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What Makes Your Brain Happy and Why You Should Do the Opposite
This book reveals a remarkable what your brain wants is frequently not what your brain needs. In fact, much of what makes our brains "happy" leads to errors, biases, and distortions, which make getting out of our own way extremely difficult. Author David DiSalvo presents evidence from evolutionary and social psychology, cognitive science, neurology, and even marketing and economics. And he interviews many of the top thinkers in psychology and neuroscience today. From this research-based platform, DiSalvo draws out insights that we can use to identify our brains' foibles and turn our awareness into edifying action. Ultimately, he argues, the research does not serve up ready-made answers, but provides us with actionable clues for overcoming the plight of our advanced brains and, consequently, living more fulfilled lives.
309 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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12968 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
October 31, 2012
Books like this make me wish I could afford to hire a research assistant to read and summarize as a one-page document. Yes, the content is very useful, but DiSalvo spins out what would be an interesting article into a full-length book.
September 24, 2018
This is a long review, so I divided it into two parts: essential information at the beginning, and auxiliary information afterwards.
Pros:
-easy to read
-interesting topics.
-some chapters are ok. A few misrepresentations of data, but at least ample reference to studies and professional opinions.
Cons:
-like any good lie, it's a mix of truth and lies, with insufficient evidence. This makes it a very misleading book.
-He makes wild claims that do not correspond to actual consolidated knowledge, without the evidence (relevant research) that such diverging claims would require.
-Hypocrisy: first chapter is all about confirmation bias, when in fact his entire book is based on whatever and only whatever confirms his bias, without any hint of research done to look into where others disagree, thus falling for the first human failing he mentions.
-Anecdotal evidence: he uses anecdotes not just to better explain a phenomenon but as proof of its existence, which any half baked scientist knows is anti-scientific. Also, he uses "thought exercises" in the same way. He has experiments all over, but often they are very basic or not relevant.
-Very little space given to explaining whatever research he cites as "proof". Example, he says that people are impulsive and tend to not think about future consequences when there's present gratification to be had. To this, there's a note in the appendix citing a research paper about impulsive eating. Now is that really something that you can generalize upon, even if intuitively it seems right that people are impulsive in many things? Anyway, he doesn't actually mention this aspect in his chapter.
-there's more but I think the idea is clear
If you want to read good books on similar subjects, try authors Dan Ariely, Ian Leslie, Micheal Shermer or books like "Mistakes were Made (But Not By Me)". Also, if you want an example of a book promoting new ideas in a proper way without being too dry, read Cordelia Fine's "Delusions of Gender."
If you're a psychologist/neuroscientist/etc I suggest you don't read this. If you're a layman, I implore you not to read this.
disclaimer: I am referring to the first 3 chapters. Of the others, either I didn't read, or do not know enough about the subject to judge whether he's saying the truth or not. In fact he does later mention a few experiments, but then draws conclusions of epic proportions. I didn't want to keep reading because knowing that the chapters of subjects I'm familiar with were wrong, I did not want to fill my head with wrong information of things I didn't know yet, nor automatically dismiss information in case he's actually right.
Other disclaimer: I take it as a personal insult when authors of any kind claim that the human mind doesn't work properly. Sure if you only point out the mistakes we make it may seem like that, but I'll have you know that we get by just fine most of the time (if you hadn't noticed). It's like saying "our visual perception is crap, it's not a faithful representation of reality, just look at all the optical illusions we fall for". And the rest of the time? Do we blunder into walls because we don't perceive distances and sizes properly? Do we mistake our white cat for our gray cat because the first is standing in the shade, the second in the light?
personal disclaimer #2: I was heavily influenced by the poor work done in the first two chapters. Later chapter proved much better, but I really just couldn't trust him anymore.
Further points for anyone not convinced:
-He presents your brain like it's a separate entity from yourself. Cognitive Science 101: you ARE your brain. Either you believe in the soul and everything that intuitive dualism implies, or you believe in materialism, and that only matter exists (which is what science believes).
-vagueness. "Lots of us" "Some people" "a good number" "more than half" "almost everyone". Often he doesn't use actual percentages (some chapters get it, others don't), despite referring to specific studies that were done (and therefore have said percentages available), and instead use those vague expressions, some interchangeably (like the last two). "Many people are internet dependent": is that "many" because it's more than you'd want, or is it a big percentage of internet users, like 70%? You can use "many" if you're trying to assure someone that they're "not the only one", not when you're explaining a psychological phenomenon!
