We live in enormously divisive times. Divisions based on class, politics, race, religion, gender, and nationality are erupting around the globe. The consequences of not having a sense of belonging range from political strife to illness to underperformance at work and in the classroom. In 2020, 40% of each political party said that supporters of the opposition party were “downright evil.” In 2019, hate crimes reached a 10-year high in the U.S.
Americans have become disconnected from their communities. About one in five Americans suffers from chronic loneliness, especially young adults. How did we end up so divided and alienated? Why is our sense of belonging so undermined? What if there were a set of science-backed techniques for navigating modern social life that could help us overcome our differences, create empathy, and forge lasting connections across divides?
To tackle all of this, I wanted to turn to Stanford University Professor Geoffrey L. Cohen. His new book BELONGING: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides is out September 13, and available to pre-order now.
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