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Your Brain on Altruism: The Power of Connection and Community during Times of Crisis
In an era when "self-care" often revolves around consumption and profit, a health and science journalist emphasizes the genuine health advantages of a culture of caring.
Helping others can enhance our physical and mental well-being, boost resilience, and nurture a sense of fulfillment and connection beyond crises. In Your Brain on Altruism, health and science journalist Nicole Karlis delves into the science behind generosity and the benefits of fostering a culture of care for our health. She explores cutting-edge research on the sociology and psychology of altruism, revealing how acts of kindness during crises—such as COVID-19, recessions, natural disasters, and wars—inspire people to set aside differences and help one another.
Through interviews with innovators creating infrastructures for social connection—from a former entrepreneur leading a social prescribing movement, to doctors prescribing volunteer work and acts of kindness—Karlis shows how we all can contribute to cultivating kindness. A powerful call for a culture of caring, this book urges us to see taking care of one another as a social strength. By embracing this mindset and viewing ourselves as stewards of kindness, we can combat the epidemic of loneliness and build a more compassionate and resilient society.
Helping others can enhance our physical and mental well-being, boost resilience, and nurture a sense of fulfillment and connection beyond crises. In Your Brain on Altruism, health and science journalist Nicole Karlis delves into the science behind generosity and the benefits of fostering a culture of care for our health. She explores cutting-edge research on the sociology and psychology of altruism, revealing how acts of kindness during crises—such as COVID-19, recessions, natural disasters, and wars—inspire people to set aside differences and help one another.
Through interviews with innovators creating infrastructures for social connection—from a former entrepreneur leading a social prescribing movement, to doctors prescribing volunteer work and acts of kindness—Karlis shows how we all can contribute to cultivating kindness. A powerful call for a culture of caring, this book urges us to see taking care of one another as a social strength. By embracing this mindset and viewing ourselves as stewards of kindness, we can combat the epidemic of loneliness and build a more compassionate and resilient society.
- GenresNonfictionSelf Help
238 pages, Paperback
Published March 11, 2025
8 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 8, 2025
Book Review: Your Brain on Altruism: The Power of Connection and Community During Times of Crisis by Nicole Karlis
As a public health practitioner, I found Your Brain on Altruism to be a timely and thought-provoking exploration of how altruism shapes our mental and collective well-being, especially in moments of crisis. Karlis skillfully bridges neuroscience, psychology, and public health, offering insights that resonate deeply with the challenges and opportunities we face in fostering resilient communities.
What struck me most was Karlis’s ability to translate complex scientific research—such as the neurological mechanisms behind altruistic behavior—into accessible, actionable knowledge. The discussion on how altruism activates brain regions linked to happiness and social bonding (mirroring public health evidence on the benefits of prosocial behavior) felt particularly relevant. I found myself reflecting on how these insights could inform community interventions, from volunteer programs to crisis response strategies. Emotionally, the book evoked both hope and urgency—hope in recognizing our innate capacity for connection, and urgency to design systems that nurture these behaviors, especially in fragmented or traumatized populations.
That said, I would have appreciated more direct linkages to structural barriers (e.g., socioeconomic inequities, systemic racism) that limit opportunities for altruism in marginalized groups. While Karlis touches on collective action, a deeper critique of how power dynamics shape “who gets to give” would have strengthened the public health relevance. Additionally, case studies or examples from global crises (beyond the pandemic) could have broadened the scope.
Despite these gaps, Karlis’s engaging prose and interdisciplinary approach make this book a valuable resource. It reaffirms why public health must prioritize social connectedness as a determinant of health—and left me inspired to advocate for policies that institutionalize compassion.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing a free review copy. Your Brain on Altruism is a compelling read for public health professionals, policymakers, and anyone invested in building healthier, more connected communities.
Rating: 4.2/5 (A scientifically grounded call to action—would benefit from more intersectional analysis.)
As a public health practitioner, I found Your Brain on Altruism to be a timely and thought-provoking exploration of how altruism shapes our mental and collective well-being, especially in moments of crisis. Karlis skillfully bridges neuroscience, psychology, and public health, offering insights that resonate deeply with the challenges and opportunities we face in fostering resilient communities.
