Carl Hammerschlag M.D.

Wireless technology is reprogramming human behavior on a massive scale. We can stay connected to friends, family, do business, and foment uprisings; we can talk, listen to music, and look at streaming video while driving. 85% who have a handheld device are never more than an arms length away from them. As a culture, we are always ready to respond to the sound of the ping, and stop whatever we’re doing and be someplace else. We are becoming addicted to the ping of an arriving message which triggers a burst of endorphins that stimulate the reward centers of our brains and urge us to want more. As a culture, we suffer from an Attention Deficit Disorder, and it’s stressing us out. In the language of science and stories, Dr. H. reminds us how to thrive in these rapidly changing times. With passion and humor this internationally recognized psychiatrist helps us appreciate the importance of a life between the pings.