by David Brooks
First published 2011
Harold and Erica represent a composite American couple whose lives illustrate how success actually happens. Brooks follows them from infancy through school, young adulthood, and beyond, showing how they grow, stumble, fail, and achieve. Their story reveals that the unconscious mind drives most human behavior, not rational thought. This hidden realm of emotions, intuitions, and social connections shapes character and guides major life decisions. Through Harold and Erica's experiences with attachment, love, leadership, and the challenges of poverty, Brooks demonstrates that our minds are fundamentally social. He challenges a culture that overvalues rationalism and individualism while underestimating the power of trust and humility. The couple's journey exposes how achievement really works and points toward new definitions of success.
Genres: psychology, social-science, american, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: informative, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-driven, social-commentary
424 pages · Hardcover · Random House