How To Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Road to Character and The Second Mountain offers a practical, heartfelt guide to the art of truly knowing another person in order to foster deeper connections at home, at work, and throughout our lives. He draws from the fields of psychology and neuroscience, as well as theatre, history, and education, to present a welcoming, hopeful, integrated approach to human connection. The act of seeing another person is a profoundly creative act, and the book is for anyone searching for connection, seeking to understand, and yearning to be understood.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 24 October 2023
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

A comprehensive and empathetic guide to cultivating deeper connections with others in various aspects of life, from the acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author of "The Road to Character" and "The Second Mountain."

Understanding others is paramount if you wish to care for them. Similarly, when hiring, marrying, or befriending someone, it is essential to possess the ability to see them. Working closely with others necessitates the ability to make them feel valued, heard, and understood. As David Brooks astutely observes, "The older I get, the more I come to the certainty that there is one skill at the center of any healthy family, company, classroom, community, or nation: the ability to see each other, to know other people, to make them feel valued, heard, and understood."

However, despite our inherent capacity for connection, we often fall short in this regard. Many individuals around us feel invisible, unseen, and misunderstood. In his enlightening book, "How to Know a Person," Brooks aims to empower us to improve our ability to connect with others, posing essential questions that apply to us all. If you aspire to know a person, what type of attention should you pay to them? What kind of conversations should you engage in? What aspects of a person's story should you focus on?

Driven by his insatiable curiosity, Brooks draws upon the fields of psychology and neuroscience, as well as the realms of theatre, history, and education, to present a warm, hopeful, and integrated approach to human connection. "How to Know a Person" serves as a valuable tool for readers to enhance their understanding and consideration towards others, leading to the immense joy of being seen. Along the journey, it offers a potential solution to a society plagued by fragmentation, hostility, and misperception.

According to Brooks, the act of seeing another person is a profoundly creative endeavor. He encourages us to look beyond surface appearances and delve into the deeper dimensions of individuals. By doing so, we can gain a deeper appreciation for their unique perspectives, experiences, and emotions. This kind of empathetic understanding fosters empathy, compassion, and a sense of belonging, which are essential ingredients for building strong and meaningful relationships.

In conclusion, "How to Know a Person" is a must-read for anyone seeking to deepen their connections with others. By embracing the principles outlined in this book, we can cultivate a more compassionate and inclusive society where individuals feel valued, heard, and understood. Let us embark on this transformative journey together and create a world where human connection thrives and brings joy to all.

Weight: 516g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241670293