Over in the New York Times Andy Revkin has a piece discussing the way that the general scientific view is that climate sensitivity is lower than many had previously assumed.
Granted, Brooks does note a general preference for high-status mates, a keen sensitivity to evidence of our standing in the various social hierarchies we inhabit, and he does cite some empirical evidence to the effect that successful people tend to be self-deceived about their place in the social pecking order.
And thanks to work out of Georgia Tech, tactile sensitivity for robotics, more secure e-signatures and general human-machine interaction is about to get a great 'ol boost.