From birth to death, humans are hardwired to connect to other human beings. Face-to-face contact matters: limited bonds of companionship and like heal us, help children learn, extend our lives, and make us happy. Looser in-person bonds matter too, combining with our close relationships to create an individual ‘village’ around us, one that exerts unique effects.

Marrying the findings of the brand new discipline of social neuroscience as well as gripping human stories, Susan Pinker explores the influence of face-to-face get in touch with from cradle to grave, from city to Sardinian mountain village, from classroom to workplace, from want to marriage to divorce. Just about everyone has remaining the literal community behind and don’t want to give up our new technologies to return now there. But, as Pinker writes therefore compellingly, we need close cultural bonds and uninterrupted face time with this friends and family members to be able to thrive-even to survive. Creating our very own ‘village impact’ could make us more happy. It can also conserve our lives.