Dacher Keltner in Conversation with Michael Lewis

GGSC founder Dacher Keltner talks about his new book, The Power Paradox


  • Venue: The Nourse Theatre
  • Date: May 23, 2016
  • Time: 7:30 pm
  • Price: $29

We tend to believe that attaining power requires force, deception, manipulation, and coercion.

But GGSC founder Dacher Keltner argues that empathy and social intelligence are vastly more important to acquiring and exercising power. In his new book, The Power Paradox, Keltner upends the Machiavellian myth and demonstrates how those who are attuned to and engaged with the needs and interests of others wield the most power. Keltner’s previous books include Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life and The Compassionate Instinct. A Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley and Faculty Director of the Greater Good Science Center, Keltner studies the biological and evolutionary origins of compassion, awe, love, and beauty, as well as power, social class, and inequality.

A best-selling author and contributing editor to Vanity Fair Magazine, Michael Lewis is known for his meticulous research on far-reaching subjects. His books include Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt, Liars Poker, Moneyball, The Big Short, and The Blind Side.