Leonard Mlodinow

“Whatever I've worked on, I've always tried to make my writing personal. I think that's what makes my books somewhat different from what other scientists are doing. You have to tie concepts into everyday life, or they just won't be interesting for readers.”

“We should keep in mind that it is easy to concoct stories explaining the past or to become confident about dubious scenarios of the future. We should view both explanations and prophecies with skepticism.”

“By subliminal, I mean things that occur in our world that are below the threshold of consciousness but do have a psychological effect on us.”

“Expressive speech, with modulation in pitch and volume, and a minimum of noticeable pauses, boosts credibility and enhances the impression of intelligence.”

“We routinely participate in elaborate nonverbal exchanges even when we are not consciously aware of doing so.”

“Intentionality and talent always matter. An extraordinary feat is certainly made more likely by someone's focus, hard work, etc. But chance also matters.”

“We all know that looks matter. What most of us don't understand is just how much looks matter and how difficult it is for us to ignore a person's appearance when making a social judgment.”

“Nonverbal communication forms a social language that is in many ways richer and more fundamental than our words.”

“The pitch, timbre, volume, speed, and cadence of your voice, the speed with which you speak, and even the way you modulate pitch and loudness, are all hugely influential factors in how convincing you are and how people judge your state of mind and character.”

“'Subliminal' is about how we misinterpret our behavior because we're unaware of what our unconscious minds are doing.”

“One of the most surprising forms of nonverbal communication is the way we automatically adjust the amount of time we spend looking into another's eyes as a function of our relative social position.”

“I think the fun of following the movie box office and stocks is very similar to the fun of sports - all three combine passion and unpredictability.”

“Language is handy, but we humans have social and emotional connections that transcend words and are communicated - and understood - without conscious thought.”

“The truth is that our unconscious minds are active, purposeful, and independent. Hidden they may be, but their effects are anything but, for they play a critical role in shaping the way our conscious minds experience and respond to the world.”

“Social connection is such a basic feature of human experience that when we are deprived of it, we suffer.”