A preview of the latest novel by the National Book Award finalist Brandon Hobson.

Welcome to The Nightcrawler — a weekly newsletter from Eric Markowitz covering tech, innovation, and long-term thinking.

If you’ve gotten goosebumps when hearing a story about a stranger’s selfless heroism, or you’ve felt your chest swell at a concert, when the audience’s voice and the musician’s instruments align, you have felt awe. And, according to professor Dacher Keltner, who has spent his life studying it, it’s one of humankind’s most unifying traits:

From neuroscience to philosophy, experts reveal why compassion may be the most important human skill we have.

“The idea is that we move from a place of wanting the world to conform to what we like [towards] not needing other people to be different from who they are.”

Why the most enduring organizations stop chasing trends and start designing systems that prioritize people over processes.

Introverts have social batteries that will drain over time, but they can be recharged with good energy hygiene. Here’s how.

An ode to the data visualization tools that help us see what is too vast, complex, or interconnected for the naked eye — from planetary systems to pandemic trends.

“Let me walk you through the biggest traps that you should be aware of that are a danger to your financial wellbeing.”

It's no wonder great writers swear by messy first drafts.

In this excerpt from "Playful," Cas Holman surveys the research that brought the neuroscience of play into the mainstream.

Philosophy asks if free will is real. Neuroscience reveals why the answer is more complicated than we expected.

In this excerpt from "One Hand Clapping," Nikolay Kukushkin makes the case that neurons reveal how memory, meaning, and even consciousness emerge from the same biological roots in humans, sea slugs, and beyond.

When making any tough decision, the key is not to be overly exploratory or exploitative.

In “Warhead,” neuroscientist and national security adviser Nicholas Wright explains how the brain navigates warfare and why it is our ultimate weapon (and instrument for peace).

The whole isn't greater than the sum of its parts; that's a flaw in our thinking. Non-reductionism requires magic, not merely science.

Getting drunk might be bad for you but good for us.

Daily habits can help you thrive or quietly turn into addictions. The difference is how your brain handles cues, routines, and rewards. Three experts explain how to work with your wiring instead of against it.

Each of these stories rests on a foundation of great ideas that will scare you to death and make you think.

In this excerpt from "Lucky By Design," Judd Kessler explains how opportunity costs shape our choices and why time is the real price we pay.