How to Know a Person

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This heartfelt guide explores the essential skill of truly knowing another person to foster deeper connections in our lives. David Brooks emphasizes the importance of making others feel seen, valued, and understood, highlighting how many people today feel invisible and misunderstood. He poses critical questions about how to engage with others: What kind of attention should we give? What conversations should we initiate? Which aspects of a person's story deserve our focus? Brooks draws from psychology, neuroscience, theater, philosophy, history, and education to present a hopeful approach to human connection. The book encourages readers to cultivate understanding and consideration for others, revealing the joy that comes from being truly seen. It also offers a potential remedy for a fragmented society marked by hostility and misperception. The act of seeing another person is described as profoundly creative, prompting readers to consider how we can look someone in the eye and recognize something significant in them, which in turn helps us discover something larger within ourselves. This guide is for anyone seeking connection and yearning to be understood, making it a valuable resource for personal growth and deeper relationships.