It Takes You to Tango: Leverage the science of loneliness to master the art of connection

The unabated rise of loneliness and mental health issues calls for newer, simpler, and more effective approaches. This is where It Takes You to Tango can be your beacon of hope.

Written by Dr. Amit Sood, a parent, physician, and resilience and well-being expert, the book synthesizes Dr. Sood's learnings across two continents over four decades, helping tens of thousands of patients, clients, and students negotiate some of life's toughest emotional and relationship challenges. Dr. Sood dispels the myth that the main reason behind our loneliness is fewer social connections when, in fact, it is our disconnect with ourselves.

For years, we have pushed away at healthy self-worth by mislabeling it as self-absorption. We call self-compassion as indulging, self-acceptance a sign of weakness, and self-forgiveness as giving us a free pass. The result is a disturbing mental hum of guilt and self-doubt that separates us from ourselves, creating an "inner loneliness" that seldom responds to increasing social contact.

Importantly, Dr. Sood provides a clear call to action: an enduring impact on loneliness and mental health starts with forging a positive relationship with oneself. Neglecting the self is a prime reason why some of our previous efforts have yielded disappointing results. He suggests a gentle, skill-based, three-step approach:

1. Shed self-rejection by taming guilt and shame.

2. Build self-worth by converting hurtful into helpful comparisons.

3. Nurture self-love by growing self-compassion, self-acceptance, and self-forgiveness.

With loneliness and mental health problems reaching a crisis point, we can't ignore Dr. Sood's thoughtful, well-researched, simple, and actionable approach to help us live better emotional and social lives. It Takes You to Tango empowers us all to work together to create a kinder, happier, and more hopeful world for ourselves and our children.