You Are Not So Smart: Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, an d 46 Other Ways You're Deluding Yourself

¡ Sold by Penguin
4.5
66 reviews
Ebook
320
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

4.5
66 reviews
Cancer Alli
August 12, 2013
This book is a vast collection of little known human brain operations; all of which successfully trick you; sometimes these inconspicuous functions prove beneficial, sometimes neutral (yet slightly deceiving), even sometimes fear-inducing that your own brain can possibly "have it out for you." It is an easy, yet fascinating read, which allows the reader the freedom to devour it in days or to peruse the short yet educational parts at their leisure. Hilariously written. Anyone would enjoy it.
15 people found this review helpful
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Rennie Valdez
September 5, 2020
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Ivan Miguel
June 27, 2015
It's a nice read that lets you in on a lot of psychology tricks. However some chapters seem repetitive. Overall a good read.
18 people found this review helpful
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About the author

A two-time winner of the William Randolph Hearst Award, journalist David McRaney writes the blog youarenotsosmart.com. A self-described psychology nerd, he lives in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

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