The Leap

Bestselling author Ulrich Boser explores how we and the institutions we rely on have much to gain from emphasizing and rebuilding trust.

Trust is central to almost every human interaction?and even small attempts to improve our faith in others can have a big payoff. People who trust more are happier, live longer, and even have more sex.

To examine how and why we trust, Ulrich Boser visits a radio soap opera in Rwanda that aims to restore a nation's broken faith and talks to the man who brought honesty back to one of the most corrupt cities in Latin America. He tests out oxytocin, the "trust hormone," and has scientists evaluate his brain as he competes in a cooperation game. He even jumps out of an airplane to better understand his trust in others. The result is a surprising narrative that will appeal to a wide audience, including listeners who enjoy books like "Nudge," "Willpower," and "Moonwalking with Einstein."

"The Leap" uses science and psychology to illustrate how trust contributes to personal longevity and a sense of fulfillment, and how we can take active steps to restore trust in our lives and in our culture.