-typical view point of "now things are worse than ever", like "now solitude is more common then ever." You really think it's more common now then when 80% of the world lived in the country? And even if it is, whose data are you basing this claim on? that well renowned psychologist of the 13th century?
-data distortion. Between 102%, 96% and 88%, which two would you group together? Apparently 102 is "much more" than the other two for Mr. DiSalvo.
The main problem is that his references are other psy-pop books rather than university level textbooks/articles, so it's like watering mineral water (in the end, there's almost nothing left). If you want the real information, read his "bibliography". All those books are very legible.
Pros:
-easy to read
-interesting topics.
-some chapters are ok. A few misrepresentations of data, but at least ample reference to studies and professional opinions.
Cons:
-like any good lie, it's a mix of truth and lies, with insufficient evidence. This makes it a very misleading book.
-He makes wild claims that do not correspond to actual consolidated knowledge, without the evidence (relevant research) that such diverging claims would require.
-Hypocrisy: first chapter is all about confirmation bias, when in fact his entire book is based on whatever and only whatever confirms his bias, without any hint of research done to look into where others disagree, thus falling for the first human failing he mentions.
-Anecdotal evidence: he uses anecdotes not just to better explain a phenomenon but as proof of its existence, which any half baked scientist knows is anti-scientific. Also, he uses "thought exercises" in the same way. He has experiments all over, but often they are very basic or not relevant.
-Very little space given to explaining whatever research he cites as "proof". Example, he says that people are impulsive and tend to not think about future consequences when there's present gratification to be had. To this, there's a note in the appendix citing a research paper about impulsive eating. Now is that really something that you can generalize upon, even if intuitively it seems right that people are impulsive in many things? Anyway, he doesn't actually mention this aspect in his chapter.
-there's more but I think the idea is clear
If you want to read good books on similar subjects, try authors Dan Ariely, Ian Leslie, Micheal Shermer or books like "Mistakes were Made (But Not By Me)". Also, if you want an example of a book promoting new ideas in a proper way without being too dry, read Cordelia Fine's "Delusions of Gender."
If you're a psychologist/neuroscientist/etc I suggest you don't read this. If you're a layman, I implore you not to read this.
disclaimer: I am referring to the first 3 chapters. Of the others, either I didn't read, or do not know enough about the subject to judge whether he's saying the truth or not. In fact he does later mention a few experiments, but then draws conclusions of epic proportions. I didn't want to keep reading because knowing that the chapters of subjects I'm familiar with were wrong, I did not want to fill my head with wrong information of things I didn't know yet, nor automatically dismiss information in case he's actually right.
Other disclaimer: I take it as a personal insult when authors of any kind claim that the human mind doesn't work properly. Sure if you only point out the mistakes we make it may seem like that, but I'll have you know that we get by just fine most of the time (if you hadn't noticed). It's like saying "our visual perception is crap, it's not a faithful representation of reality, just look at all the optical illusions we fall for". And the rest of the time? Do we blunder into walls because we don't perceive distances and sizes properly? Do we mistake our white cat for our gray cat because the first is standing in the shade, the second in the light?
personal disclaimer #2: I was heavily influenced by the poor work done in the first two chapters. Later chapter proved much better, but I really just couldn't trust him anymore.
Further points for anyone not convinced:
-He presents your brain like it's a separate entity from yourself. Cognitive Science 101: you ARE your brain. Either you believe in the soul and everything that intuitive dualism implies, or you believe in materialism, and that only matter exists (which is what science believes).
-vagueness. "Lots of us" "Some people" "a good number" "more than half" "almost everyone". Often he doesn't use actual percentages (some chapters get it, others don't), despite referring to specific studies that were done (and therefore have said percentages available), and instead use those vague expressions, some interchangeably (like the last two). "Many people are internet dependent": is that "many" because it's more than you'd want, or is it a big percentage of internet users, like 70%? You can use "many" if you're trying to assure someone that they're "not the only one", not when you're explaining a psychological phenomenon!
-typical view point of "now things are worse than ever", like "now solitude is more common then ever." You really think it's more common now then when 80% of the world lived in the country? And even if it is, whose data are you basing this claim on? that well renowned psychologist of the 13th century?
-data distortion. Between 102%, 96% and 88%, which two would you group together? Apparently 102 is "much more" than the other two for Mr. DiSalvo.
The main problem is that his references are other psy-pop books rather than university level textbooks/articles, so it's like watering mineral water (in the end, there's almost nothing left). If you want the real information, read his "bibliography". All those books are very legible.
