Book Review: The Science of the Good Samaritan: Thinking Bigger about Loving Our Neighbors

Dr. Emily Smith’s The Science of the Good Samaritan: Thinking Bigger about Loving Our Neighbors is a thoughtful exploration of the psychology and social science behind compassion, empathy, and helping others. Drawing on a wide range of research, Smith demonstrates how our brains, environments, and habits influence whether we notice and respond to the needs of those around us. The book is well-researched and offers practical insights for anyone seeking to become more attentive and compassionate.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to translate scientific research into practical application. Smith highlights how busyness, distraction, and the “bystander effect” often keep people from noticing opportunities to help others. She also emphasizes that intentional habits of slowing down, paying attention, and practicing empathy make us more likely to respond when someone is in need. These findings are valuable reminders that loving our neighbors requires more than good intentions—it requires intentionality.

Another helpful takeaway is the importance of repeated, small acts of kindness. Research cited throughout the book suggests that compassion grows through practice and that simple, consistent actions can strengthen both individuals and communities. Rather than waiting for extraordinary opportunities to serve, we become more neighborly by faithfully engaging in ordinary moments of care.

Where the book falls short is in its definition of “neighbor.” Smith adopts a broad perspective that effectively treats every person we encounter as our neighbor. While there is certainly biblical support for extending compassion to all people, this expansive definition can unintentionally dilute the responsibility we have toward those who live closest to us. If everyone is equally our neighbor, it becomes easy to care generally about humanity while overlooking the people who live next door.

This is where Dave Runyon’s The Art of Neighboring offers an important corrective. Runyon argues that many Americans have embraced the idea of loving everyone while failing to know even the names of their immediate neighbors. In practice, this broad definition has often resulted in “neighboring all the day” without developing meaningful relationships with the people God has placed closest to us geographically. Genuine neighboring begins with proximity, presence, and relationship—not simply with a willingness to help anyone we happen to encounter.

Ultimately, The Science of the Good Samaritan is worth reading for its excellent presentation of the science behind compassion and helping behavior. Readers will gain practical insights into overcoming distraction, cultivating empathy, and developing habits of kindness. However, those looking for a more biblically grounded and relational understanding of neighboring will likely find the book’s broad definition incomplete. Combining Smith’s scientific insights with Runyon’s emphasis on investing deeply in one’s literal neighbors provides a more balanced and practical vision of what it means to love our neighbors well.

WRITTEN BY

David L. Burton

For more information, visit the Engaged Neighbor website. Take our pledge and become part of a movement! Or subscribe to our newsletter. Access some of the research documents written by David Burton, the author of this blog. Or better yet, purchase one of his books off Amazon. Contact David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.