About the book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
With unequaled insight and brio, New York Times columnist David Brooks has long explored and explained the way we live. Now Brooks turns to the building blocks of human flourishing in a multilayered, profoundly illuminating work grounded in everyday life. This is the story of how success happens, told through the lives of one composite American couple, Harold and Erica. Drawing on a wealth of current research from numerous disciplines, Brooks takes Harold and Erica from infancy to old age, illustrating a fundamental new understanding of human nature along the way: The unconscious mind, it turns out, is not a dark, vestigial place, but a creative one, where most of the brain’s work gets done. This is the realm where character is formed and where our most important life decisions are made—the natural habitat of The Social Animal. Brooks reveals the deeply social aspect of our minds and exposes the bias in modern culture that overemphasizes rationalism, individualism, and IQ. He demolishes conventional definitions of success and looks toward a culture based on trust and humility. The Social Animal is a moving intellectual adventure, a story of achievement and a defense of progress. It is an essential book for our time—one that will have broad social impact and will change the way we see ourselves and the world.
Editions of The Social Animal
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781400067602
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780812979374
- EBook
- ISBN 9780679603931
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780307739032
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780307739018
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780307739025
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780307739001
Read an Excerpt
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
With unequaled insight and brio, New York Times columnist David Brooks has long explored and explained the way we live. Now Brooks turns to the building blocks of human flourishing in a multilayered, profoundly illuminating work grounded in everyday life. This is the story of how success happens, told through the lives of one composite American couple, Harold and Erica. Drawing on a wealth of current research from numerous disciplines, Brooks takes Harold and Erica from infancy to old age, illustrating a fundamental new understanding of human nature along the way: The unconscious mind, it turns out, is not a dark, vestigial place, but a creative one, where most of the brain’s work gets done. This is the realm where character is formed and where our most important life decisions are made—the natural habitat of The Social Animal. Brooks reveals the deeply social aspect of our minds and exposes the bias in modern culture that overemphasizes rationalism, individualism, and IQ. He demolishes conventional definitions of success and looks toward a culture based on trust and humility. The Social Animal is a moving intellectual adventure, a story of achievement and a defense of progress. It is an essential book for our time—one that will have broad social impact and will change the way we see ourselves and the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Social Animal about?
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
With unequaled insight and brio, New York Times columnist David Brooks has long explored and explained the way we live. Now Brooks turns to the building blocks of human flourishing in a multilayered, profoundly illuminating work grounded in everyday life. This is the story of how success happens, told through the lives of one composite American couple, Harold and Erica. Drawing on a wealth of current research from numerous disciplines, Brooks takes Harold and Erica from infancy to old age, illustrating a fundamental new understanding of human nature along the way: The unconscious mind, it turns out, is not a dark, vestigial place, but a creative one, where most of the brain’s work gets done. This is the realm where character is formed and where our most important life decisions are made—the natural habitat of The Social Animal. Brooks reveals the deeply social aspect of our minds and exposes the bias in modern culture that overemphasizes rationalism, individualism, and IQ. He demolishes conventional definitions of success and looks toward a culture based on trust and humility. The Social Animal is a moving intellectual adventure, a story of achievement and a defense of progress. It is an essential book for our time—one that will have broad social impact and will change the way we see ourselves and the world.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Social Animal?
Society and Social Sciences > Sociology and anthropology > Sociology
Where can I read a sample of The Social Animal?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781400067602
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Social Animal?
David Brooks
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Social Animal is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781400067602) and paperback(ISBN 9780812979374) and ebook(ISBN 9780679603931) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780307739032) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780307739018) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780307739025) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780307739001)
Where can I buy The Social Animal online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Social Animal from below
Where can I buy The Social Animal?