This summer, for those seeking intellectual enrichment, the Behavioral Scientist has unveiled its curated selection of thirteen new behavioral science books. These titles promise to delve into the profound mysteries of life and consciousness, explore the unexpected power of constraints, dissect the intricate games that shape our existence, and guide readers toward understanding the environments that forge our identities. As Heather Graci, Editor, and Evan Nesterak, Editor-in-Chief, aptly put it, this collection offers a "baker’s dozen" for "intellectual travels."
Exploring the Profound: Life, Death, and the Enigma of Consciousness
At the heart of human inquiry lies the fundamental question of existence itself. Maria Popova, in her new work, frames life as a fleeting spark of sentience, ignited by the interplay of chemistry and chance, and ultimately extinguished by death. The "great mystery," she posits, is not what lies beyond, but rather "what we make of the wilderness between the bookends." This sentiment underpins two of the featured books, which venture into this very wilderness.
Popova’s Traversal weaves together the narratives of individuals who have grappled with questions of life, death, and personhood through diverse pursuits. Their journeys range from the scientific discovery of penicillin and the astronomical charting of Venus to the introspective realms of poetry and the adventurous spirit of ocean sailing. These are tales of individuals who, in their own ways, sought to understand the human condition.
Complementing this exploration is Michael Pollan’s A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness. Pollan confronts the "improbable fact"—the sheer "miracle"—that in a universe governed by physical forces and vast expanses, we possess awareness. His work delves into the perplexing questions: How do we become conscious? Why are we conscious? And does consciousness extend beyond the human realm? Together, Popova and Pollan offer a perspective that can simultaneously expand our understanding of humanity’s enduring intellectual quests while humbling us with the vastness of what remains unknown.
Traversal by Maria Popova
The back cover of Traversal articulates the book’s core inquiry: "What is life? What is death? What makes a body a person? What makes a planet a world?" Popova’s illumination comes through the "intertwined lives, loves, and legacies of visionaries both celebrated and sidelined by history," individuals who "lived to write the future."
A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness by Michael Pollan
Pollan’s exploration of consciousness highlights a universal agreement among scientists, philosophers, and artists: the subjective experience of being. He notes, "Yet the fact we have subjective experience of the world remains one of nature’s greatest mysteries." The book probes how mental operations are accompanied by feelings, thoughts, and a sense of self, and considers what a scientific investigation of this inner life would entail, given our inherent proximity to it.
The Architecture of Thought: Constraints, Games, and Artificial Intelligence
Beyond the existential, human cognition itself presents a fertile ground for exploration. This summer’s selections include three books that prompt deeper reflection on how we think, what influences our thought processes, and the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.
David Epstein’s Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better challenges the prevailing notion that boundless freedom is the sole driver of innovation. He argues that in a world saturated with choices, this very abundance can lead to paralysis. Epstein posits that individuals, businesses, and even societies can benefit from strategically narrowing their options, demonstrating how limitations can, paradoxically, foster greater creativity and satisfaction. This perspective is particularly relevant in an era where overchoice is often cited as a source of societal stress and decision fatigue.
C. Thi Nguyen’s The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else’s Game offers a philosophical examination of the pervasive influence of games and scoring systems in our lives. Nguyen identifies games as a significant art form of our era, extending beyond traditional digital and board formats to encompass everyday activities like cooking and gardening. He critically analyzes how scoring systems, often used to define success in corporate and bureaucratic settings, can lead us to prioritize easily quantifiable metrics over what truly matters, potentially eroding our independence and values. The book serves as a timely reminder to question the metrics by which we measure our lives.
Tom Griffiths’ The Laws of Thought: The Quest for a Mathematical Theory of the Mind delves into the potential of mathematics to illuminate human cognition. While the scientific narrative often focuses on physics and chemistry, Griffiths highlights the less-explored history of applying mathematical principles to understand the mind. His work aims to equip readers with a conceptual fluency akin to understanding the "Laws of Nature," but for the internal world of thought. This is especially pertinent as artificial intelligence continues to advance, prompting a re-evaluation of what aspects of human thinking might remain uniquely elusive to machines and how this understanding can redefine our self-perception.
Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better by David Epstein
Epstein’s central thesis is that "overvaluing complete freedom can be disastrous." He argues that "all of us—individuals, businesses, institutions, even societies—can benefit from narrowing our options." This concept offers a counterintuitive approach to problem-solving and personal growth in an age often characterized by an excess of choices.
