We are an intensely social species. Everyone knows that. But, from that basic truth, Matthew Lieberman mines a mother lode of insights that are both unexpected and genuinely worth using to better our lives.” -Robert B. Cialdini, author of Influence
"Absolutely fascinating — necessary, even." -Brain Pickings
“Compelling evidence is emerging that shows that, more than money or other extrinsic incentives, the human brain gets a hefty reward by forging connections with others. That evidence, much of it uncovered by Lieberman, a pioneer of social cognitive neuroscience, is presented in a collegial manner in this often-surprising account… With the details from study after study, many of them based on imaging scans that examine activity in certain parts of the brain, Lieberman’s book is perfect for Malcolm Gladwell fans who want to delve much deeper into the biology behind our social abilities. The investigations reveal the impressive social abilities we hold, often unappreciated but noticeable when lacking in others, and so ingrained they may influence our very sense of self.” –Booklist
“Social reveals that our brains are made for connecting, not only for thinking. Matt Lieberman, a pioneering expert in social neuroscience, explains why fairness tastes like chocolate, why heartache can hurt more than a headache, and how we can use this knowledge to improve our lives at home, school, and work.” -Adam Grant, Wharton professor and bestselling author of Give and Take
"Social is the book I've been waiting for: a brilliant and beautiful exploration of how and why we are wired together, by one of the field's most prescient pioneers." -Daniel Gilbert, professor, Harvard University, bestselling author of Stumbling On Happiness
“Social is as full of surprising twists and insights as a Dan Brown novel (and as fun to read, too). Social unmasks the secret to our success as a species - our fundamentally social nature - and explains the origins, brain bases, and everyday applicability of our social superpowers.” -Kevin Ochsner, professor, Columbia University
"One of the most compelling and engaging books about how human beings really work that I've ever read. It literally changed how I see the world." -David Rock, director, NeuroLeadership Institute, author of Your Brain at Work
“At last, a book that really does put the social into social neuroscience, and, more importantly, does it in a way that layman and scientist alike can read with pleasure.” -Robin Dunbar, Professor, University of Oxford
"Vivid stories and cutting-edge neuroscience come together to explain just how connected we really are. Lieberman's prose is fluid, and his ideas fascinating, making Social a must-read pleasure for anyone who cares about the human condition and the science that reveals us as social beings." – Susan Fiske, Professor, Princeton University
“This fascinating, beautifully written book brings the exciting research on our social nature and the brain to life” – Shelley Taylor, distinguished professor, UCLA, author of The Tending Instinct
"Humans are exquisitely social. This is a beautifully written and compelling account of how and why this is the case, written by one of the world’s leading authorities on the social brain. Matthew Lieberman covers multiple areas of cutting edge research, including studies of primate social groups, the psychology of human love and friendship, and the brain basis of empathy and altruism. This captivating book will enthrall a very wide audience, from the general reader who has no previous knowledge of the brain to students and academics in the field of cognitive neuroscience and social psychology." - Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, Professor, University College of London
"A highly engaging read from one of the pioneers of the emerging field of social cognitive neuroscience. By reviewing what has recently been discovered about unique human talents, such as self-control, mindreading, empathy, Lieberman presents a compelling case that the human brain is wired to be social. Highly recommended for its accessible introduction to social neuroscience as well as its practical lessons for living more satisfying lives." -Todd Heatherton, Lincoln Filene Professor, Dartmouth College
"In this engaging book, Mathew Lieberman, one of the leaders and pioneers in social neuroscience, shows how and why our brains are wired to connect, how that influences what we think, feel, and do, and makes it clear why it matters." -Walter Mischel, Niven Professor of Humane Letters in Psychology, Columbia University
"The scientific field that became cognitive neuroscience began in the 19th century, strangely enough, with discoveries on the human brain's language processing. Not long after, however, the isolated case of Phineas Gage tumbled onto the scene and announced, more than a century in advance, what would become social neuroscience. In “Social”, Matthew Lieberman, one of the leaders of this now-established effort, provides a thoughtful and lively review of recent findings and of the implications for this important area of inquiry." -Antonio Damasio, USC professor and author of Descartes’ Error and Self Comes to Mind
It seems natural that when a person is rewarded with a cash prize there is intense activity in the pleasure centers of his or her brain. But why do we experience neurally identical pleasure when giving away money? Why is the emotional pain of being left out of a game of catch identical to that of physical injury? Using the latest research in neuroscience, Lieberman, an award-winning social psychologist, shows readers how their brains may be wired, first and foremost, to harmonize and connect with others, rather than simply to act in their own interests. With the help of new functional MRI technology, Lieberman explores the surprising new science of social interaction, investigating how our perceptions of others affect our cognition and, even more elementally, how social interaction and its absence can produce the same mental responses as physical pain and pleasure, as well as what that fact might mean about the evolution of the brain. Lieberman’s findings are convincing: over the course of their evolution, humans have developed sophisticated means of responding to group challenges and the norms of altruism and cohesion have become ingrained in neural biology. The end of the book outlines how to integrate social cognition into teaching and management. Social is a far-ranging and sometimes long-winded introduction to how humans think together. Agent: Max Brockman, Brockman Inc. (Oct.)
Listening to this audiobook is a little like driving in the dark. Some moments are exhilarating, but a lot of the time you're wondering where you are. Mike Chamberlain's tenor delivery gives the material a "gee-whiz" excitement, but after 11 hours of brain anatomy and clinical studies, even Chamberlain's extensive bag of narrator tricks seems exhausted. That's not to say there aren't a lot of big ideas in this work. Lieberman's thesis that our brains evolved to fulfill social interaction is well documented, often by his own studies. The audiobook also provides plenty of stuff to talk about around the watercooler—things like mirror neurons, mentalizing, verbal grooming, and faux selfishness. But, ultimately, Lieberman’s impressive discussion may be better read in print, a medium that allows one to easily revisit its concepts, charts, and imagery. R.W.S. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine
2013-08-15
Lieberman (Psychology, Psychiatry, and Biobehavioral Sciences/UCLA) offers scientific evidence to counter the idea that the need to survive and reproduce is the fundamental driver of human behavior. The author rejects Abraham Maslow's 1943 formulation of a hierarchy of needs stacked in a pyramid, suggesting that the pyramid is upside down. Physiological needs and safety are at the bottom, followed by social needs and esteem, which Lieberman describes as "the extra scoops of ice cream" and "cherry on top." He shows countervailing evidence, amassed over the past two decades, that shows social needs to be as basic as their physiological counterparts. Using MRI, the author and his associates have identified a separate area of the brain in which social cognition occurs. It is activated when we "think about other people's minds…[and] promotes understanding and empathy, cooperation, and consideration." Along with the capacity for empathy provided by mirror neurons, which we share with other species, it is the part of the brain that we use when we think "about the social world and our place in it." It also allows us to function effectively in the larger social groups that are typical of human societies, as compared to other primates, and to function collectively in more complex ways. Mammalian young depend on a caretaker from the moment of their birth in order to survive. "Our need for connection is the bedrock upon which the others are built," writes the author. Empathy, love and our need for social connections follow. A fascinating explanation of why "a broken heart can feel as painful as a broken leg" and social recognition is frequently prized above money.