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Why Brains Need Friends
- Author
- Dr. Ben Rein
- Narrator
- Ben Rein
- Publisher
- Quercus
- Publish Date
- 14 October 2025
- Run Time
- 6 hours 37 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
'A must-read for anyone who wants to feel better and live longer, one conversation at a time!' - Dr. Karan Rajan, author of This Book May Save Your Life
From your morning coffee order, to weaving through passengers on the train, sitting through tense work meetings, riding in a packed elevator, attending a happy hour with colleagues, or relaxing on the couch with family, every day is filled with social interactions that nurture and support your brain's health. Whether mundane or extraordinary, they collectively make up the 'social diet' that you feed your brain, that influences your well-being, shapes your experience, and, done right, even lengthens your life.
In an age of isolation, WHY BRAINS NEED FRIENDS is a neuroscience-backed guide to social interactions, drawing insights from the world of science to help you understand the biology behind your relationships, reconsider the value of companionship, and build a healthier, happier, and more connected life. It's not just what you feed your brain that matters - it's who.
Critics Review
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An exquisite book that reminds us our minds aren't soloists but symphony players: we are wired for connection.
David Eagleman, PhD, author of Incognito and Livewired
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A friendly exploration of the psychology and neuroscience of why we are better together.
Lisa Genova, PhD, author of Still Alice and Remember
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A must-read for anyone who wants to feel better and live longer, one conversation at a time!
Dr. Karan Rajan, author of This Book May Save Your Life
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Read this because it will make you better understand yourself. But read it too because it will help you navigate our very human path across the complicated social web of our life on Earth.
Deborah Blum, author of The Poisoner’s Handbook
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This book is a beautiful example of Rein doing what he does best: making science clear, interpretable, and meaningful for everyone.
Robert Malenka, MD, PhD, Deputy Director, Stanford University Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
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Why Brains Need Friends may be just the antidote our increasingly disconnected world needs. We all want to live well longer-this promises to be one of the most important books you will read to achieve that goal
Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD, Chief Director of the Center for BrainHealth, UT Dallas
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Dr. Ben Rein
- Narrator
- Ben Rein
- Duration
- 6 hours 37 minutes
- Release Date
- 14 October 2025
- ISBN
- 9781529438642
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Quercus
- Genre
- Neurosciences, Cognition and cognitive psychology, Psychopharmacology, Popular psychology, Coping with / advice about personal, social and health topics
Synopsis
'An exquisite book that reminds us our minds aren't soloists but symphony players: we are wired for connection.' - David Eagleman, PhD, author of Incognito and Livewired'A must-read for anyone who wants to feel better and live longer, one conversation at a time!' - Dr. Karan Rajan, author of This Book May Save Your LifeFrom your morning coffee order, to weaving through passengers on the train, sitting through tense work meetings, riding in a packed elevator, attending a happy hour with colleagues, or relaxing on the couch with family, every day is filled with social interactions that nurture and support your brain's health. Whether mundane or extraordinary, they collectively make up the 'social diet' that you feed your brain, that influences your well-being, shapes your experience, and, done right, even lengthens your life.In an age of isolation, WHY BRAINS NEED FRIENDS is a neuroscience-backed guide to social interactions, drawing insights from the world of science to help you understand the biology behind your relationships, reconsider the value of companionship, and build a healthier, happier, and more connected life. It's not just what you feed your brain that matters - it's who.
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