Your Brain on Altruism: The Power of Connection and Community During Times of Crisis

In an era when "self-care" often revolves around consumption and profit, a health and science journalist emphasizes the genuine health advantages of a culture of caring.

Helping others can enhance our physical and mental well-being, boost resilience, and nurture a sense of fulfillment and connection beyond crises. In Your Brain on Altruism, health and science journalist Nicole Karlis delves into the science behind generosity and the benefits of fostering a culture of care for our health. She explores cutting-edge research on the sociology and psychology of altruism, revealing how acts of kindness during crises--such as COVID-19, natural disasters, and wars--inspire people to set aside differences and help one another.

Through interviews with innovators creating infrastructures for social connection--from a former entrepreneur leading a social prescribing movement, to doctors prescribing volunteer work and acts of kindness--Karlis shows how we all can contribute to cultivating kindness. A powerful call for a culture of caring, this book urges us to see taking care of one another as a social strength. By embracing this mindset and viewing ourselves as stewards of kindness, we can combat the epidemic of loneliness and build a more compassionate and resilient society.

Author: Nicole Karlis
Publisher: University of California Press
Published: 03/11/2025
Pages: 238
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.70d
ISBN13: 9780520397606
ISBN10: 0520397606
BISAC Categories:
- Psychology | Social Psychology
- Social Science | Sociology | General
- Social Science | Activism & Social Justice

About the Author
Nicole Karlis is a health and science journalist. Her work has been published in Salon, The New York Times, Marie Claire, and The Bold Italic.