3 Questions with Nicholas Christakis

We are pleased to present our latest “3 Questions”. This time we feature Nicholas A. Christakis, a physician and sociologist who explores the ancient origins and modern implications of human nature. He serves as director of the Human Nature Lab at Yale University, where he is the Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science. He is also the Co-Director of the Yale Institute for Network Science. 

Mr. Christakis will read from his latest book Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of A Good Society at 7 pm on Wednesday, June 12th at the Norwich Bookstore. ​In Blueprint, Mr. Christakis discusses how natural selection has given us beneficial social features including our capacity for love, friendship, cooperation, and learning. He maintains this fact is often overlooked in the tendency of scientists to focus on the dark side of our biological heritage: aggression, cruelty, and prejudice. The book reminds us that with all our inventions (e.g., tools, cities, nations) we simultaneously hold innate inclinations to better society. Mr. Christakis has also written Death Foretold and co-authored Connected.

This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are recommended as space is limited. Please call 802-649-1114 or email info@norwichbookstore.com to save your seat. If you can't make the event, the Norwich Bookstore staff can ask Mr. Christakis to personalize Blueprint for you if you contact them in advance.

And now our "3 questions".

1.What three books have helped shape you into the writer you are today, and why?

For my work, and for pleasure, I read a lot of nonfiction, so I will have to neglect mentioning the fiction I adore, like the Illiad or Pride and Prejudice.  I like big sweeping books, like Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel, or Steven Pinker’s Better Angels of Our Nature, and engaging focused books, like Dan Gilbert’s Stumbling on Happiness.

2.What author (living or dead) would you most like to have a cup of coffee with and why?

Charles Darwin. Really, the man was astonishing along every scientific and writerly dimension. I don’t think anything more needs to be said.

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3.What books are currently on your bedside table?

I keep a copy of The Last Days of Socrates on my bedside table because I re-read it every couple of years.  My wife’s wonderful, NYT bestselling book about early childhood, The Importance of Being Little is (quite understandably) on my bedside table.  And I have an advance copy of Patricia Churchland’s new book, Conscience: The Origins of Moral Intuition that I am working my way through.  

NOTE: As part of our mission to promote authors, the joy of reading, and to better understand the craft of writing, The Book Jam has paired with the The Norwich Bookstore in Norwich, Vermont to present an ongoing series entitled “3 Questions”. In it, we pose three questions to authors with upcoming visits to the Norwich Bookstore. Their responses are posted on The Book Jam during the days leading up to their engagement. Our hope is that this exchange will offer insight into their work and will encourage readers to attend these special author events and read their books.