In their book titled "Connected", authors Nicholas A. Christakis and James H. Fowler present explosive new evidence that social networks influence every aspect of our lives: how we feel, how much money we make, who we are likely to marry, whether we will get sick or ultimately go to vote - everything about us is related to what others around us do, feel, and think.
The book explains that our world is governed by the Rule of Three Degrees of Influence: we are influenced and influenced by people who are up to three degrees of separation from us, most of whom we do not even know. For example, your friend's friend's friend has a greater impact on your happiness than a bulging wallet in your pocket. Social networks are the basis of our economic scandals, our dietary slips, substance abuse, and suicide epidemics, but also our voting behavior, innovation, altruism, and "random acts of kindness."
Provocative, insightful, entertaining, and useful, "Connected" explains why emotions are contagious, how obesity spreads, why the rich get richer, and much more. Challenging the notion of individual primacy, the book proposes a revolutionary new idea: that we are unconsciously guided by the people who surround us, like birds in a flock moving in complete harmony.
"Connected" is a book that will forever change the way you see others - and yourself.