This is an entertaining illumination of the stupid beliefs that make us feel wise. We all like to walk around acting as if we knew something all along, something that others don’t know, or that we’re the “smartest person in the room”. It’s part of our ego that helps us to compete and survive. 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. The author has fun going into each topic, and elaborating on them to help us see that we all have these various tendencies, and as the title says, “We Are Not so Smart”. 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:
– Cognitive bias: A predicted pattern of behavior leading to conclusion, many times the “wrong conclusion”. Cognitive bias reached information often leads to poor decisions and choices. We tend to believe what we already know, and ignore what we don’t know. This is called, “confirmation bias”.
– Hindsight Bias – You often look back on the things that you thought you knew, swear that you knew them all along.
– Brand Loyalty – you prefer the things you own because you can rationalize your decision to purchase them, and then protect this sense of self.
– The Argument for Authority – your decisions many times influenced by people you respect or in authority.
– “The Public Goods Game” – Without some sort of system of laws and rules in place, bad guys and bad people will take advantage of society. People don’t just contribute to the overall public good, just because.
– “Group-think” – trying to get along and avoid confrontation leads a lot of times to joining into groups and thinking alike.
– “The Spotlight Effect” – you think that you’re in the spotlight and people are always noticing you, but the truth is people seldom notice you as much as you notice you. They also tend not to pay attention to the things that you make a big deal out of it, because they’re paying attention to themselves.
– Self Handicapping – you often put yourself in a position of failure in order to protect your own ego.
– The Consistency Bias – unless you constantly keep tabs on yourself, you assume that you have always been that way you are, and you think the way that you have thought.
Overall, I found it to be a next lead read, and I really enjoyed being able to look at the various attributes at all of us possess, and cause us to think that we are a lot smarter than we actually are.
Fantastic book!
www.audible.com/pd/Nonfiction/You-Are-Not-So-Smart-Audiobook/B006K4GN56
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