What struck me most was Karlis’s ability to translate complex scientific research—such as the neurological mechanisms behind altruistic behavior—into accessible, actionable knowledge. The discussion on how altruism activates brain regions linked to happiness and social bonding (mirroring public health evidence on the benefits of prosocial behavior) felt particularly relevant. I found myself reflecting on how these insights could inform community interventions, from volunteer programs to crisis response strategies. Emotionally, the book evoked both hope and urgency—hope in recognizing our innate capacity for connection, and urgency to design systems that nurture these behaviors, especially in fragmented or traumatized populations.
That said, I would have appreciated more direct linkages to structural barriers (e.g., socioeconomic inequities, systemic racism) that limit opportunities for altruism in marginalized groups. While Karlis touches on collective action, a deeper critique of how power dynamics shape “who gets to give” would have strengthened the public health relevance. Additionally, case studies or examples from global crises (beyond the pandemic) could have broadened the scope.
Despite these gaps, Karlis’s engaging prose and interdisciplinary approach make this book a valuable resource. It reaffirms why public health must prioritize social connectedness as a determinant of health—and left me inspired to advocate for policies that institutionalize compassion.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing a free review copy. Your Brain on Altruism is a compelling read for public health professionals, policymakers, and anyone invested in building healthier, more connected communities.
Rating: 4.2/5 (A scientifically grounded call to action—would benefit from more intersectional analysis.)
June 15, 2025
Altruism is one of those mystical properties of animal species that deserves a closer look, however much we might take it for granted.
Karlis has done an admirable job crafting an engaging narrative that brings together a diversity of case studies, research, and perspectives, with some on-site work, too. The most compelling was that of the Mālama Hawaiʻi initiative. "The more you meet people, the more you realize everybody is the same," said Herrera, her contact there. This speaks not only to altruism but our connectedness with and beyond humanity. The more you meet other animals, the more you realize that we're all the same. The more you meet plant species, the more you realize that we're all here to grow together and survive in what is otherwise a harsh, empty vacuum.
Yet, I couldn't help but feel that the core was lost in places. Altruism bleeds over into mental health and social connectedness during the pandemic. These examples just felt out of place. On top of that, Karlis uncritically cites research in support of her thesis that deserves a hard look. "75 of the study's participants agreed to give the cup of hot chocolate to a stranger." Except that they were in a study and prompted with the idea! Any researcher worth their salt would immediately key into the methodological issues and social acceptability biases at play here. This is just one of several examples. Finally, I was annoyed that some people and institutions deserved being named and not others. Karlis writes about "researchers in Canada" quite a bit, but won't give these researchers their due. How about a little altruism for the less famous folk?
This is still a good read, despite my criticisms, one that may renew the reader's faith in our deeply divided humanity.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the University of California Press for the advance copy.
Karlis has done an admirable job crafting an engaging narrative that brings together a diversity of case studies, research, and perspectives, with some on-site work, too. The most compelling was that of the Mālama Hawaiʻi initiative. "The more you meet people, the more you realize everybody is the same," said Herrera, her contact there. This speaks not only to altruism but our connectedness with and beyond humanity. The more you meet other animals, the more you realize that we're all the same. The more you meet plant species, the more you realize that we're all here to grow together and survive in what is otherwise a harsh, empty vacuum.
Yet, I couldn't help but feel that the core was lost in places. Altruism bleeds over into mental health and social connectedness during the pandemic. These examples just felt out of place. On top of that, Karlis uncritically cites research in support of her thesis that deserves a hard look. "75 of the study's participants agreed to give the cup of hot chocolate to a stranger." Except that they were in a study and prompted with the idea! Any researcher worth their salt would immediately key into the methodological issues and social acceptability biases at play here. This is just one of several examples. Finally, I was annoyed that some people and institutions deserved being named and not others. Karlis writes about "researchers in Canada" quite a bit, but won't give these researchers their due. How about a little altruism for the less famous folk?
This is still a good read, despite my criticisms, one that may renew the reader's faith in our deeply divided humanity.
Thank you to Edelweiss+ and the University of California Press for the advance copy.
November 22, 2025
Your Brain on Altruism is a pleasant, short read. In the middle of a challenging 2025 with all the terrible news and abhorrent behavior of US leaders, this was a positive palate cleanser and reminder of what truly connects us.
April 8, 2025
Incredible little book that is so relevant right now. The power of kindness and giving to our society -- it's better for us as individuals and us collectively.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews