For those seeking to deepen their understanding of the human mind and the world around us, a diverse and compelling collection of behavioral science books has emerged this year, offering intellectual journeys into consciousness, decision-making, social dynamics, and the very fabric of our existence. This curated selection, compiled by Heather Graci, Editor, and Evan Nesterak, Editor-in-Chief, promises to engage readers throughout the summer months, encouraging exploration of profound mysteries, the power of constraints, the intricate games that define our lives, and the environmental influences that shape our identities.
Delving into Life, Death, and the Enigma of Consciousness
At the heart of human inquiry lie fundamental questions about our origins, our awareness, and our eventual end. Two significant new works tackle these enduring mysteries with profound insight. Maria Popova, in her book Traversal, embarks on a sweeping exploration of what it means to be alive and aware. She posits that "Life begins, with a spark of sentience catalyzed by chemistry and chance, and then it ends, with death. The great mystery is not the fable of what lies beyond. The great mystery is what we make of the wilderness between the bookends." Popova masterfully weaves together the narratives of individuals who, through diverse pursuits ranging from scientific discovery to artistic expression and adventurous exploration, have sought to grapple with these existential questions. Her work highlights the myriad ways humanity has attempted to understand life, death, and personhood across history and disciplines.
Complementing Popova’s exploration, Michael Pollan confronts the "improbable fact—the miracle!—that in this universe of rock and fire and ice and infinite space, we are somehow not only here but aware." His book, A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness, delves into the perplexing nature of consciousness itself. Pollan probes the origins of our awareness, questioning how we are conscious, why we are conscious, and whether consciousness extends beyond the human realm. The convergence of Popova’s and Pollan’s perspectives offers readers a dual lens through which to contemplate their place in the cosmos. Their works are poised to evoke a sense of both grandeur and humility, expanding our appreciation for the vastness of the questions we face while acknowledging the inherent limits of our current understanding.
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Book Spotlight: Traversal by Maria Popova
From the back cover: "What is life? What is death? What makes a body a person? What makes a planet a world? In Traversal, Maria Popova illuminates our various instruments of reckoning with the bewilderment of being alive—our telescopes and our treatises, our postulates and our poems—through the intertwined lives, loves, and legacies of visionaries both celebrated and sidelined by history, people born into the margins of their time and place who lived to write the future." -
Book Spotlight: A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness by Michael Pollan
From the back cover: "When it comes to the phenomenon that is consciousness, there is one point on which scientists, philosophers, and artists all agree: that it feels like something to be us. Yet the fact we have subjective experience of the world remains one of nature’s greatest mysteries. How is it that our mental operations are accompanied by feelings, thoughts, and a sense of self? What would a scientific investigation of our inner life look like, considering we have as little distance and perspective on it as fish do of the sea?"
Rethinking Thought: Constraints, Games, and the Limits of AI
Beyond the existential, this year’s literary offerings also delve into the mechanics of our thinking processes. Three new books challenge conventional wisdom about creativity, motivation, and the future of human intelligence. David Epstein, in Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, argues that the modern obsession with infinite choice can be counterproductive. Epstein, a seasoned journalist, posits that constraints, often perceived as limitations, can in fact serve as powerful catalysts for innovation and deeper problem-solving. He contends that "total freedom can be paralyzing, and unlimited resources don’t necessarily lead to the biggest breakthroughs." This perspective challenges the pervasive notion that more options always equate to better outcomes, suggesting instead that strategically narrowing our focus can unlock significant potential for individuals, businesses, and even societies.
Philosopher C. Thi Nguyen, in The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else’s Game, examines the pervasive influence of game-like structures on our lives. Nguyen explores how scoring systems, prevalent in everything from video games to corporate metrics, shape our values and motivations. He observes that while games can foster engagement and skill development, the pursuit of easily quantifiable metrics can lead us to "outsource our values to an external authority," potentially neglecting more profound, unmeasurable aspects of life. His work prompts a critical examination of the "games" we play daily and whether we are truly in control of their rules and objectives.
Cognitive scientist Tom Griffiths, in The Laws of Thought: The Quest for a Mathematical Theory of the Mind, bridges the gap between computational models and human cognition. Griffiths makes a compelling case for the application of mathematical frameworks to understand the human mind, much like physics governs the physical world. He explores the aspects of human thinking that may remain elusive to artificial intelligence, offering insights that can redefine our self-perception and highlight the unique complexities of human intelligence. By understanding these limitations, we can better appreciate the "cognitive mysteries that set us apart."
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Book Spotlight: Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better by David Epstein
From the back cover: "We live in a world that gives us seemingly infinite choices and prizes freedom above all else. We have an unprecedented number of options regarding what to do, who to be, and how to spend our time. All that choice is wonderful; it is also overwhelming. The irony is that total freedom can be paralyzing, and unlimited resources don’t necessarily lead to the biggest breakthroughs. In fact, overvaluing complete freedom can be disastrous for everything from starting a company to harnessing creativity to finding personal satisfaction. David Epstein argues that all of us—individuals, businesses, institutions, even societies—can benefit from narrowing our options."
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Book Spotlight: The Score: How to Stop Playing Somebody Else’s Game by C. Thi Nguyen
From the back cover: "Games are the most important art form of our era. They embody the spirit of free play. They show us the subtle beauty of action everywhere in life in video games, sports, and board games—but also cooking, gardening, fly-fishing, and running. They remind us that it isn’t always about outcomes, but about how glorious it feels to be doing the thing. And the scoring systems help get us there, by giving us new goals to try on. Scoring systems are also at the center of our corporations and bureaucracies—in the form of metrics and rankings. They tell us exactly how to measure our success. They encourage us to outsource our values to an external authority. And they push on us to value simple, countable things. Metrics don’t capture what really matters; they only capture what’s easy to measure. The price of that clarity is our independence." -
Book Spotlight: The Laws of Thought: The Quest for a Mathematical Theory of the Mind by Tom Griffiths
From the back cover: "Everyone has a basic understanding of how the physical world works. We learn about physics and chemistry in school, letting us explain the world around us in terms of concepts like force, acceleration, and gravity—the Laws of Nature. But we don’t have the same fluency with concepts needed to understand the world inside us—the Laws of Thought. 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."
Data-Driven Morality and the Criminal Justice System
In an era often marked by polarized viewpoints on complex social issues, a data-driven approach to understanding morality and justice is gaining critical traction. Economists Alvin Roth and Jennifer Doleac champion the use of empirical evidence to inform ethical considerations and policy decisions. Nobel laureate Alvin Roth, in Moral Economics: From Prostitution to Organ Sales, What Controversial Transactions Reveal About How Markets Work, applies market principles to contentious social debates. He argues that by conceptualizing divisive issues such as drug policy, abortion, and organ donation as markets, we can uncover innovative pathways toward progress, particularly in situations where traditional approaches have reached an impasse. Roth’s work suggests 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."
Jennifer Doleac, a criminal justice expert, in The Science of Second Chances: A Revolution in Criminal Justice, illuminates the often-unintended consequences of current criminal justice policies. Her research demonstrates that many well-intentioned policies fall short of achieving true justice and can even perpetuate inequity. However, Doleac also offers a hopeful vision, showcasing how scientific inquiry can provide effective solutions where intuition falters. She asserts, "I see a lack of rigor as 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." Doleac’s work provides a data-backed blueprint for reforms aimed at creating a more equitable and effective justice system, emphasizing that "many first-time defendants will choose the better path if we simply get out of their way."
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Book Spotlight: Moral Economics: From Prostitution to Organ Sales, What Controversial Transactions Reveal About How Markets Work by Alvin E. Roth
From the back cover: "Some of the most intractable controversies in our divided society are, at bottom, about what actions and transactions should be banned. . . . Disagreements are fierce because arguments on both sides are often made in uncompromising moral or religious terms. But in Moral Economics, Nobel Prize–winning economist Alvin E. Roth asserts that we can make progress on these and other difficult topics if we view them as markets—tools to help decide who gets what—and understand how those markets can be fine-tuned to be more functional. Markets don’t have to allow everything or ban everything. Prudent market design can find a balance between preserving people’s rights to pursue their own interests and protecting the most vulnerable from harm." -
Book Spotlight: The Science of Second Chances: A Revolution in Criminal Justice by Jennifer Doleac
From the back cover: "When criminal justice expert Jennifer Doleac thinks about reform, she’s not just hopeful, she’s optimistic that second chances are possible—for the justice-involved population and the system as a whole. In The Science of Second Chances, she reveals her powerful approach to reducing crime and incarceration. Drawing on cutting-edge economic research and real-world experiments, the book presents a blueprint for reform that runs all the way through the system . . . From DNA databases that increase the likelihood of catching reoffenders to leniency programs for first-time defendants, she reveals a series of surprising interventions that actually work, along with cautionary tales about great ideas that never panned out."
The Social Fabric: Connection, Conversation, and Disagreement
As summer often brings increased social interaction, three social psychologists offer timely insights into the nature of our relationships. Nicholas Epley, in A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection, explores the paradox of human sociability. Despite being fundamentally social creatures, we frequently opt for solitude. Epley argues that this inclination stems from a "misplaced pessimism" that prevents us from initiating connections. His research suggests that small social overtures, such as speaking to a stranger or expressing gratitude, can yield significant benefits for our well-being and foster richer connections.
Gillian Sandstrom, in Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How “Small” Talk Can Add Up to a Big Life, champions the transformative power of interacting with unfamiliar individuals. Sandstrom recounts the scientific evidence supporting the positive impact of these seemingly minor encounters, sharing how her own life has been enriched by embracing them. In an era grappling with loneliness, her work underscores the profound value of extending our social reach and finding joy in everyday human connections.
Confronting the often-daunting prospect of disagreement, Julia Minson’s How to Disagree Better offers practical strategies for navigating differing viewpoints. Minson acknowledges that "disagreement is both inevitable and essential for everything from navigating decisions at home to running innovative and agile companies to governing democratic societies." Her book provides tools and perspectives to approach contentious conversations constructively, fostering understanding rather than escalating conflict.
