What do you think?
Rate this book
The Dose Effect
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 21, 2026
Is it a well presented and clearly written breakdown of the four major chemicals in our brains to maximise happiness and productivity?
Absolutely.
Is it neurodivergent friendly?
Absolutely not.
Was it tailored for neurodivergent people anyway?
No.
Is that okay?
Yes (although I wish there was a neurodivergent friendly version out there!)
I think it is so important when reading books in this genre that you take away the parts that speak to you, and add them into your personal toolbox of sorts. I feel that so many people take the entirety of these books as gospel and then feel disheartened when it doesn’t work for them. For me, for example, asking someone who is autistic to make eye contact and physical touch to create oxytocin feels like dragging my nails down a chalkboard, but the other three sections were really beneficial for me. It is so incredibly important to know how you work, so that you know what parts might benefit you - or even be open to trying all of them, and learning about yourself through what works or what doesn’t.
Overall though, I’ve been really loving TJ’s content recently, and therefore I adored getting to read all of his thoughts in one place, just wish there was a version of this for people who are neurodivergent, which really focuses on how these four chemicals might differ for us, and what we can do to cultivate these for ourselves in a way that suits our systems.
Absolutely.
Is it neurodivergent friendly?
Absolutely not.
Was it tailored for neurodivergent people anyway?
No.
Is that okay?
Yes (although I wish there was a neurodivergent friendly version out there!)
I think it is so important when reading books in this genre that you take away the parts that speak to you, and add them into your personal toolbox of sorts. I feel that so many people take the entirety of these books as gospel and then feel disheartened when it doesn’t work for them. For me, for example, asking someone who is autistic to make eye contact and physical touch to create oxytocin feels like dragging my nails down a chalkboard, but the other three sections were really beneficial for me. It is so incredibly important to know how you work, so that you know what parts might benefit you - or even be open to trying all of them, and learning about yourself through what works or what doesn’t.
Overall though, I’ve been really loving TJ’s content recently, and therefore I adored getting to read all of his thoughts in one place, just wish there was a version of this for people who are neurodivergent, which really focuses on how these four chemicals might differ for us, and what we can do to cultivate these for ourselves in a way that suits our systems.
October 29, 2026
A practical and easy to read guide to helping ourselves focus and develop habits that better release positive chemicals in our brains.
I love the way it’s divided up into four neat categories, one each for dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins (hence DOSE), and then within each category there are exactly 5 sets of activity types we can select from.
This makes it suitable for everyone because you get to choose which categories and which activities from those categories best suit you, personally. For example, ‘touch’ is a key way to activate oxytocin, but I’m uncomfortable with touch (shaking hugging friends or family, being pat on the back/shoulder, etc). But, that’s fine, because (a) there are 4 other categories activities for activating oxytocin and (b) the author clarifies that touch includes between partners/spouses. It’s easy to find at least one activity that suits you personally for each chemical.
Several other things that make it an excellent read:
- Each page or two is a complete idea. So, if attention span is a current issue (one of the things the section on dopamine especially aims to address), then this book is still an easy read.
- There are previews, summaries, and checklists. This makes it both easier to remember and understand each section and easier to use as a quick reference tool later.
- The writing style is casual and supportive. The author acknowledges how challenging changing some of these routines was for him, too, while also acknowledging that we’re all different and will have other struggles to overcome.
- It’s science-backed and gives a lot of insight into how our brain works in relation to these chemicals yet stays practical and easy to understand.
- It addresses habits that have both a negative impact on each chemical (so we know what to reduce) and a positive impact (so we know what to increase).
Well worth the read!
I love the way it’s divided up into four neat categories, one each for dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins (hence DOSE), and then within each category there are exactly 5 sets of activity types we can select from.
This makes it suitable for everyone because you get to choose which categories and which activities from those categories best suit you, personally. For example, ‘touch’ is a key way to activate oxytocin, but I’m uncomfortable with touch (shaking hugging friends or family, being pat on the back/shoulder, etc). But, that’s fine, because (a) there are 4 other categories activities for activating oxytocin and (b) the author clarifies that touch includes between partners/spouses. It’s easy to find at least one activity that suits you personally for each chemical.
Several other things that make it an excellent read:
- Each page or two is a complete idea. So, if attention span is a current issue (one of the things the section on dopamine especially aims to address), then this book is still an easy read.
- There are previews, summaries, and checklists. This makes it both easier to remember and understand each section and easier to use as a quick reference tool later.
- The writing style is casual and supportive. The author acknowledges how challenging changing some of these routines was for him, too, while also acknowledging that we’re all different and will have other struggles to overcome.
- It’s science-backed and gives a lot of insight into how our brain works in relation to these chemicals yet stays practical and easy to understand.
- It addresses habits that have both a negative impact on each chemical (so we know what to reduce) and a positive impact (so we know what to increase).
Well worth the read!
June 27, 2026
A solid and accessible book for anyone starting to build a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
For me, it was a 3-star read because many of the ideas were already familiar and part of my routine. Still, it offers a clear and practical introduction for people looking for a good starting point.
For me, it was a 3-star read because many of the ideas were already familiar and part of my routine. Still, it offers a clear and practical introduction for people looking for a good starting point.
August 7, 2026
A genuinely life-changing read. TJ breaks down complex ideas about habits, growth, mindset & brain chemistry into simple, clear concepts that can be adopted daily. A powerful reminder that small, consistent actions can lead to extraordinary results.
July 28, 2026
A nice, easy read and reminder of what you could do to live a generally healthier life. Quite simplistic and a lot I already know/do, but good to have it summarised
August 6, 2026
nu m a dat pe spate
August 19, 2026
Fine as a summary, but basically a printed-out Podcast, so not much new under the morning sunlight.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews