|
Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection | 
 enlarge | Authors: John T. Cacioppo, William Patrick
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Category: Book
List Price: $25.95
Buy New: $15.00
You Save: $10.95 (42%)
New (21) Used (9) from $15.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 2888
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.5 x 1
ISBN: 0393061701
Dewey Decimal Number: 155.92
EAN: 9780393061703
ASIN: 0393061701
Publication Date: August 25, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
A pioneering neuroscientist reveals the reasons for loneliness and what to do about it.
John T. Cacioppo's groundbreaking research topples one of the pillars of modern medicine and psychology: the focus on the individual as the unit of inquiry. By employing brain scans, monitoring blood pressure, and analyzing immune function, he demonstrates the overpowering influence of social context—a factor so strong that it can alter DNA replication. He defines an unrecognized syndrome—chronic loneliness—brings it out of the shadow of its cousin depression, and shows how this subjective sense of social isolation uniquely disrupts our perceptions, behavior, and physiology, becoming a trap that not only reinforces isolation but can also lead to early death. He gives the lie to the Hobbesian view of human nature as a "war of all against all," and he shows how social cooperation is, in fact, humanity's defining characteristic. Most important, he shows how we can break the trap of isolation for our benefit both as individuals and as a society. 12 illustrations.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Interesting September 3, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection summarizes thirty years of work by John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago and his colleagues.
Reading this book was not always a good time. I found myself feeling sad at times while reading the book, but the authors through in enough humor to lighten the tone.
Though it can be hard to get through at times, people can learn a lot from this book. The authors use a step-by-step approach to reducing a person's loneliness. It is worth the read.
Shedding light on the pain that is loneliness... August 18, 2008
18 out of 20 found this review helpful
From http://www.laurafreberg.com/blog
I just finished reading Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection, which is coming out towards the end of August. The book summarizes, in very accessible terms, thirty years of work by John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago and his colleagues.
It's initially hard to get past the title. William Patrick, John's coauthor, relates how a friend reading an early manuscript found the word "loneliness" to be disturbing, even more so than "rape," "murder," or "death." This reaction fits perfectly with the major theme of the book-we humans are a very social bunch, and being cut off from other people, as in solitary confinement, might be the very worst punishment of all.
What I especially liked about the book is the constant, seamless integration of what we call "perspectives" in psychology, harkening back to William James. In other words, the neuroscience, social psychology, and cognitive science is all woven together so that you get the big picture. In other writing, John has compared psychology to a symphony, with the different perspectives contributing to the whole of our understanding just as the score, musicians, instruments, and conductor join together to produce fantastic music. He and William have definitely succeeded in bringing this integration to the study of loneliness. Given the all-too-frequent Balkanization of psychology into little subdomains, this approach is refreshing and informative.
Like William's friend, I found myself feeling sad at times while reading the book. I don't consider myself a lonely person, as I am blessed by having a close family and good friends. But I know a lot of lonely people, and reading the various case studies brought these people to mind in a vivid way. The sad mood lifted, however, when John would throw in some of his modest and self-deprecating humor, as in his description of his trip to "Grenada." Enough said. You need to read the book to find out the rest.
In spite of the sober topic, I think many people will jump at the chance to learn more from this book. My mother-in-law, over at our house for lunch, snatched up my copy and asked to borrow it. My daughters are pre-ordering theirs on Amazon. Kristin has mentioned that loneliness is such a huge issue for her soldiers, not only while they deploy, but even more so when they return to families who can't begin to relate to the things they've seen and done in combat. She's hoping that John will take a look at the vulnerability of soldiers to PTSD as a function of their initial loneliness scores, following up on research listed on the Loneliness site.
Best of all, the authors do not stop after describing the origins and implications of loneliness. Instead, there is a careful, thoughtful, step-by-step approach to reducing one's own loneliness. Following the recommended steps is never presented as a magic bullet, or a quick fix, but just a practical way, grounded in good science, to move from point A to point B. No matter how lonely or not lonely you feel, there are suggestions here to make the social aspects of life more meaningful.
Finally, I'd like to end by pointing out that these authors really do practice what they preach. The website for Loneliness has a menu feature called "socialize." In one of the blog entries, William Patrick describes how John insisted that he should be a "full co-author," instead of receiving his usual credits.
For those of you on Facebook, hope you join the Science of Loneliness group. There's something inherently ironic about that statement, but I hope to see you there soon. --Laura Freberg
Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
