The bass is pumping, the lights above blink rhythmically in sync with the vibrations felt throughout your body. You stand in the middle of the dancing crowd, but you can't quite get into the groove. In your pocket is a small, pink pill.
You walk up to the bar. Order a drink and swallow the small pill with it.
Thirty minutes later, you're part of the human sea on the dance floor. You are invincible, happy, loving, and full of endless energy. MDMA works by activating the brain’s reward system, flooding you with feelings of intense euphoria, empathy, and confidence. Serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin levels are boosted, making you feel connected to others and in a state of bliss.
Tomas Adrian envisions a future where happiness and euphoria are foundational, and everything else is just a bonus. By reverse-engineering the biological processes that naturally occur in childhood and reversing the genetic changes related to aging and stress, it becomes possible to live in a state of permanent joy and health.
In such a world, individuals would need very little to be content. Tomas suggests improvements such as better and healthier food, a more enjoyable world with small electric cars, non-violent entertainment, and a reality where time is irrelevant. Once happiness is achieved, life slows down, and materialism loses its importance.