January 22, 2012
Absolutely fascinating book about the brain (and its neurons) and how it affects our personalities and our thinking. It tells us useful so many uselful things that I can't explain them all. Here are a couple.
In a political discussion, the one side will maintain adamantly their opinion is the correct one, yet the other side will maintain just as vigorously that their side is correct. The conversation can get quite heated. Why is this so? Sometimes the conversation can get so heated that neither side is listening rationally to the other side. One side could give logical, reasonable evidence that his/her side is correct, yet the other side is so blinded by the need to be right, that it isn't able to absorb the logical, reasonable evidence in front of them. THERE ARE BIOLOGICAL, CEREBRAL REASONS FOR THIS! The author of the book explains why, physically, the brain wants to be right at all costs.
Our brains (and personalities) don't like change. There are biological, cerebral reasons for this. The book explains how and why our brains don't like change (and aren't "happy"). For example, Copernicus said the earth revolved around the sun. The people at that time didn't like this change. They thought the sun revolved around the earth, and it "hurt" their brains to think otherwise. The author explains how sometimes we must do things that "hurt" our brains, making them unhappy, for the overall good. Another example occured with the author's wife. She wanted to skydive. Her brain didn't want her to. In fact, every physical signal she received from her body and brain said, "No, don't do it." Yet, she overcame the need to keep her brain happy, and jumped out of a plane. I'm sure she feels that in this case, it was good to overcome what made her brain happy and do something that made her brain unhappy at the time.
I recommend this book to anybody who finds the workings of the brain interesting.
In a political discussion, the one side will maintain adamantly their opinion is the correct one, yet the other side will maintain just as vigorously that their side is correct. The conversation can get quite heated. Why is this so? Sometimes the conversation can get so heated that neither side is listening rationally to the other side. One side could give logical, reasonable evidence that his/her side is correct, yet the other side is so blinded by the need to be right, that it isn't able to absorb the logical, reasonable evidence in front of them. THERE ARE BIOLOGICAL, CEREBRAL REASONS FOR THIS! The author of the book explains why, physically, the brain wants to be right at all costs.
Our brains (and personalities) don't like change. There are biological, cerebral reasons for this. The book explains how and why our brains don't like change (and aren't "happy"). For example, Copernicus said the earth revolved around the sun. The people at that time didn't like this change. They thought the sun revolved around the earth, and it "hurt" their brains to think otherwise. The author explains how sometimes we must do things that "hurt" our brains, making them unhappy, for the overall good. Another example occured with the author's wife. She wanted to skydive. Her brain didn't want her to. In fact, every physical signal she received from her body and brain said, "No, don't do it." Yet, she overcame the need to keep her brain happy, and jumped out of a plane. I'm sure she feels that in this case, it was good to overcome what made her brain happy and do something that made her brain unhappy at the time.
I recommend this book to anybody who finds the workings of the brain interesting.
March 31, 2012
I had high hopes for this book because the author framed it as "science-help" as opposed to self help. So I was hoping for some specific techniques to help me avoid the cognitive biases he describes. Most of the books is a quite standard description of cognitive biases, and not so bad if you haven't been introduced to them yet.
Chapter 15 was as close as he got to fulfilling his promise. It consists of 50 suggestions or aphorisms, each paired with a paragraph of discussion. But they are almost all so abstract as to be useless. I guess I will just have to wait for training from the Center for Modern Rationality.
Chapter 15 was as close as he got to fulfilling his promise. It consists of 50 suggestions or aphorisms, each paired with a paragraph of discussion. But they are almost all so abstract as to be useless. I guess I will just have to wait for training from the Center for Modern Rationality.
September 1, 2013
This book is an addition to the collection of how to hack the aspects of our brains that tend to get us into trouble. DiSalvo is a science writer who has written an accessible "science help" book that should be quite useful to just about anyone.
Among the topics discussed are the brain's craving for certainty and how it can trick us into feeling certain even when we have no reason to; how our tendency to discount the future can cause bad decisions now, how poor we are at judging when someone is lying and how certain circumstances can make us even worse, and how our brains can be influenced by those around us in ways that are both helpful and destructive.
Though many of the topics in this book were familiar to me, a good third of the information was new. DiSalvo also presented some of the ideas I was familiar with in a more effective fashion; he helped me to see how my urge to get things off my desk is less an effect of efficiency but instead the result of a certain kind of brain discomfort that often impairs quality of work.