The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else’s Game by C. Thi Nguyen
Nguyen provocatively states, "Games are the most important art form of our era." He critiques how scoring systems in various aspects of life can lead to the outsourcing of values to external authorities, encouraging a focus on "simple, countable things." The book encourages readers to reclaim agency over their own value systems.
The Laws of Thought: The Quest for a Mathematical Theory of the Mind by Tom Griffiths
Griffiths highlights the disparity in public understanding between the physical world and the inner world of the mind. He notes, "While the story of how mathematics has been used to reveal the mysteries of the universe is familiar, the story of how it has been used to study the mind is not." This book aims to bridge that gap, offering insights into the mathematical underpinnings of cognition.
Data-Driven Morality: Economics, Justice, and Ethical Frameworks
In navigating complex societal issues, the role of data and empirical evidence is increasingly crucial. Two economists, Alvin Roth and Jennifer Doleac, champion a data-driven approach to moral questions, asserting that such rigor is, in itself, a moral imperative.
Alvin Roth, a Nobel laureate, presents Moral Economics: From Prostitution to Organ Sales, What Controversial Transactions Reveal About How Markets Work. His work reframes divisive social issues—such as drug policy, abortion, and organ donation—as markets. By conceptualizing these as systems of exchange, Roth aims to identify pathways for progress in areas where traditional compromise has faltered. The book suggests that prudent market design can strike a balance between individual liberties and the protection of vulnerable populations, offering a pragmatic approach to seemingly intractable moral dilemmas.
Jennifer Doleac, in The Science of Second Chances: A Revolution in Criminal Justice, applies empirical analysis to the criminal justice system. She contends that many well-intentioned policies, while perhaps ethically motivated, may not be effectively just. Doleac’s research demonstrates how scientific inquiry can succeed where intuition might fail, guiding the development of more equitable systems. Her conviction, as stated in the original text, is that "a lack of rigor is unethical. Policies that don’t work don’t help people. If we are serious about improving lives, we need to test our policies carefully to ensure they’re effective." This perspective underscores the ethical responsibility to ensure that interventions designed to improve society are, in fact, evidence-based and effective.
Moral Economics by Alvin E. Roth
Roth’s approach to controversial transactions aims to uncover how markets function and how they can be designed to be more effective and ethical. He argues that "Prudent market design can find a balance between preserving people’s rights to pursue their own interests and protecting the most vulnerable from harm."
The Science of Second Chances by Jennifer Doleac
Doleac’s work focuses on evidence-based reforms in criminal justice. She highlights the potential for "surprising interventions that actually work," while also cautioning against well-intentioned ideas that have not yielded positive results. An excerpt from the book shared by Behavioral Scientist notes that "many first-time defendants will choose the better path if we simply get out of their way," emphasizing the importance of supportive, rather than punitive, approaches.
The Fabric of Social Life: Connection, Strangers, and Disagreement
As the seasons shift towards warmer months, the focus often turns to human interaction. Three social psychologists offer insights into our relationships, exploring why we sometimes retreat from social connection and how we can navigate the complexities of interacting with others, even those with whom we disagree.
Nicholas Epley’s A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection addresses the paradox of being a fundamentally social species that often chooses solitude. Epley examines the misplaced pessimism that prevents us from initiating connections, such as a simple greeting. He argues that by overcoming these hesitations, we can unlock significant benefits for our well-being and foster greater connection. This research is timely, given increasing concerns about social isolation and its impact on public health.
Gillian Sandstrom’s Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How “Small” Talk Can Add Up to a Big Life delves into the science of interacting with unfamiliar individuals. Sandstrom shares her own experiences and research, demonstrating how engaging in "small talk" can lead to a richer, more fulfilling life. In an era marked by both hyper-connectivity and growing loneliness, her work provides a compelling case for the value of casual encounters and the potential they hold for enhancing our daily lives.
Julia Minson’s How to Disagree Better tackles the often-feared scenario of encountering disagreement. Minson confronts the reality that avoiding differing viewpoints is both impractical and detrimental to progress. Her work offers strategies for navigating contentious conversations, suggesting that disagreement, when approached constructively, is not an insurmountable obstacle but an essential component of healthy relationships, innovative organizations, and functional societies. The book aims to demystify conflict and empower individuals to engage in more productive dialogue.
