Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World

The compassionate first book from former Surgeon General Murthy draws attention to loneliness as a major public health risk. Drawing on current research and on personal experience as a physician to show how social isolation can exacerbate ailments such as heart disease, as well as mental health issues, Murthy demonstrates that human connection is an innate need. With urgency but not stridence, he argues for a renewed culture of civic engagement to strengthen the “prepolitical layer of voluntary associations” that De Tocqueville identified as cohesive for American life. Rather than people who are experiencing loneliness themselves, Murthy’s intended readership consists of those who want to help, whether as medical professionals, social workers, teachers, or community volunteers. He offers them plenty of encouragement, with success stories from his own experience with patients and from others’ grassroots initiatives. As an example of how to strengthen the place of community in one’s life, he describes how the Physician Moms’ Group, formed by a stressed doctor and new mother trying to connect with others like herself, grew from 20 to 70,000 members. His gentle approach to the topic has profound implications for both individual health care and community wellness. Agent: Richard Pine, InkWell. (Apr.)