol addiction fueled by poverty and exhaustion.24 min read - 10
The Dopamine GoblinHow dopamine-driven design in social media, dating apps, and porn hijacks our brains to keep us endlessly swiping, scrolling, and clicking.57 min read - 11
THE FANTASY MACHINEHow internet pornography rewired a generation's sexuality and replaced real human connection with algorithmic stimulation.33 min read - 12
The AI Takeover Already HappenedA stark exposé of how social media algorithms and tech platforms have already conquered your attention, hijacked your decision-making, and turned everyday apps into behavioral control systems.19 min read - 13
The HouseAn exploration of the casino industry's business model, the psychology of gambling, and the social impact of gaming culture.Short book