41 Quotes by Robin Marantz Henig

Hardships of early human life favored the evolution of certain cognitive tools, among them the ability to infer the presence of organisms that might do harm, to come up with causal narratives for natural events and to recognize that other people have minds of their own with their own beliefs, desires and intentions.

Angels, demons, spirits, wizards, gods and witches have peppered folk religions since mankind first started telling stories.

It's almost a rite of passage for the middle-aged, it seems, to invent generational stereotypes for dumping on the young.

Elderly parents tend to think their relationship with their middle-aged children is smoother than the children do. Adult grandchildren, who have little stake in pulling away from their grandparents, tend to describe that relationship as less rose-colored than do Gram and Gramps.

I regret not working harder to create true friendships with other couples, not seeking out people with whom to go do things and go places - people with whom to have a few crazy, memorable bonding adventures.

Even though loneliness affects so many of us, it has gotten scant research attention compared to related conditions like depression or anxiety.

Anxiety is not fear, exactly, because fear is focused on something right in front of you - a real and objective danger.

Biology sets the context, and that is critical, but obesity still boils down to whether a person eats too much or exercises enough.

Many of us are tethered to bodies that sabotage us in our struggle to keep from getting fat, or to slim down when we do.