The Daily Stat: Your Acquaintances Would More Than Fill Two Boeing 787s

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   AUTHORS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile FEBRUARY 27, 2013 Your Acquaintances Would More Than Fill Two Boeing 787s Each adult American knows, on average, 600 people, Andrew Gelman of Columbia University writes in The New York Times. The estimate is based on an ingenious method: Asking a sample of individuals how many people they know with a variety of memorable names such as Brenda and Keith (because people with such names are easily recalled), then factoring in the prevalence of those names in U.S. society. Despite the large number of acquaintances, most Americans know just 10 to 25 people well enough to trust them, Gelman says. Source: The Average American Knows How Many People? Share Today's Stat: FEATURED PRODUCT Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works EBook Now Available A.G. Lafley and Roger Martin — one of the most successful business duos of the past century. With Lafley at the helm of P&G during its renowned turnaround and Martin as his strategic partner and adviser, they helped to double P&G's sales and push both profits and market value through the roof. Now it's time for you to take a page from their strategy playbook. PLAYING TO WIN, available now. It's the book everyone is talking about. "Strategy lessons, 101..." — Financial Times. "a fascinating tale..." — The Economist. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Stat: BEST SELLERS HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR's 10 Must Reads Boxed Set HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations HBR Guide to Better Business Writing HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done PREVIOUS STATS Gender Imbalance in China Boosts GDP Growth Why CEO Effectiveness Starts to Decline After Just a Few Years Slow Internet Speeds in China Hamper Business Your Openness May Bode Well for Your Long-Term Job Prospects Even Government Workers Will Eventually Lose Their Pensions Big Food Companies Are Training You to Like Less Salt Politically Conservative Shoppers Shun Generics and New Products A Nearby Meth Lab Depresses the Value of Your Home Number of Users Spending Less Time on Facebook Outweighs Number Spending More Time How Long Do You Expect to Live? It Depends on How You're Asked Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "The Daily Stat" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)