https://www.amazon.com/Leap-Science-Trust-Why-Matters/dp/0544262018

Like much of my reading lately, this book was selected by Amazon’s machine learning algorithms and all I had to do was click.

Was that trust or laziness on my part? I don’t know.

Trust is the way we collaborate to get things done – it’s how we operate and are successful as a species. Trust is earned over time, but is also applied instantaneously. We frequently have to make ourselves vulnerable and trust someone that we have never met before. Mostly it is a rewarding experience. Occasionally it is painful.

The book is a straightforward read but does deal with topics like Rwanda’s recovery for the Tutsi/Hutu genocide. The concepts were entirely psychological, and while it didn’t deal with current technological trends like Blockchain, it did cover the American political system, highlighting the people’s lack of trust in government that Donald Trump exploited (it was written prior to the elections).

A thought provoking finale reads:

When we think about trust, we need to think about trustworthiness. We need to focus on ourselves. If we want the faith of others, we need to ask: Am I honest? Am I dependable? Do I deliver results? For individuals, the trust building process doesn’t so much begin with faith. It begins with reliability and performance, and we often overestimate how much others believe that we are trustworthy.

For those who want to challenge their assumptions around trust, and its importance in all things that we do, this is a worthwhile read. And, regarding Amazon’s algorithm choosing this particular title for me? A good fit.