Human Connection: A Reading List

A series exploring AI vs Human Connection

On my journey to explore AI vs Human Connection, I came across a number of recommended books on the topic of Connection. I also turned to the Connection Queen Baily Hancock, and she was kind enough to provide me with this fascinating reading list. My to-read efforts just increased big-time! (Keep scrolling to learn more about Baily’s upcoming new podcast.)

Baily: Here are the books on connection written by guests who will be on season 1 of my podcast

• “The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging" - Julia Hotz (episode 2, 9/15/24)

• “The Laws of Connection: The Scientific Secrets of Building a Strong Social Network” - David Robson (episode 3, 9/22/24)

• “Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections” - Anna Goldfarb (episode 10, 11/10/24)

• "The Connection Curriculum: Igniting Positive Change in Schools Through Sustainable Connection” - Matt Pitman (episode 18, 1/5/25)

Baily: Here are the books on connection that I've read in the last year

• "The Joy of Connections: 100 Ways to Beat Loneliness and Live a Happier and More Meaningful Life" - Ruth Westheimer, Allison Gilbert, (primary contributor), Pierre Lehu (primary contributor)

• "Content-Based Networking: How to Instantly Connect with Anyone You Want to Know" - James Carbary

• "The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships" - Susan McPherson

• "The Power of Ritual: How to Create Meaning and Connection in Everything You Do" - Casper ter Kuile 

• "Together: Why Social Connection Holds the Key to Better Health, Higher Performance, and Greater Happiness" - Vivek Murthy

• "Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection" - Charles Duhigg

• "Indivisible: How to Forge Our Differences into a Stronger Future" - Denise Hamilton

• "The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend Our Broken Hearts and World" - Sharon Brous

• "How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen" - David Brooks

• "Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance" - Erica Dhawan

Jenny: More books I’ve found referenced in various AI articles

• “The Village Effect: How Face-To-Face Contact Can Make Us Healthier and Happier” - Susan Pinker

• “Let’s Talk About Loneliness: The Search For Connection In A Lonely World” - Simone Heng

• “Connection Culture, 2nd Edition: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy, and Understanding at Work” - Michael Lee Stallard

• “The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions” - Michael Norton

---

---

Want More of The Connection Queen? 👑

If you’re looking to take the topic of Connection to another level, look no further than Baily’s upcoming new podcast, Seeking the Overlap, where she’ll be interviewing many of the authors listed above. Subscribe here:

🎧Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/ghm87-uj

🎧 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/g4gg8fSp

Image from a post from Baily on LinkedIn.

---

Need Community Consulting, or a Fractional Community Director, in 2025?

Send me an email if you’d like to get on the waitlist for Jenny.Community services in the first half of 2025!