A Little More Social by Nicholas Epley
Epley observes that "We are a highly social species uniquely equipped to connect with other people and doing so is better for us. Yet we so often choose to be unsocial." His book provides practical guidance for overcoming this tendency and reaping the benefits of increased social engagement.
Once Upon a Stranger by Gillian Sandstrom
Sandstrom’s research highlights the often-underestimated impact of interacting with strangers. She argues that these encounters can "unlock more joy, curiosity, and goodwill every day," countering the prevailing sentiment that such interactions are superficial or insignificant.
How to Disagree Better by Julia Minson
Minson addresses a critical societal challenge: "We are in a disagreement crisis. The average person would rather go to the dentist than have a twenty-minute conversation with someone that they strongly disagree with." Her book offers a framework for transforming conflict from a source of anxiety into an opportunity for growth and understanding.
The Influence of Place: Environment and Identity Formation
As summer travel beckons, the question of how our surroundings shape us becomes particularly poignant. Engineer and behavioral scientist Leidy Klotz, in In a Good Place: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive, investigates the profound influence of physical environments on our development and well-being. Klotz explores how spaces, from childhood playgrounds to adult workplaces, mold our habits, relationships, and ultimately, our sense of self. The book serves as a reminder that the design and utilization of our physical world have a direct impact on our ability to thrive.
Navigating Life’s Turning Points: Resilience and Transformation
Life is punctuated by significant events that alter our trajectories—often referred to as "cliffs." These moments, whether the end of a career, a health crisis, or profound personal loss, necessitate a reconstitution of self and a reenvisioning of the future.
Jim Collins, in What to Make of a Life: Cliffs, Fog, Fire and the Self-Knowledge Imperative, spent a decade examining individuals who faced similar life-altering events. By analyzing how their paths diverged, Collins offers a framework for understanding how lives are built, sustained, and renewed. He emphasizes that "The odds any of us will complete a life without cliffs are close to zero. Some cliffs are bigger than others, but life is punctuated by cliffs. Cliffs are us."
Cognitive scientist Maya Shankar, in The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans, explores how individuals rebuild their lives in the wake of such upheavals. Her work suggests that moments of change, while challenging, can be opportunities for profound internal transformation. Shankar posits that the stresses of new realities can lead to the discovery of latent abilities, new perspectives, and redefined values, ultimately reshaping who we are.
What to Make of a Life by Jim Collins
Collins’ research draws from a diverse range of individuals, including musicians, public figures, activists, and athletes. He identifies recurring patterns in how people navigate major life transitions, offering actionable insights for resilience and self-renewal.
The Other Side of Change by Maya Shankar
Shankar’s perspective encourages a reframing of change: "What if we saw moments of upheaval as an opportunity to reimagine who we can be, rather than as something to just endure?" This outlook emphasizes the potential for growth and positive transformation that can emerge from adversity.
Forthcoming Insights: A Glimpse into the Fall’s Intellectual Landscape
Beyond the current season’s releases, several significant works are slated for publication this fall, promising further contributions to the field of behavioral science.
Martin Seligman’s Agency: The Psychological History of Human Progress, scheduled for September 8th, will explore the concept of agency as a primary driver of human progress. Seligman posits that shifts in this psychological state have historically influenced innovation and societal development, challenging purely geographical, sociological, or economic explanations.
Sherry Turkle’s Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines, expected on September 29th, delves into our evolving relationship with artificial intelligence. Turkle examines how our increasing reliance on conversational technology shapes our social behaviors and potentially diminishes our capacity for genuine human connection and resilience in the face of life’s uncertainties.
Jared Diamond’s Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings: (When) Do Leaders Matter? will be released on September 1st. Diamond scrutinizes the influence of leaders across various domains—history, business, sport, and religion—to determine the conditions under which their impact is most significant.
Angela Duckworth’s Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best, also due on September 1st, will focus on the environmental and social factors that contribute to individual success. Duckworth’s research highlights the critical role of peer groups, mentors, and even geographical location in shaping our potential and performance.
These upcoming releases underscore the continued dynamism of behavioral science, promising fresh perspectives on enduring questions about human nature, societal progress, and our place in the world.
