Reviews
"The benefits of the digital age have been oversold. Or to put it another way: there is plenty of life left in face-to-face, human interaction. That is the message emerging from this entertaining book by Susan Pinker, a Canadian psychologist. Citing a wealth of research and reinforced with her own arguments, Pinker suggests we should make an effort--at work and in our private lives--to promote greater levels of personal intimacy." -- Financial Times "Drawing on scores of psychological and sociological studies, [Pinker] suggests that living as our ancestors did, steeped in face-to-face contact and physical proximity, is the key to health, while loneliness is ''less an exalted existential state than a public health risk.'' That her point is fairly obvious doesn''t diminish its importance; smart readers will take the book out to a park to enjoy in the company of others." -- The Boston Globe "A hopeful, warm guide to living more intimately in an disconnected era . . . Pinker explores the powerful effects of face-to-face contact in our increasingly computer-mediated world. While the benefits of human contact may seem like common sense, Pinker''s witty and informative book reveals a far more complex picture of these interactions. It may not surprise readers that having a web of friends and acquaintances makes both job-hunting and surviving the death of a spouse more palatable. But the biological effects that come from the community, and daily interactions with friends, partners, and parents are much less familiar." -- Publishers Weekly "A terrific book . . . Susan Pinker makes a hardheaded case for a softhearted virtue. Read this book. Then talk about it--in person!--with a friend." --Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of Drive and To Sell Is Human "What do Sardinian men, Trader Joe''s employees, and nuns have in common? Real social networks--though not the kind you''ll find on Facebook or Twitter. Susan Pinker''s delightful book shows why face-to-face interaction at home, school, and work makes us healthier, smarter, and more successful." --Charles Duhigg, New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business "Provocative and engaging . . . Pinker is a great storyteller and a thoughtful scholar. This is an important book, one that will shape how we think about the increasingly virtual world we all live in." --Paul Bloom, author of Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil "A fascinating, nuanced study of that most fundamental need: the need for human connection." --Maria Konnikova, New York Times bestselling author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes " The Village Effect is a fascinating explanation of why we need regular contact with people, not just screens--and why time spent with your neighbors will enrich and extend your life in ways you never imagined." --John Tierney, New York Times bestselling co-author of Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength "With a raft of surprising data, this compulsively readable, lively and meticulously researched book shows that direct and frequent human contact is at least as important to our survival as clean air or good nutrition." --Christina Hoff Sommers, author of Freedom Feminism: Its Surprising History and Why It Matters Today "For those who look forward to life with cool robots, think again. Pinker shows us that crucial personal interactions are essential to true human feelings. The Village Effect is brilliant and compelling." --Michael Gazzaniga, professor of psychology, director of the SAGE Center for the Study of Mind at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Advance praise for The Village Effect "A terrific book . . . Susan Pinker makes a hardheaded case for a softhearted virtue. Read this book. Then talk about it--in person!--with a friend." --Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of Drive and To Sell Is Human "What do Sardinian men, Trader Joe's employees, and nuns have in common? Real social networks--though not the kind you'll find on Facebook or Twitter. Susan Pinker's delightful book shows why face-to-face interaction at home, school, and work makes us healthier, smarter, and more successful." --Charles Duhigg, New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business "Provocative and engaging . . . Pinker is a great storyteller and a thoughtful scholar. This is an important book, one that will shape how we think about the increasingly virtual world we all live in." --Paul Bloom, author of Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil "A fascinating, nuanced study of that most fundamental need: the need for human connection." --Maria Konnikova, New York Times bestselling author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes " The Village Effect is a fascinating explanation of why we need regular contact with people, not just screens--and why time spent with your neighbors will enrich and extend your life in ways you never imagined." --John Tierney, New York Times bestselling co-author of Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength "With a raft of surprising data, this compulsively readable, lively and meticulously researched book shows that direct and frequent human contact is at least as important to our survival as clean air or good nutrition." --Christina Hoff Sommers, author of Freedom Feminism: Its Surprising History and Why It Matters Today "For those who look forward to life with cool robots, think again. Pinker shows us that crucial personal interactions are essential to true human feelings. The Village Effect is brilliant and compelling." --Michael Gazzaniga, professor of psychology, director of the SAGE Center for the Study of Mind at the University of California, Santa Barbara
