What do you think?
When We Touch: Handshakes, hugs, high fives and the new science behind why touch matters
'A mind-expanding tour of what touch means.' DAVID EAGLEMAN, neuroscientist and author of Incognito and Livewired
Why is a hugged person a healthier person?
Why do high-fiving teams win more matches?
How does a shared handshake make you more likely to tell the truth?
We rely on touch every day of our lives. It makes us who we are. It helps us connect with those around us. And yet touch between individuals can be fraught with confusion and misunderstanding.
In When We Touch, social neuroscientist Professor Michael Banissy blends expert scientific insights with anecdotes from 90s rom coms to office politics to explore the new science of human touch.
His groundbreaking new book explains how touch impacts every part of our lives, from why touch is essential for healthy development, to how kissing might help us choose a genetically beneficial mate to how holding hands with a loved one can help us feel less pain.
Banissy tackles the nuances of appropriate touch across culture and gender, investigates our 'touch personas' and why they differ, and offers solutions to the 'touch hunger' that has become a modern epidemic in our increasingly distanced world.
From the most inconsequential to the most salient moments of human contact, When We Touch is a fascinating and entertaining exploration of our most overlooked sense.
Why is a hugged person a healthier person?
Why do high-fiving teams win more matches?
How does a shared handshake make you more likely to tell the truth?
We rely on touch every day of our lives. It makes us who we are. It helps us connect with those around us. And yet touch between individuals can be fraught with confusion and misunderstanding.
In When We Touch, social neuroscientist Professor Michael Banissy blends expert scientific insights with anecdotes from 90s rom coms to office politics to explore the new science of human touch.
His groundbreaking new book explains how touch impacts every part of our lives, from why touch is essential for healthy development, to how kissing might help us choose a genetically beneficial mate to how holding hands with a loved one can help us feel less pain.
Banissy tackles the nuances of appropriate touch across culture and gender, investigates our 'touch personas' and why they differ, and offers solutions to the 'touch hunger' that has become a modern epidemic in our increasingly distanced world.
From the most inconsequential to the most salient moments of human contact, When We Touch is a fascinating and entertaining exploration of our most overlooked sense.
- GenresPsychology
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 2, 2023
Whether you're curious about the science behind everyday gestures like hugging and kissing, or you're interested in delving into the complexities of unwanted touch, 'When We Touch' is a must-read. This book doesn't just inform, it invites you into a world of discovery and understanding. Experience the science of touch in a whole new light.
'When We Touch' offers an engaging and captivating exploration of the science behind touch, presented with a balance of humor, rich evidence, and genuine insight. Michael's writing immerses the reader in the 'touch story', inviting us on a journey that doesn't claim to reveal the absolute truth, but rather opens up a fascinating world that is as diverse as we are. Woven with personal anecdotes and observations, it makes for an approachable and relatable read that speaks directly to the heart.
Reading 'Why We Touch' felt to me like embarking on an enlightening journey alongside Michael. It's as if we're watching an immersive movie, experiencing the world through the author's eyes. The effective use of parallelisms between real-life situations, experiments, and film narratives enhances the reader's understanding and connection to the content.
A carefully structured narrative allows the chapters to flow seamlessly, each one building upon the next to unfurl the mysteries of touch. The final chapter opens more questions for our future., inspiring us to think more deeply about the future implications of touch.
One of the elements that stood out for me is the careful handling of sensitive topics. Touch is a matter deeply intertwined with consent and power dynamics. The author writes with a sensitivity that acknowledges social movements and issues around unwanted touch.
What sets 'When We Touch' apart are the interactive elements - engaging exercises, entertaining 'did you know' facts, and social media stories like TikTok. These keep the reading experience lively and engaging, making the content easily digestible and making us (at least me!) crave more.
'When We Touch' offers an engaging and captivating exploration of the science behind touch, presented with a balance of humor, rich evidence, and genuine insight. Michael's writing immerses the reader in the 'touch story', inviting us on a journey that doesn't claim to reveal the absolute truth, but rather opens up a fascinating world that is as diverse as we are. Woven with personal anecdotes and observations, it makes for an approachable and relatable read that speaks directly to the heart.
Reading 'Why We Touch' felt to me like embarking on an enlightening journey alongside Michael. It's as if we're watching an immersive movie, experiencing the world through the author's eyes. The effective use of parallelisms between real-life situations, experiments, and film narratives enhances the reader's understanding and connection to the content.
A carefully structured narrative allows the chapters to flow seamlessly, each one building upon the next to unfurl the mysteries of touch. The final chapter opens more questions for our future., inspiring us to think more deeply about the future implications of touch.
One of the elements that stood out for me is the careful handling of sensitive topics. Touch is a matter deeply intertwined with consent and power dynamics. The author writes with a sensitivity that acknowledges social movements and issues around unwanted touch.
What sets 'When We Touch' apart are the interactive elements - engaging exercises, entertaining 'did you know' facts, and social media stories like TikTok. These keep the reading experience lively and engaging, making the content easily digestible and making us (at least me!) crave more.
Read
July 19, 2025forgettable. skip pls
September 17, 2025
I found this book very interesting, Banissy wrote in an excellent way without to many personal anecdotes and telling the facts as you would want to read them which I like.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews