The Art and Science of Connection

In SOCIAL HEALTH, psychologist Kasley Killam explains how good health isn''t just mental or physical: having close connections and community are as beneficial for us as healthy foods, regular exercise and a good night''s sleep. Through scientific insights, personal stories, and expert interviews, Killam will invite readers to discover what social health looks like for them. With a combination of experience and original research, Killam demonstrates how to establish an optimal balance between social activity and alone time for introverts and extroverts alike. She also explores some of the astonishing benefits that can come when we work to improve our social connections, including stronger immunity, slower cognitive decline, reduced inflammation and a longer lifespan. With data-driven tools for improving our social health, Killam''s book reveals the wealth of benefits we unlock when we connect with each other.

Auteur

A social scientist by training, Kasley Killam earned a master's at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a bachelor's at Queen's University in Canada, and professional certificates from Stanford Business School and Columbia University. In past roles, she oversaw a national community engagement strategy and partnerships for Verily, the health tech sister-company to Google; conducted research on mental health at Queen's University and positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania; and developed an award-winning campaign to promote empathy and kindness through technology.

Kasley has been featured in the New York Times, Scientific American and Washington Post, among other outlets, and she writes the Social Health Blog for Psychology Today. She is a sought-after keynote speaker, regularly giving talks for audiences at Google, Stanford University, Harvard University, the World Economic Forum, and various organizations, conferences, and podcasts.

Texte du rabat

A groundbreaking redefinition of what it means to be healthy that introduces the need for social health - the part of wellbeing that comes from feeling connected - to truly flourish.

Exercise. Eat a balanced diet. Go to therapy. Most wellness advice is focused on achieving and maintaining good physical and mental health. But Harvard-trained social scientist and pioneering social health expert Kasley Killam reveals that this approach is missing a vital component: human connection.

Relationships not only make us happier, but also are critical to our overall health and longevity. Research shows that people with a strong sense of belonging are 2.6 times more likely to report good or excellent health. Perhaps even more astonishingly, people who lack social support are up to 53% more likely to die from any cause. Yet social health has been overlooked and underappreciated - until now.

Just as we exercise our physical muscles, we can strengthen our social muscles. Weaving together cutting-edge science, mindset shifts, and practical wisdom, Killam offers the first methodology for how to be socially healthy. An antidote to the loneliness epidemic and an inspiring manifesto for seeing wellbeing as not only physical and mental, but also social, The Art and Science of Connection is a handbook for thriving.
In this essential book, you will:

• Learn a simple yet powerful framework to understand, evaluate, and bolster your social health.
• Discover the exact strategy or habit you need, as well as research-backed tips, to cultivate and sustain meaningful connection now and throughout your life.
• Glean actionable insights to develop a sense of community in your neighbourhood, at work, and online from a spirited group of neighbours in Paris, the CEO of a major healthcare company, and an artificially intelligent chatbot.
• Get an insider look at the innovative ways that doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, architects, government leaders, and everyday people are catalysing a movement toward a more socially healthy society.

The Art and Science of Connection will transform the way you think about each interaction with a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbour, and give you the tools you need to live a more connected and healthy life - whether you are an introvert or extrovert, if you feel stretched thin, and no matter your age or background. Along the way, Killam will reveal how a university student, a newlywed, a working professional, and a retired widow overcame challenges to thrive through connection-and how you can, too.