Aloha from Hana! This is one of my favorite places on the planet, and it feels great to be here with D’Aun and two friends. I only wish we were home to see our baby girl return from Thailand! But we’ll be back soon.
Last week I finished a book that a lot of my friends would really enjoy. The Social Animal by David Brooks is a fascinating look at how our emotions and character are formed sub-consciously. Brooks has interviewed and researched countless experts in this field, and his book brings a lot of cutting edge ideas together. There’s a bit of Malcolm Gladwell pop psychology here, but there’s nothing wrong with that if the research is solid. And the research here appears to be first rate.
Of primary interest to the author is the differentiation between the conscious self and the sub-conscious self. How does our inner mind control us in ways we are not even aware? The answers may surprise you, which is probably why this book keeps rising on the NY Times Bestseller list.
Here’s a great quote from the early part of the book:
“If the outer mind highlights the power of the individual, the inner mind highlights the power of relationships and the invisible bonds between people. If the outer mind hungers for status, money, and applause, the inner mind hungers for harmony and connection, those moments when self-consciousness fades away and a person is lost in a challenge, a cause, the love of another, or the love of God.”
The exploration of how our sub-conscioussness controls our perspectives, behavior and feelings is a controversial area of study. And I found things that seemed far fetched in the book. But I really enjoyed it and learned a great deal about human behavior.
So, quick shout out from Hana … if you are looking for a deep book to read that will challenge your understanding of human behavior, this is a must read.