He ends the book with a 50-point summary checklist of the ideas presented and how to implement them in a practical fashion. Given how prone the brain is to making shortcuts that often don't serve us and how difficult it can be to overcome these tendencies, this is a particularly handy guide that would be worth rereading on a regular basis.
Among the topics discussed are the brain's craving for certainty and how it can trick us into feeling certain even when we have no reason to; how our tendency to discount the future can cause bad decisions now, how poor we are at judging when someone is lying and how certain circumstances can make us even worse, and how our brains can be influenced by those around us in ways that are both helpful and destructive.
Though many of the topics in this book were familiar to me, a good third of the information was new. DiSalvo also presented some of the ideas I was familiar with in a more effective fashion; he helped me to see how my urge to get things off my desk is less an effect of efficiency but instead the result of a certain kind of brain discomfort that often impairs quality of work.
He ends the book with a 50-point summary checklist of the ideas presented and how to implement them in a practical fashion. Given how prone the brain is to making shortcuts that often don't serve us and how difficult it can be to overcome these tendencies, this is a particularly handy guide that would be worth rereading on a regular basis.
December 26, 2011
With one eye on neuroscience and the other on cognitive psychology, DiSalvo reveals what's "behind the curtain" when it comes to common self-defeating human behaviors. For example, why, if you think you've "blown your diet" by exceeding the calorie limit you set for the day, most likely you'll blow through it all the way, thinking "oh what the hell." It turns out what the hell is a pre-wired response. As is overconfidence about your ability to restrain yourself in the first place, thus the reason why "moderation" is tougher than plain ole abstinence. There's tons of stuff like these in this new book, written in an engaging yet erudite style anyone can grasp. DiSalvo shuns the self help label and calls his book "Science help" ...nonetheless he adds a bit of how to use this insight at the end of every chapter.
January 23, 2012
An eye opening read that will have you nodding your head in agreement in every page, thinking, yes, I do that - but this book helps us to understand why we won't admit when we're wrong, or why we see patterns in random events. I enjoyed this book but when I lent it to a friend who didn't have a science background, she told me she had to look up too many words. Di Salvo does have quite an extensive vocabulary but, as someone with an interest in popular science, I found the book approachable and readable.
September 28, 2013
I listened to the audiobook, which seems to have been "born audio". I was expecting a mass audience, management/personal development book, the kind produced for businessmen to listen to as they commute. I was pleasantly surprised to find this book to be more in-depth. It covered the work of many behavioral economists, whose work is often cited by authors like Dan Ariely and similar authors. However, this book added just a bit more and talked about some scientific observations of human decision making in the scope of anthropology and social development. Really, a nice book.
February 17, 2019
Нито риба, нито рак. Нито сериозно изследване, нито книга за самопомощ, или по-скоро книга за самопомощ с малко терминология за дегизировка и разни не дотам любопитни експерименти. Да, клишетата и стереотипите са мързеливият начин за мозъка да извърши максимум операции с минимум ресурси, поддържайки равновесие. И да, еволюцията на човека диша прахта на културата, и я я настигне в близкия милион години, я не. А човешките инстинкти все така на моменти ще реагират неадекватно спрямо отдавна изчезнали още в палеолита опасности, и ще ни вкарват в беля.
Авторът е забравил за какво изобщо е писал книгата - няма нито въпроси, нито отговори. А хитринките как да залъжем първобитната информационна система в нас са от основното училище - само куп вече известни факти. Макар и често неприлагани, въпреки че всички ги знаем.
Авторът е забравил за какво изобщо е писал книгата - няма нито въпроси, нито отговори. А хитринките как да залъжем първобитната информационна система в нас са от основното училище - само куп вече известни факти. Макар и често неприлагани, въпреки че всички ги знаем.
March 3, 2021
Cool words and phrases I got from this book
problematic memes
the pleasure of certainty
framing bias
confirmation bias
amygdalae
the need for cognitive closure
embodied cognition
the zeigarnik effect
I just need to go through my bookmarks and dog ears to remind myself what they mean.
A nice book that basically says in our human desire for certainty we will bend, change, morph our thinking to avoid being uncomfortable or acknowledge ambiguity or uncertainty.
problematic memes
the pleasure of certainty
framing bias
confirmation bias
amygdalae
the need for cognitive closure
embodied cognition
the zeigarnik effect
I just need to go through my bookmarks and dog ears to remind myself what they mean.
A nice book that basically says in our human desire for certainty we will bend, change, morph our thinking to avoid being uncomfortable or acknowledge ambiguity or uncertainty.
January 1, 2020
I probably shouldn't have read this book at roughly the same time as I read Thinking Fast and Slow. I think that tainted my perceptions of this book too harshly.
Best case scenario, this book is TFaS lite. At least the first third of the book tracks almost exactly with key segments of that one. The difference is, Daniel Kahneman in TFaS loads his concepts with science and studies as well as peppering his ideas with practical anecdotes and illustrations. DiSalvo takes those same anecdotes and illustrations and then applies them in ways that are sometimes not... quite... right. To be fair, for someone who isn't willing to wade through that much better (but drier) work, there is still a lot to learn here but you will just have to be careful to separate fact from opinion.
At first, I really did like DiSalvo's late chapter where he summarizes in a short paragraph or two fifty of the key ideas that each earned a chapter earlier on. But then I realized this summary was a whole bunch of "you should do this" and "you should do that" but absolutely no practical "how". This is a problem that is actually throughout the book. There is a whole lot of "why" but absolutely no "how".
In all, this book is OK, but there are a bunch of better books out there that cover a lot of the same ground in a better way. Kahneman's Thinking Fast and Slow and Ariely's Predictably Irrational come quickly to mind.
Best case scenario, this book is TFaS lite. At least the first third of the book tracks almost exactly with key segments of that one. The difference is, Daniel Kahneman in TFaS loads his concepts with science and studies as well as peppering his ideas with practical anecdotes and illustrations. DiSalvo takes those same anecdotes and illustrations and then applies them in ways that are sometimes not... quite... right. To be fair, for someone who isn't willing to wade through that much better (but drier) work, there is still a lot to learn here but you will just have to be careful to separate fact from opinion.
At first, I really did like DiSalvo's late chapter where he summarizes in a short paragraph or two fifty of the key ideas that each earned a chapter earlier on. But then I realized this summary was a whole bunch of "you should do this" and "you should do that" but absolutely no practical "how". This is a problem that is actually throughout the book. There is a whole lot of "why" but absolutely no "how".
In all, this book is OK, but there are a bunch of better books out there that cover a lot of the same ground in a better way. Kahneman's Thinking Fast and Slow and Ariely's Predictably Irrational come quickly to mind.
June 23, 2012
This seemed like it would be good at the start, but it ended up being a sequence of theory / list of studies, theory/list of studies which I didn't feel was done in a satisfying way. I much preferred "The Power of Habit" which didn't come across so much as a collection of study summaries with some text by the author to link them together.
March 6, 2012
Skimmed through the last parts of this book because it was due back at the library, but this book deserves a second read. Excellent insights into ways we think and act that often undermine our best interests. Reduces much of the latest research in neuroscience to manageable reading.
May 15, 2012
A fascinating round up of research that shows how our brain can trick us into self-defeating behaviour. What I like about this book is that it isn't trying to claim it holds the key to a better life. Instead it teaches you to become aware of the mechanisms your brain may use to make decisions and drive behaviour, and when those mechanisms may act against your best interests. He argues that just being aware of those things is the beginning of overcoming them and making better decisions, while at the same time acknowledging that the human brain is complex and there is no quick fix.
This book supports my own long-held belief that biologically we are complete unsuitable for the environment we've built for ourselves. Society has rapidly outpaced evolution to the extent that every day is a private struggle against our biology.
I've always found cognitive psychology an interest subject, and I'm intrigued by studies that show how the human brain works in unexpected ways. Take for example trust. Trust is an important part of society, and this book highlights studies that show how con artists and salesman can trick us far easier than we may think possible. One key aspect of trust is that our brains really want to extend it to someone who has shown trust in us. In trying to con something out of us, they may first give us something of their own and acknowledge that there is a chance we could just run off with it, but "don't worry I trust you". This sets off a need in our own brains to show that we reciprocate that trust - and therefore leaves us wide open for exploitation.
I'll be looking out for more books from this author in the future.
This book supports my own long-held belief that biologically we are complete unsuitable for the environment we've built for ourselves. Society has rapidly outpaced evolution to the extent that every day is a private struggle against our biology.
I've always found cognitive psychology an interest subject, and I'm intrigued by studies that show how the human brain works in unexpected ways. Take for example trust. Trust is an important part of society, and this book highlights studies that show how con artists and salesman can trick us far easier than we may think possible. One key aspect of trust is that our brains really want to extend it to someone who has shown trust in us. In trying to con something out of us, they may first give us something of their own and acknowledge that there is a chance we could just run off with it, but "don't worry I trust you". This sets off a need in our own brains to show that we reciprocate that trust - and therefore leaves us wide open for exploitation.
