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You Are Not So Smart: Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, and 46 Other Ways You're Deluding Yourself - David McRaney
You Are Not So Smart: Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, and 46 Other Ways You're Deluding Yourself
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3.40 125
An entertaining illumination of the stupid beliefs that make us feel wise. You believe you are a rational, logical being who sees the world as it really is, but journalist David McRaney is here to tell you that you're as deluded as the rest of us. But that's OK- delusions keep us sane. You... show more
An entertaining illumination of the stupid beliefs that make us feel wise. You believe you are a rational, logical being who sees the world as it really is, but journalist David McRaney is here to tell you that you're as deluded as the rest of us. But that's OK- delusions keep us sane. You Are Not So Smart is a celebration of self-delusion. It's like a psychology class, with all the boring parts taken out, and with no homework.Based on the popular blog of the same name, You Are Not So Smart collects more than 46 of the lies we tell ourselves everyday, including: Dunbar's Number - Humans evolved to live in bands of roughly 150 individuals, the brain cannot handle more than that number. If you have more than 150 Facebook friends, they are surely not all real friends. Hindsight bias - When we learn something new, we reassure ourselves that we knew it all along. Confirmation bias - Our brains resist new ideas, instead paying attention only to findings that reinforce our preconceived notions. Brand loyalty - We reach for the same brand not because we trust its quality but because we want to reassure ourselves that we made a smart choice the last time we bought it. Packed with interesting sidebars and quick guides on cognition and common fallacies, You Are Not So Smart is a fascinating synthesis of cutting-edge psychology research to turn our minds inside out.
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Format: hardcover
ISBN: 9781592406593 (1592406599)
Publisher: Gotham
Pages no: 302
Edition language: English
Bookstores:
Community Reviews
1984
1984 rated it
I loved this book and recommend this as a must-read for any reader, regardless of the kind of book you usually prefer. You see, it's relevant. In fact, it's horribly relevant. Internet, the land of the ego, where everyone likes to be right (or as right as possible, twenty four seven) could use this ...
Dichotomygirl
Dichotomygirl rated it
3.0 You Are Not So Smart: Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, and 46 Other Ways You're Deluding Yourself
This was an interesting book, however I think that the Author could have been a little more tactful in his pointing out how we are all complete idiots.
Osho
Osho rated it
1.0 You Are Not So Smart: Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, and 46 Other Ways You're Deluding Yourself
Couldn't finish. Between the condescending, pseudo-jocular tone and the superficial (and sometimes incomplete/inadequate) explanations of the concepts and research, I was reasonably turned off. This is the only book I've returned in at least the last 15 years.
Stephanie's books and other things
Stephanie's books and other things rated it
4.0
Turns out everyone thinks they are somehow smarter than the people around them, everyone. We all are guilty of it. We walk into a Wal-mart, take a look around us and think “what a bunch of freaks, and always in Wal-mart” …..But we are also in Wal-mart as we make this judgment. I don’t go into tha...
viim
viim rated it
Solid collection of cognitive (et al) psych cases. I'd give this four stars if only the tone weren't so dreary. I understand this used to be a blog, and it would work in that medium. Good slant actually, the pessimism. In book form though, being put down at the end of every chapter made this feel de...
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