‘The Molecule of More’: Former Matthews resident coauthors book

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Michael E. Long tosses out the questions.

Why does love change so quickly from passion to disinterest?

Why are some people diehard liberals and others hardcore conservatives?

Why do winners cheat?

Why do kids at Christmas play with the boxes more than the toys?

While the questions appear unrelated, Long and fellow author Daniel Z. Lieberman, say what they have in common is the answer: dopamine, a chemical in the brain. Together they recently published “The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex and Creativity - and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race.”

Long, a former Matthews, Mo., resident, never set out to be an author. After graduating from Matthews High School in 1981, he attended Murray State University where he studied physics. In graduate school at Vanderbilt University, Long discovered an interest in writing and comedy.

“I had my foot in both worlds,” he said in a telephone interview. “I’ve studied the solid science, but I love the idea of the artistic side of things.”

Over the years Long has worked as a speech writer for members of Congress, U.S. cabinet secretaries, governors, diplomats and presidential candidates. He has tried stand-up comedy, is an award-winning screenwriter and playwright and currently teaches writing at Georgetown University.

According to Long, much of his career has involved data and making sense of it for people. He calls himself a “professional explainer. I do many things and they all have that in common — I explain things to people.”

When he and Lieberman began discussing overlooked research on the brain and behavior several years ago during lunch, Long said he immediately began to think of ways he could explain it to others.

“It captured my attention as a writer for the groundbreaking things it says about persuasion, but it hooked me even more for the sheer, weird truth of it, connecting seemingly unrelated human behavior across politics, ambition, creativity, business and even love,” he recalled.

By the end of their meal, they were planning a book.

In “The Molecule of More,” Long and Lieberman, who is a professor and vice chair for clinical affairs in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University, use research and examples to explain how dopamine makes us want more of everything and impacts our lives.

For early humans, this aided in survival because the dopamine drive enabled them to face danger and overcome obstacles. Today, that urge for more can benefit humans as they strive for success.

But, the authors said, the urge for more has a dark side, too.

“Dopamine is that bit of biology that makes an ambitious professional sacrifice everything in pursuit of success, and that drives a satisfied spouse to risk it all for the thrill of someone new. It is why we seek and succeed; it is why we discover and prosper,” Long said. “At the same time, it’s why we gamble and squander, and indulge our own greed.”

Through their research and writing, Long said he learned many things about human behavior including dopamine’s role in making humans want to seek out something new.

As an example, Long said, when it comes to love, the chemical interacts in the brain creating a buzz of excitement over a potential partner. The first few weeks and months of a relationship can be exciting, but eventually the dopamine isn’t released into the brain when you are with the same individual.

“All that chemical does is makes you want something new or more then

when you acquire it; it goes away,” he said. “There is a difference between wanting something and enjoying something. Knowing the difference in those things is a powerful tool in understanding our own behavior.”

Long said he is in hopes the book will help individuals better understand themselves and others. He said many mental health practitioners are unaware of the scientific research covered in the book and what they read should enable them to help their patients better understand the reason behind their actions.

The book is divided into short segments, filled with examples. In addition to their interpretation of the research, each chapter is followed with additional reading resources for those curious to learn more.

“But I want people to know this book is fun for everybody. It is not a going-to-school, eat-your-peas sort of book,” he emphasized. “We had so much fun writing this book. We are really excited about it.”

Released in bookstores on Aug. 14, “The Molecule of More” already has positive comments from professionals. Reviews on the websites Good Reads and Barnes and Noble rate it five stars.

Long said they have already heard from neuroscientists, artists and mental health professionals.

“We have had wonderful feedback from people who are scientists and people who are artists. We are very proud of that,” he said.

In addition to being available at over 100 Barnes and Noble bookstores and online, “The Molecule of More” is scheduled to be sold in 10 countries and translated into eight languages. To promote their book, Long and Lieberman are doing lots of podcasts and media including a TEDx talk. There is talk of documentary, Long added.

Already, he is thinking about his next project. Long, who is married to former Sikeston resident Julia Potashnick, said he is working on a new stage play as well as a book about the nature of outrage to “keep food on the table.”

He also is thinking about his roots in the Bootheel.

“I’m glad I’m from there,” he said. “Where I live now, people don’t appreciate life as well as where I lived growing up. I miss the attitude of people there; it helps me appreciate the things I have in my life.”

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To read the first chapter of “The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity – and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race” by Daniel Z. Lieberman, MD, and Michael E. Long, go to: moleculeofmore.com.