About

Hi. I’m
Eric Barker.

I write about the science of a better life: what the research actually says about work, happiness and relationships, explained in plain English. Every two weeks, over 500,000 people get it in their inbox.

Get the newsletter + free PDF

How I got here

I didn’t start out in social science. I grew up in Clementon, New Jersey, the son of a truck driver, and neither of my parents went to college. I spent about ten years in Hollywood as a screenwriter, working on projects for Disney and Fox, including the Aladdin sequels.

Burned out, I went to business school. A negotiation class introduced me to the research on how people actually behave, and I was hooked. When I graduated in 2009, in the middle of a recession, I started this blog to share what I was learning. That’s still what I do: take the advice we all grew up with and check it against the evidence.

The books

Barking Up the Wrong Tree

The surprising science behind why everything you know about success is (mostly) wrong. A Wall Street Journal bestseller that has sold over half a million copies in 19 languages. It was even the subject of a question on Jeopardy!

Plays Well With Others

The surprising science behind why everything you know about relationships is (mostly) wrong. A USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller, and a Next Big Ideas Club selection, chosen by Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain and Daniel Pink.

“Reading Plays Well With Others is like having a hard conversation about relationships with your smartest, funniest friend.”
David Epstein, author of Range

“Barker’s wide-eyed curiosity and intellectual openness make him an ideal tour guide.”
Publishers Weekly

My work has been covered by The New York Times, The Atlantic and The Financial Times.

Start here: five favorite posts

Speaking

I speak to organizations about the science of success and relationships. I’ve given talks at MIT, Google, the Aspen Ideas Festival, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the Olympic Training Center.

Book Eric to speak Contact

Short bio for hosts and press

Eric Barker is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Barking Up the Wrong Tree, which has sold over half a million copies in 19 languages, and Plays Well With Others, a USA Today bestseller. Over 500,000 people have subscribed to his newsletter, which explains the research on work, happiness and relationships in plain English. His work has been covered by The New York Times, The Atlantic and The Financial Times, and he has spoken at MIT, Google, the Aspen Ideas Festival, U.S. Central Command and the Olympic Training Center.

Download a photo of Eric

Hi. I’m Eric Barker.