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

Vivek Murthy writes from an informed perspective yet brings his personal knowledge and life experience to this book. This book blends policy frameworks with no-nonsense practical remedies to complex social and health issues of our times. This book is an excellent textbook for students of health policy and political science. It also is a useful book for interested generalists. Murthy is a good storyteller in addition to his ability to write about complex issues.

As a single foreigner this has been food for my soul, thank you for this amazing book Dr Vivek ❤️

Book was delivered quickness it's in great condition 👍

It was appropriate for loneliness to hear other’s stories, and for that this is a good book.I wanted something a little more direct personally, but still appreciated this book. Reads super fast too.

A great resource to remind you how important connection is in our increasingly disconnected society. Encouraged me to rekindle several relationships that had been on ice for years.

A truly incredible, powerful, and well-researched book. It answers a lot of questions about loneliness and connection that I have not paid attention to in the past. I feel that anyone can truly benefit from reading and understanding the essential points mentioned in this book: Below are explanations to some of my findings based on what I have read:• People are wired for connection and relationship. It is biologically in our DNA.• Research has shown that the mental pain of loneliness over extended periods of time can equal the physical pain of head injury.• Explains why cults exist, how they grow, and how they prey on the lonely. It also explains why people can be reluctant to leave abusive relationships or circumstances. Some people are more afraid of leaving and being on their own with no support rather than being in abusive situations.• Explains why some groups view solitary confinement as cruel and unusual punishment. Over time, loneliness can become a severe detriment to physical and mental health.• Explains why exile was considered a more severe form of punishment than execution. It is easier to die than deal with years or decades in exile with no connection to other human beings.• Explains why the COVID lockdowns and “social distancing” have physically and mentally impacted even more people than have suffered from the virus itself.• Explains why wealthy and successful people can be some of the most miserable. The author provided an example of a lottery winner who left his neighborhood for a more affluent one and suffered immensely because he could not find community even though he was materially well off.• Identifies the potential negative aspects of connection that can be rooted in hatred, anger, and division.• Differentiates between isolation and loneliness. Unlike loneliness, isolation is important and can help us reflect and build self-awareness.• Therapy, however valuable, cannot replace truly mutual friendship.• Explains why economically abandoned communities struggle with addiction and loneliness, which result in health issues and more deaths at younger ages than people in affluent and supported communities.I’m delighted this man is our country’s Surgeon General once again. We need more people like Dr. Murthy in leadership positions in our government and corporate boards throughout our country. I did not expect this book to be so informative and thought-provoking.

I love this book. So much of what is talked about I relate to and its helping me put other things in perspective. I worried that this could become political but that wasn't the case. Overall a great read and one I highly recommend

I was immediately intrigued by the premise of this book and its emphasis on social connections as related to health. I find the research in this area compelling and looked forward to learning more about it.Murthy offers substantial support--both data-driven and anecdotally--for his assertions on the importance of community. Throughout the book he shares research on the health impact of isolation along with stories of people who struggled while alone or found ways to build their communities. Many of these stories are longer and more detailed than necessary, making the book seem less scientific than it is (I had to review the notes section to realize how much research Murthy gathered).What frustrated me was the lack of discussion or explanation for his four take-aways: spend time with those you love, focus on each other, embrace solitude, and help and be helped. For any book like this I look for the practical take-aways, the ideas about what I or others can do differently to improve the area for myself and others. When I saw these points in the author's note I assumed he would explain them in more detail. Bizarrely, they're never mentioned again. It appears that Murthy wrote the entire manuscript and as it was going to print decided to add this note regard Covid-19 and steps to address loneliness. Without the author's note, there are no take-aways from the book; with it, there are vague ideas without research support or specifics. Perhaps for a second edition Murthy can show how he arrived at these four strategies and how we can put them to work for us.