The Social Animal by David Brooks: A Book Review

As the son of a neurologist, I’ve always been surrounded by an atmosphere of fascination with the human brain and a sense of awe for the mysteries of conscious thought and complicated emotion. In The Social Conquest of Earth, which I previously reviewed, evolutionary biologist Edward O. Wilson uses genetic and biological evidence to explain how humans naturally work together, form social and emotional bonds with one another, and with these advantages, out-think, out-compete  and outlast other species. Well-known writer and New York Times columnist David Brooks explores the more personal side of this social instinct in his recent book The Social Animal. Brooks uses psychological, sociological and anthropological studies and takes full advantage of the rich philosophic tradition of exploring human consciousness, the social impulse, and what it means to be human. He employs these resources to argue that humans are not inherently rational or even emotional, but social, and that our every experience and even our deepest-held traits are forged within the mold of social interactions.

Brooks brilliantly weaves his explorations of topics such as consciousness, morality, self-control, and freewill into the lives of two fictional characters, Erica and Harold (Brooks’ “prototypical American couple”). Their fascinating personalities and behavioral contrasts allow Brooks to use them as vehicles to explore the human social condition more generally. He follows them from elementary school and through college as they struggle with their careers, personal anxieties, and relationships into old age. This “surface story,” however, is not the main focus of Brooks’ argument. He is primarily interested in the internal emotional lives of his characters, exploring how the interaction of conscious socialization with unconscious inner desires and longings form a person’s character and determine their ability to lead a successful and fulfilling life.

The Social Animal is also a tale of how humans have grown to understand their own nature. From the “I think therefore I am” musings of 16th century thinker Rene Decartes to the recent scientific revolution in neuroscience and psychology, Brooks ebulliently demonstrates how we have learned more about the human brain in the last three centuries than in the previous three millennia. Brooks draws on a treasure-trove of philosophy, sociology, and especially current research in psychology to demonstrate that the unconscious mind–that realm of human experience unexplained by the anatomy of the brain–is the true center of emotions, desires, and personality traits. Brooks shows us that it is where we internalize social norms to form the conscious, public faces that we show to others. He concludes that our extensive knowledge about the functions of the physical brain is insufficient and has yet to explain the complexity of our social interactions and our conscious and unconscious thoughts and feelings.

David Brooks is likely one of the most talented, engaging, and enthusiastic writers I have ever read. His fascination with the subject of human consciousness, society, and identity is palpable and instantly engages the reader. It is a testament to his skills as a writer that the fictional “surface story” of Erica and Harold is occasionally so compelling that it overshadows Brooks’ primary goal of explaining the latest research on the human social experience. The Social Animal remains an enchanting and supremely illuminating hybrid work of fiction and scientific research that should be on everyone’s reading list.

Rating: 5+/5