Two Billion Heartbeats, Hardcover Book, By: Sarah Norgate

In this fascinating study of how we relate to time in our lives, Sarah Norgate immerses us in the psychology of time. She looks at differing attitudes to and perceptions of time all around the world: how did our obsession with punctuality start? Why do national proverbs from Sicily reinforce the importance of not rushing and taking things slow, while proverbs from highly industrialized countries are economically-driven ('Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today')? Why do some countries, like Japan, have a 24/7 culture, while others are only just coming to terms with Sunday opening for shops? And which city has a faster pace of life: New York or Dublin? The results may surprise you. Sarah Norgate makes scientific concepts accessible and interesting, through the use of everyday examples and unusual research findings.