Social

Humans are built for company. Matthew Lieberman, a psychologist who has spent his career studying the social brain, argues that the urge to belong runs deeper than hunger or the need for a safe place to sleep. In his account, the brain fills its idle time by tracking other people and our place among them.

Lieberman contends that this pull toward others is a central force shaping how we act. Drawing on social neuroscience, he describes how we are unusually good at inferring what others feel, want, and intend, which lets us coordinate our lives together. He also shows that our most personal sense of self is closely tied to the people and groups we belong to.

The book then applies these findings to practical concerns, including how schools can improve learning, how workplaces can become more productive, and how individuals can strengthen their overall well-being.