Connect: 12 Vital Ties that Open your Heart, Lengthen your Life, and Deepen your Soul

by Edward M. Hallowell

The promise of wellness and satisfaction has never been as ubiquitous in our culture as it is now.  Images of happy people stare out at us from magazine pages and television screens; they are successful and busy, hurrying from the office to the opera, eating healthfully and acting responsibly.  We are a nation of achievers but, as Dr. Edward Hallowell makes clear in Connect, what sustains us—emotionally, psychologically, physically—is connectedness, the feeling that we are part of something that matters, something larger than ourselves that gives life its meaning, direction, and purpose.
    
Hallowell examines the real life most of us lead—overwhelmed, harried, pressured—and outlines the steps we can take to connect ourselves to the people and things that matter to us.  He elevates the simplest forms of communication, understanding, and self-knowledge as examples of the human moment: the basis for the bridges we build to one another. He tells stories of personal growth—one woman's plan to bring a neighborhood together, another woman's assembling of a makeshift family, a real estate developer's institution of company-wide weekly pizza dinners—and identifies in them twelve vital ties to a more connected life. Hallowell concludes that within each of us exists the capacity to connect with the people around us—our parents, spouses, children, friends, and colleagues—to become who we want to be and to be happy with who we are.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Psychology, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Self Help

382 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Edward (Ned) Hallowell, M.D., is a child and adult psychiatrist, a NY Times bestselling author, a world-renowned speaker and a leading authority in the field of ADHD. He has authored twenty books including the 1994 ground-breaking New York Times best-seller on ADHD, Driven to Distraction. In aggregate, Dr. Hallowell's books have sold more than 2 million copies on various psychological topics including how to: raise children into happy adults, manage worry, develop focus, forgiveness, connecting on a deeper level and how to inspire the best from employees. His most recent book was his Memoir, Because I Come From A Crazy Family The Making Of A Psychiatrist. His next book, ADHD 2.0 releases on January 12, 2021. Pre-order your copy today.

He is the host of “Distraction,” a weekly podcast that offers insights, strategies and tactics for coping and thriving in this crazy-busy, 24/7 over-connected modern world.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so great. I loved the suggestions in the book. I read it during a time that I was not real close with people. This helped me to realize that I need to have connections. I've been trying to apply as much as I can his suggestions. It's a great book.

[Chu Qiao · Rating 4 out of 5]

It lists areas you should consider on developing or strengthening connections. I never realize I have missed so many connections: connection to my relatives, to my friends, communities and organizations. I did feel they were just burdens.

The book shifts my perspectives on these topics. I realize that life is not being a super star but a hero surviving from trials and tribulations.

We are happy because of both emotional connections first and tangible successes next. That's why we are always asked by the question: what matters when you are on the dead bed? Yes, your family, friends, and communities. Did I live and love? .

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is such a JOY to read Ed Hallowell books. I love his passion for life and authenticity. I found this book very encouraging in a mid-life season where I have felt a lot of connection-defeat for various reasons including a big move. However, although he is Christian, his worldview feels different from my own which is more conservative, so parts of this book felt a little “off.”

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle does sum it up. Connect talks about human moments (being in the same physical space and paying attention to one another), how frequency of visiting friends and attending meetings of organizations is important to one's well-being, and some more specific things about nurturing these vital ties: family of origin, immediate family, work/activities, beauty, history, nature/special places, animals, ideas, organizations, spirituality, and self. One could find fulfillment from any of these areas, not necessarily all, but any that one deems important.

[Karen Leonard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read only certain chapters that appealed to me when I was staying at someone's house who owned this book. While I appreciate/agree with the premise of the book (i.e. connection is very important in life and it takes work), I didn't really learn anything new. Some chapters (like, the one being a parent to children, or on education) were just the author telling his story, and not really anything useful/helpful for the audience.

[Lain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am big on connecting for survival in our "crazy-busy" life. Hallowell gives reasons why to connect and how to connect in different ways for different purposes.

[esther]

felt drawn to this book, in a weird way, probably about time to read it. really "connecting" to the intro...

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this hopeful book, but it made me lonely for the kind of connected lives (especially his life) that are described...

[Ylva]

recommended by lecturer

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's more of a skim than a real read, but it reminds us all of what is really important.