

Heartwarming
How Our Inner Thermostat Made Us Human
Author: Hans Rocha Ijzerman
Narrator: Basil Sands
Unabridged: 10 hr 16 min
Format: Digital Audiobook Download
Publisher: Tantor Media
Published: 02/16/2021
Categories: Nonfiction, Medical, Science, Life Sciences
Synopsis
Temperature contributed to our evolution—our upright walking, our loss of fur, and our big brains—and now continues to affect our lives in unexpected ways, and the link from a warm mug to our emotions is anything but straightforward. Studies have shown, for example, that a chilly deliberation room can predispose a jury to convict and that a cold day can make us more likely to buy a house. Our mind-body connection works the other way, too: thinking about friendly or caring people can make us feel warmer. Understanding how we subconsciously strive to keep our temperature in an optimal range can help us in our relationships, jobs, and even in the world of social media.
As IJzerman illuminates how temperature affects human sociality, he examines fascinating new questions: How will climate change impact society? Why are some people chronically cold, and others overheated? Can thermoregulation keep relationships closer, even across a distance? The answers offer new insights for all of us who want to better understand our bodies, our minds, and each other.