In the early 1960s scientists at the University of California Berkeley set out to establish
the key factors effecting health and longevity. Their results known as the ?Alameda 7' you
already know: don't smoke drink in moderation sleep seven to eight hours a night exercise
eat regular meals maintain a moderate weight eat breakfast. Years later however the same
team discovered an eighth factor one that proved more important than all the others: social
connection. When we form meaningful bonds with others our wounds heal faster we shake off
infections more quickly and our blood pressure drops. We are less likely to have Alzheimer's
heart attacks or strokes. When people feel that they have strong social support they perform
better on tests of mental focus memory and problem solving. Greater connection can fuel
creativity increase our financial stability and enhance our work productivity. But making
friends can also be daunting. In The Laws of Connection David Robson does two important
things: he takes us through the fascinating science behind the effects of social connection and
he unpacks the research that shows that we are all better at being social than we might think.
We will meet ideas such as ?the liking gap' and ?the gratitude gap' learn to recognise
?frenemies' and discover a powerful conversational strategy known as the ?fast-friends
procedure' that promotes instant rapport. Being social doesn't have to mean having dozens of
friends it can also mean having one true deep connection with another person. As Robson shows
we can all benefit from the laws of connection.
