Thurs., 1/5/12: Navigating the 24-Hour "New" Cycle

Navigating the 24-Hour New Cycle
We’re ringing in the New Year with a look at our enduring fascination with the new. Adapting to new circumstances is so crucial to our survival that our "love of the new" is hardwired into our brains. But, in the 21st century it’s hard to distinguish the new things that we need to master in order to survive from the novelties that are causing chronic distraction. This is the subject of Winifred Gallagher’s latest book: New: Understanding the Need for Novelty and Change.

We talk with Gallagher about the history of adapting to new things, from the Age of Reason to today’s Digital Revolution. We also look at what we need to do in order to effectively steer through this world of nonstop information and constant change.

Where do you place yourself on the spectrum of neophila - the tendency to like anything new, and seek out novelty? Do you love new adventures, new gadgets? Or does change scare you? Do you prefer to live a more 19th or 20th century lifestyle? Let us know at our Facebook page.

GUESTS:
  Winifred Gallagher, author of New: Understanding our Need for Novelty and Change. Catch her at the Brookline Booksmith tonight at 7 p.m.