Human beings have succeeded as the most dominant species on earth in large part due to our ability to connect and cooperate, and to innovate through collaboration and specialisation. This has fine-tuned our unconscious perception of faces, facial expressions, body language and touch. This unconscious drive to connect can draw us together, but it also emphasizes the differences between groups. And it is getting worse, as overcrowding, technology, and the media often focus us on our differences. We become more and more divided into groups as a result. Mark shows us how to recapture the drive for connection to help us look past our differences and reconnect, even with those we perceive to be outside our groups. He starts by discussing the human brain’s specialisation for connection and how it evolved. He focuses on how connection works in practice, then explores the negative consequences of our drive for connection. He ends with a positive perspective by examining how we can use our drive for connection to expand our in-group and extend multicultural societies for the good of our planet.
Mark A. Williams, PhD, is a professor of cognitive neuroscience with over 25 years’ experience conducting behavioural and brain imaging research. Mark has published more than 70 scientific articles and received numerous high-profile fellowships and grants. He has made many TV and radio appearances to discuss topics including emotions, technology, education, racism, and even why we can’t tickle ourselves. His research has been featured in outlets globally including The New York Times, The Economist, The Guardian and New Scientist . He lives in Australia.
Introduction Part I: Humans as a Connected Species 1 A Very Short History of Us 2 Why We Think without Knowing 3 Identifying People 4 A Puppet on a String Part II: How Does Connection Work? 5 We Are Pack Animals 6 Connected to Learn 7 Home-Cooked Meal for the Soul Part III: The Negative Consequences of Our Drive to Connect 8 Racism, Sexism, and Other -Isms 9 Viral Viruses 10 A Crowded Room 11 Modern Technology Thrives on Connection Part IV: How Can We Fix It? 12 Common Humanity Perspective 13 Get Real 14 Connected Development 15 The Future for the Connected Species
* Debut Australian author writing in the tradition of Norman Doidge and Rutger Bregman. * Addresses both the theoretical and practical issues around modern disconnection. * Chapter hints on reconnecting, the dangers of social media and improving mental health etc
Publicity:
* Strong PR campaign, utilising author profile, incl mainstream print and radio interviews with author.
* Multiple book launch events.
* Promotional materials available on request (posters, postcards, etc).
