Author

Nicholas Christakis

16 key ideas across 2 books, each explained in our own words.

Blueprint

IDEA 1
Humans share a social blueprint
Christakis argues that evolution has given humans a common set of social tendencies. Despite cultural differences, people everywhere build societies with similar features. Culture builds on biology. Similar patterns appear on every continent.
IDEA 2
The social suite has eight parts
Christakis lists traits he calls the social suite, including individual identity, love for partners and children, friendship, networks, cooperation, preference for one's group, mild hierarchy and social learning. Together these traits form a universal human pattern.
IDEA 3
Shipwrecks reveal human nature
Christakis studies groups of shipwreck survivors who had to form new societies. Groups that cooperated and shared tended to survive, while those ruled by force often did not. Kindness proved practical.

IDEA 1
Our networks shape our lives
Christakis and Fowler argue that we are deeply influenced by the people we are connected to, and by their connections too. Our emotions, health and choices spread through social networks.
IDEA 2
Influence reaches three steps
The authors propose that influence spreads up to three degrees of separation, to friends of friends of friends. Beyond that, the effect fades. Each extra step weakens the link, as the people become more distant.
IDEA 3
Happiness can spread
The authors report that people with happy friends are more likely to become happy themselves. Emotions travel through networks. In their data, a happy friend, and even a friend's friend, was linked with higher happiness.

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