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The cover of Why We Click

Why We Click

Kate Murphy, 2026

Why do you click with some people and not others? A journalist explores the new science of how people fall into rhythm and why it shapes our moods.

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11 parts, about 22 minutes to read.

Why read it

  • Explains how people fall into step with each other, from posture to heart rate, and why moods and habits spread
  • Helps you notice when another person's anxiety or gloom has become yours, and how to step back without shutting down
  • Draws on speed dating studies, team experiments and body sensor research to treat connection as something physical

Who it is for

  • People who feel drained by one difficult colleague
  • Couples and parents caught in rising arguments
  • Remote workers missing everyday contact with others

What the summary covers

  1. The social force most people have never heard of2 min
  2. Joan and Jen1 min
  3. Born to sync2 min
  4. Love at first sync2 min
  5. One bad apple2 min
  6. Affective presence2 min
  7. Moving as one2 min
  8. Syncing at scale2 min
  9. Reading your own body3 min
  10. When syncing goes too far2 min
  11. Who stole our sync?2 min

Recommended by

  • Nicholas EpleyProfessor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business
    Why We Click is popular science at its best.
  • Thomas LewisPsychiatrist, adjunct professor at UCSF and author of A General Theory of Love
    Why We Click is a searching and fascinating exploration of the up-and-coming science of human connection.

About the author

  • Kate MurphyJournalist writing for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Economist
    • Her first book You're Not Listening was published in 32 languages
    • You're Not Listening was handpicked for the Next Big Idea Club by Gladwell, Grant, Cain and Pink
    • Lives in Houston, Texas

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