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Book Spotlight: A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection by Nicholas Epley
From the back cover: "There is a paradox at the core of human life. 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. We avoid talking to the stranger who sits next to us. We struggle to move beyond small talk with an acquaintance. We are reluctant to express our gratitude to people we appreciate. Every day, we avoid opportunities to connect with strangers, neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family. By missing those moments, we miss out on all the benefits of a more social life—one that is happier and healthier for everyone."
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Book Spotlight: Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How “Small” Talk Can Add Up to a Big Life by Gillian Sandstrom
From the back cover: "Dr. Gillian Sandstrom reveals that by talking to strangers, we can unlock more joy, curiosity, and goodwill every day. In an age when loneliness is a social health crisis and harmful behaviors like groupthink increase our perception of distance and polarization, this transformational guide explains the benefits of stretching our perceived limits and connecting with our fellow humans." -
Book Spotlight: How to Disagree Better by Julia Minson
From the back cover: "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. Yet disagreement is both inevitable and essential for everything from navigating decisions at home to running innovative and agile companies to governing democratic societies."
Shaping and Being Shaped: The Influence of Place and Pivotal Moments
The physical environments we inhabit and the significant life events we experience profoundly shape who we are. Behavioral scientist Leidy Klotz, in In a Good Place: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive, explores the intricate relationship between our surroundings and our well-being. Klotz argues that the spaces we occupy—from our homes and workplaces to recreational areas—influence our habits, relationships, and even our identities. By understanding this dynamic, we can actively design and curate environments that foster thriving.
The concept of life-altering events, termed "cliffs" by author Jim Collins, is explored in two compelling books. Collins, in What to Make of a Life: Cliffs, Fog, Fire and the Self-Knowledge Imperative, dedicates a decade to studying individuals who have navigated significant upheavals. He identifies pairs of people who faced similar "cliffs"—such as career endings, diagnoses, or profound losses—and examines how their paths diverged in the aftermath. His work offers a framework for understanding how lives can be rebuilt and renewed through self-knowledge and strategic adaptation.
Cognitive scientist Maya Shankar, in The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans, delves into the transformative power of major life shifts. Through extensive conversations with individuals who have experienced significant change, Shankar reveals how these upheavals can lead to profound personal growth. She posits that moments of upheaval can be viewed not as burdens to endure, but as opportunities to "reimagine who we can be," uncovering new abilities, perspectives, and values.
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Book Spotlight: In a Good Place: How the Spaces Where We Live, Work, and Play Can Help Us Thrive by Leidy Klotz
From the back cover: "So many books address how to live a good life. This one is about where. Immersing readers in locations from beach huts to modern office layouts, from the backyard where we once played to the college dorm where we forged lifelong bonds, behavioral scientist Leidy Klotz illuminates how our physical environment determines our habits, our relationships, and even who we are."
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Book Spotlight: What to Make of a Life: Cliffs, Fog, Fire and the Self-Knowledge Imperative by Jim Collins
From the back cover: "Two rock musicians confronting a future without the group that had brought them success. Two public figures tainted by scandal having to make decisions about how to rebuild their lives. Two suffragists achieving their epic goal and so left with the puzzle of what to do next. Two figure skaters seeking new purpose when their Olympic careers come to an end. What emerges from Collins’s extensive studies—of writers, actors, scientists, leaders and many others—is a framework for understanding how individual lives can be built, sustained and constantly renewed." -
Book Spotlight: The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans by Maya Shankar
From the back cover: "Shankar invites us to rethink our relationship with change altogether. When a big change happens to us, it can lead to profound change within us. The unique stresses and demands of being thrust into a new reality can lead us to uncover new abilities, perspectives, and values, transforming us in extraordinary ways. What if we saw moments of upheaval as an opportunity to reimagine who we can be, rather than as something to just endure?"
Fall Preview: Anticipating Forthcoming Insights
As the summer reading season progresses, anticipation builds for a quartet of significant releases slated for the fall. Martin Seligman, a pioneer in positive psychology, will explore Agency: The Psychological History of Human Progress. His work posits that agency—the psychological state of feeling in control and capable of influencing outcomes—is a crucial driver of human progress, often overlooked in favor of environmental or economic factors.
Sherry Turkle, renowned for her work on technology and human connection, will release Artificial Intimacy: Who We Become When We Talk to Machines. Turkle examines the evolving relationship between humans and AI, cautioning against the potential erosion of genuine human connection as we increasingly confide in and interact with machines.
Historian Jared Diamond, in Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings: (When) Do Leaders Matter?, will investigate the extent to which individual leaders shape historical trajectories across various domains, including business, sport, and religion.
Finally, Angela Duckworth, author of Grit, will present Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best. Duckworth’s research highlights the critical influence of our immediate environment—our social networks and physical surroundings—on our ability to achieve our best selves, advocating for the proactive shaping of one’s circumstances.
This extensive collection of new books offers a rich tapestry of insights into the human condition, promising to enrich readers’ understanding of themselves and the world throughout the summer and beyond.
