Belonging
The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
Finalist for The Next Big Idea Bookclub • Behavioral Scientist and Greater Good Society Book of the Year Selection
"This is perhaps the richest book on belonging you’ll ever read.…The inspiration one draws from every page of this book is an enhanced sense of what is possible. It revives the very thing we need most in these times: hope." —Claude M. Steele, author of Whistling Vivaldi
Discover the secret to flourishing in an age of division: belonging. In a world filled with discord and loneliness, finding harmony and happiness can be difficult. But what if the key to unlocking our potential lies in this deceptively simple concept? Belonging is the feeling of being a part of a group that values, respects, and cares for us—a feeling that we can all cultivate in even the smallest corners of social life. In Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides, Stanford University professor Geoffrey L. Cohen draws on his own and others’ groundbreaking scientific research to offer simple, concrete solutions for fostering a sense of belonging. These solutions can generate surprisingly significant and long-lasting benefits.
Small but powerful actions can bolster belonging—actions such as encouraging people to reflect on their core values before they face a challenge or expressing belief in someone’s capacity to reach a higher standard. A wide range of innovative approaches have been found to boost achievement at work and at school, bridge political divides, reduce prejudice, and even contribute to overall health. Rigorously tested in diverse arenas—from classrooms to disadvantaged neighborhoods to iconic Silicon Valley companies—these methods offer a path forward in these demanding times. Belonging is a compelling read for all who yearn for a more connected world, whether you’re a manager or employee, an educator or student, a parent or caregiver, or simply someone seeking to make the most out of every moment you spend with others. Packed with actionable insights and specific strategies, this book offers hope and practical guidance, serving as both an inspiration and a roadmap to creating a world of inclusion, understanding, and empathy.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Cohen's mixed debut, the Stanford psychology professor lays out a blueprint for cultivating a sense of community. Cohen argues that lacking a sense of belonging drives such social ills as chronic loneliness and toxic partisanship, and suggests that by "creating situations that foster belonging and bring out our individual and collective best" one can increase one's sense of camaraderie. Cohen draws from social science research to lay out "interventions that nurture people's belonging and self-worth" and details studies that found asking young people to work toward common goals with those from other backgrounds reduced prejudice more than instruction alone. The author explains how to address "belonging uncertainty" in education and discusses research he conducted that concluded that supplying students with statistics about how common some of their struggles are and pairing students with mentors increased students' sense of belonging, especially for students of color. This is thoroughly researched, but the study summaries sometimes confuse and feel strung together, repeatedly making the same points. The ideas are provocative and humane, though the execution sometimes comes up short.
