The Search for Why: A Revolutionary New Model for Understanding Others, Improving Communication, and Healing Division

by Bob Raleigh

EVER WONDERED WHY PEOPLE REALLY DO WHAT THEY DO? (AND WHAT WE COULD ACCOMPLISH IF WE ONLY KNEW?)

We need a clear-eyed look at what’s happening in society right now. Misinformation, fake news, and politicization is affecting how we as a society come to grips with a global pandemic, economic inequality, and racial injustice. If we are to mend the divides between us and grapple with the challenges before us, we need, first, to understand the why.

In The Search for Why , Bob Raleigh provides a new model for how to understand human behavior, the fundamentals of why we do what we do. He draws on his experience in market research and public communication strategy and combines that with research in the social sciences, like psychology, cognitive and behavioral sciences, and anthropology.

The Search for Why covers topics
-Why so frequently people seem to act against their own best interests, both in politics and their personal lives
-How to better communicate with one another across political and cultural divides
-How to craft persuasive messages that meet people where they are, and listen to what they are saying back
-Ways you can apply this model to help build a better world, at a personal, social, and global level
-What influences our decisions, even when we don’t realize it

For anyone looking to persuade people, heal divisions, or build better relationships, The Search for Why is a crucial step in the right direction.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 19, 2021

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This book has a really great premise, and I bet it’s even been very successful for this company, PathSight, and could be really useful for future use in a lot of sectors, but I didn’t find it to be particularly accessible as written. There was a lot of data, but not enough about how to use it to help bridge some of the divides that we see; I think more practical applications would have pushed this higher for me.

[voiceofmadness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I struggled between 4 stars or 5. Ultimately, I went with five because, if nothing else, I haven’t read a book like this before. The concepts were relatively easy to grasp but ai felt that it could have been shorter, without loosing anything.

The reasons WHY aka normal drives and desires are the ideas that are explored. The whole question of what drives us is, of course, an odd thing to discuss. And while this not a fantastic novel, nor would I reread it; it does have multiple points of interest which kept me reading.

My 2 cents: This is one of those books that can make you think and reflect on yourself—and others. This isn’t actually an instruction manual, although there were times a reader could wonder.

Overall, it’s an okay read. Applicable for various people and situations. Nothing life changing but readable.

[Donna Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book deals primarily with the way people's values affect their worldviews. I had a hard time with this book at first, as it seemed more oriented toward marketing--not a subject I'm interested in. However, he got more into the psychological and sociological ramifications as the book progressed. I'm so glad I stuck with it because the book really helped me to understand people whose worldviews are different from my own. Highly recommended in this age of polarization.

[ffi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very interesting, but a little too business-focused for my liking. While I did enjoy reading it, I wished it pertained to the psychological aspects of human behavior and why we do what we do. It covered more of the marketing and professional sides of trying to better human connections rather than bettering them through an emotional or psychological connection. However, I did learn from it, which I liked.

[Ron Frampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that explains what drives us and why.