About the Authors

 

Two different versions of of the book cover. 

The book, Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Network and How They Shape Our Lives was thoroughly crafted by authors Nicholas A. Christakis and James H. Fowler. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of how and why people are connected to each other. Both authors come together offering their areas of expertise to create a thoughtful and meaningful book that causes readers to open their eyes to the world around them. Nicholas Christakis is a physician and social scientist while James Fowler considers himself a political scientist. Christakis is a professor of medical sociology at Harvard Medical School and Fowler also studied at Harvard and is now an associate professor at University of California, San Diego. Overall, both authors are widely acclaimed in their fields of study so it seems only fitting that they would join together to compose a book filled with research and arguments concerning connections that exist around the world.

Nicholas A. Christakis (left) and James H. Fowler, authors of the book Connected pose for a picture together. 

Certain aspects that the authors explore may be obvious to the reader. For example, the fact that people meet their spouses through their friends and family is a concept that anyone could figure out on their own without reading the book. Another well-known fact that they explore is the fact that a smile is contagious. However what makes their book so captivating is the fact that they explore not only the fact that a smile is contagious but that emotions are contagious as well and can spread easily. In addition, their book is very well researched and filled with a tremendous amount of facts and footnotes. Nevertheless, the constant reference to facts and numbers can get slightly repetitive and dull at times. There is no doubt that the book you are reading is not fully explored and researched. A reviewer by the name of Michael Bond comments on the larger impacts Christakis and Fowler’s book may have on the way the world currently operates. He comments, “Given how triggers for illness (smoking and eating habits, for example) and for well-being (positive moods) radiate through social networks, should health authorities consider the effect of treatments on whole networks rather than on individuals alone?” Bond is suggesting that Connected could be revolutionary and cause the way the medical field currently operates to be changed over time. Overall, Christakis and Fowler do a remarkable job exposing people to realities that they are surrounded by each and every day.