Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives

Nicholas A. Christakis, James H. Fowler

Little, Brown, Sep 28, 2009 - Social Science - 388 pages

Your colleague's husband's sister can make you fat, even if you don't know her. A happy neighbor has more impact on your happiness than a happy spouse. These startling revelations of how much we truly influence one another are revealed in the studies of Drs. Christakis and Fowler, which have repeatedly made front-page news nationwide.

In CONNECTED, the authors explain why emotions are contagious, how health behaviors spread, why the rich get richer, even how we find and choose our partners. Intriguing and entertaining, CONNECTED overturns the notion of the individual and provides a revolutionary paradigm-that social networks influence our ideas, emotions, health, relationships, behavior, politics, and much more. It will change the way we think about every aspect of our lives.

What people are saying

Review: Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives

User Review  - Joe - Goodreads

For some reason I thought this book might have something to say about how digital technology is changing our connections with one another. It doesn't. It's a popularized overview of network theory ...

Review: Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives

User Review  - Chris - Goodreads

Humans are social creatures, rarely existing in complete isolation. We live in relationship to each other; we shape and are shaped by each other; you have influence over those around you--even those ...

About the author

Nicholas A. Christakis, M.D., Ph.D., is an associate professor of medicine and sociology at the University of Chicago.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives
• Authors: Nicholas A. Christakis, James H. Fowler
• Publisher: Little, Brown, 2009
• ISBN: 031607134X, 9780316071345
• Length: 388 pages
• Subjects: Psychology / Social Psychology; Social Science / Sociology / General