Useful delusions the power and paradox of the self-deceiving brain
"From the New York Times-bestselling author and host of NPR's Hidden Brain comes a thought-provoking exploration of deception's role in human success. Everyone agrees that lies and self-deception can do terrible harm to our lives, to our communities, and to the planet. But in Useful D...
| Main Authors: | Vedantam, Shankar (Author), Mesler, Bill (Author) |
|---|---|
| Format: | Books Print Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
New York, NY :
W. W. Norton & Company,
[2021]
|
| Edition: | First Edition. |
| Subjects: |
| Summary: |
"From the New York Times-bestselling author and host of NPR's Hidden Brain comes a thought-provoking exploration of deception's role in human success. Everyone agrees that lies and self-deception can do terrible harm to our lives, to our communities, and to the planet. But in Useful Delusions, host of NPR's Hidden Brain Shankar Vedantam argues that, paradoxically, deceiving ourselves and others can also play a vital role in human success and well-being. The lies we tell each other and the lies that we tell ourselves sustain our daily interactions with friends, lovers, and coworkers. They explain why some people live longer than others, why some couples remain in love and others don't, why some nations and tribes hold together while others splinter. Filled with powerful personal stories and drawing on new insights in psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, Useful Delusions offers a fascinating tour of an upside-down world"-- |
|---|---|
| Physical Description: |
xxv, 233 pages ; 24 cm |
| Bibliography: |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 219-224) and index. |
| ISBN: |
9780393652208 0393652203 |
| Author Notes: |
Bill Mesler is the coauthor of A Brief History of Creation. He lives in Washington, DC. |