Available as Hardback, eBook, Downloadable audio
Award-winning science journalist and author of The Expectation Effect David Robson explores why social connection matters even more than we thought, how to build better relationships and improve our lives
A THE TIMES BEST SELF-HELP BOOK OF 2024
A WATERSTONES BEST POPULAR SCIENCE BOOK OF 2024
In the early 1960s scientists at the University of California, Berkeley set out to establish the key factors affecting health and longevity. Their results, known as the ‘Alameda 7’, you already know: don’t smoke, drink in moderation, sleep seven to eight hours a night, exercise, eat regular meals, maintain a moderate weight, eat breakfast. Years later, however, the same team discovered an eighth factor, one that proved more important than all the others: social connection.
When we form meaningful bonds with others, our wounds heal faster, we shake off infections more quickly and our blood pressure drops. We are less likely to have Alzheimer’s, heart attacks or strokes. When people feel that they have strong social support, they perform better on tests of mental focus, memory and problem solving. Greater connection can fuel creativity, increase our financial stability and enhance our work productivity. But making friends can also be daunting.
In The Laws of Connection, David Robson does two important things: he takes us through the fascinating science behind the effects of social connection and he unpacks the research that shows that we are all better at being social than we might think. We meet ideas such as ‘the liking gap’ and ‘the gratitude gap’, learn to recognise ‘frenemies’ and discover a powerful conversational strategy known as the ‘fast-friends procedure’ that promotes instant rapport. Being social doesn’t have to mean having dozens of friends, it can also mean having one true, deep connection with another person. As Robson shows, we can all benefit from the laws of connection.
“In this rigorous and clearly written blend of research and practical tips, Robson makes the case that social contact is not just a nice-to-have in life, it is essential for our survival. The book offers reassurance to those who do not consider themselves to be a “people person”… Full of wisdom and practical suggestions, the book is packed with useful information I had not read before”
the Times
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“In a world where we’re inundated with articles telling us how to optimise our lives, The Laws of Connection is packed with practical, achievable and science-backed tips to help enhance our social worlds”
inews
“A fresh reminder of what most of us know but too quickly forget: there are few things more important in this life than how we forge ties to other humans”
Natasha Lunn
red
“Science writer David Robson has encouraging news for those who struggle to create meaningful bonds with others. The book’s tone is upbeat [and] his claims are rooted in recent studies in psychology and neuroscience”
wall Street Journal
”The Laws of Connection is a beautiful trip through the science of human belonging, it is also profoundly useful for everyone and not just those who consider themselves lacking in social connection. David’s book is both brilliantly fascinating and hugely recommended”
Will Storr
David Robson
David Robson is an award-winning science writer. His first book, The Intelligence Trap, has been translated into 15 languages and his second, The Expectation Effect, won the British Psychological Society Book Award and was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week. Previously an editor at New Scientist and a senior journalist at BBC Future, Robson now writes for the Guardian, Observer, The Times, Wall Street Journal and more.
@d_a_robson | davidrobson.me