Book Review: 5/5 Impact On Me (Book By Robin I.M. Dunbar)
Read more about the book here
The impact of this book was a solid 5 out of 5 for me. I learned a lot about friendships, including different types like weak ties, strong ties, and dormant ties. Each type of friendship helps in different situations, and the book explains how to maintain them. The "layer of friends" theory with numbers was especially interesting. I'd love to do an exercise based on that to understand who I value the most and how much time I want to spend with them.
The idea of "degrees of separation" also stood out. also, how friendships can impact your longevity and health. The book challenges the idea that opposites attract, explaining that we are more drawn to people who are similar to us—this is called homophily. It even suggests we might be attracted to people similar to us at a genetic level. I’ve seen this in my life, especially among immigrants who become friends in new countries, and now it makes sense.
The book also highlights the "magic" of socializing in the evening, which feels different from daytime interactions. This is a challenge for me because I sleep early. I realized the importance of endorphins, not just oxytocin, in building connections. Endorphins can be boosted even by sharing a meal, one of my favorite ways to meet people. This insight resonated with me, and I appreciate it more now.