Behavioral Scientist’s Summer Book List 2024
The summer book list is a chance to peruse a collection of the most compelling behavioral science books published so far this year.
Science
Places Unexpected
Craving adventure after finishing their Ph.D.s in neuroscience, Thomas Andrillon and Chiara Varazzani set off on a round-the-world trek in their 2006 Land Rover Defender, nicknamed Bechamel. But the trip almost didn’t happen. And once they were on the road, they almost didn’t make it back.
Understanding Energy Is Essential to Understanding Ourselves: A Q&A with Michael Muthukrishna (Part 2)
The common constraint for all life is the ability to find and use energy, yet we take it for granted, says Michael Muthukrishna. In his new book, he makes the case that energy should be central in how we understand ourselves and how we design our world.
Moving Behavioral Science from Alchemy to Chemistry: A Conversation with Michael Muthukrishna (Part 1)
Michael Muthukrishna wants to integrate the science of human beings, from genes to culture to our environments, into ‘a theory of everyone.’ Doing so, he says, is key to advancing social and behavioral science.
Betsy Levy Paluck, The Art of Psychology No. 1
An interview with Betsy Levy Paluck on the craft of psychological science.
Is It All a Fluke? Lessons From Playing God in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment
It’s easy to believe that small, chance moments don’t make a material difference on our lives and societies. But a long-running evolution experiment suggests that life’s course may come down to the random details.