The Leap: The Science of Trust and Why It Matters

We're not supposed to trust others--look at the headlines, read the blogs. It seems that everyone is wary, that everyone is doubtful. But our sense of social trust and togetherness can be restored. In The Leap, author Ulrich Boser shows how the emerging research on trust can improve our lives, rebuild our economy, and strengthen society. Boser visits a radio soap opera in Rwanda that aims to restore the country's broken trust, profiles the man who brought honesty to one of the most corrupt cities in Latin America, and explains how a college dropout managed to con his way into American high society. Boser even goes skydiving to see if the experience will increase his levels of oxytocin, the so-called trust hormone. A mix of hard science and compelling storytelling, The Leap explores how we trust, why we trust, and what we can all do to deepen social trust. The book includes insightful policy recommendations along with surprising new data on the state of social trust in America today.--From publisher description.