I'll be looking out for more books from this author in the future.
March 31, 2021
If you are really eager to read this clickbaity book, do yourself a favor and just read the penultimate chapter where you will find the main points jumbled together. The examples are dry and uninteresting, although it's an easy read that doesn't say much (especially if you've already read a formidable number of psychology self-help books). Also, the "research" bits seemed to have been copied from the Internet since no references were provided. I thought my brain would have liked this book, but alas, I shouldn't have picked it up.
September 12, 2015
This book is so poorly written that it turned one of my favourite things to read about into a chore - I gave up after 150 pages.
The pattern of each chapter:
1. Author tells half a story to introduce the next topic and then says, 'But more on that later.'
2. List of about 5 different experiments that are slightly related.
3. Return to initial story for 2 sentences.
4. 'The next chapter will explore this further...'
It's tedious.
The pattern of each chapter:
1. Author tells half a story to introduce the next topic and then says, 'But more on that later.'
2. List of about 5 different experiments that are slightly related.
3. Return to initial story for 2 sentences.
4. 'The next chapter will explore this further...'
It's tedious.
September 6, 2017
So interesting. Our brains want to be right at all costs. Opens up even more questions while reading this at the same time as 'You are a Bad Ass'. Our minds are stubborn childish and competitive little things.
April 28, 2017
DiSalvo's book is a very good theoretical, scientific and also practical work (the author mentions theories and other researchers' outcomes as well as several scientific experiments and useful tips in everyday life). Here are my favorite highlights from the book, some useful and interesting thoughts, what made me think:
* motivation with competitional "skills" are not always effective: sometimes the more you are/feel compared with somebody, the less you are motivated
* build motivation around yourself, as Bob the Builder does: instead of constantly reassuring yourself with "I can do this! I can do this!", try to question and challenge yourself: "Can I do this?"
* you should establish the terms and deadlines for yourself, don't let others do that for you!
* transactive memory, as well as transactive self-control (e.g. at couples who complete each other's sentences and memories) could be an effective, energy-saving strategy of the brain, to reach long-term goals
* don't forget: the happy brain is protective, predictive and conservative
* even our deepest, safest pillars, our memories can be manipulated and influenced
* the happy brain imitates behaviours - we humans are the best imitators on the planet
* try to elevate awareness then take action
* metacognition is my new best friend (to pause to examine what's going on)! - understanding why we are doing what we are doing initiates a huge change in thinking, so think about thinking!
* always be aware of your pre-existing beliefs
* check your availability bias too, because it's common that we often decide based on the few available info we know
* engage others to help you keep up with your goals - ask to check you during the process, ask opinions
* the happy brain focuses on the short term (e.g. in losing weight, quitting smoking): so search for short term rewards what lead to long term benefits
* make goals tangible and measurable, because the happy brain is value and reward oriented (feedback analysis)
* finish what you start: incompleteness means instability for the brain
* the simple goal of staying busy also can inspire us, so do something! Start with anything!
* don't digest that past decision that much, learn from your missteps instead and go forward
* you don't know what you don't know
* motivation with competitional "skills" are not always effective: sometimes the more you are/feel compared with somebody, the less you are motivated
* build motivation around yourself, as Bob the Builder does: instead of constantly reassuring yourself with "I can do this! I can do this!", try to question and challenge yourself: "Can I do this?"
* you should establish the terms and deadlines for yourself, don't let others do that for you!
* transactive memory, as well as transactive self-control (e.g. at couples who complete each other's sentences and memories) could be an effective, energy-saving strategy of the brain, to reach long-term goals
* don't forget: the happy brain is protective, predictive and conservative
* even our deepest, safest pillars, our memories can be manipulated and influenced
* the happy brain imitates behaviours - we humans are the best imitators on the planet
* try to elevate awareness then take action
* metacognition is my new best friend (to pause to examine what's going on)! - understanding why we are doing what we are doing initiates a huge change in thinking, so think about thinking!
* always be aware of your pre-existing beliefs
* check your availability bias too, because it's common that we often decide based on the few available info we know
* engage others to help you keep up with your goals - ask to check you during the process, ask opinions
* the happy brain focuses on the short term (e.g. in losing weight, quitting smoking): so search for short term rewards what lead to long term benefits
* make goals tangible and measurable, because the happy brain is value and reward oriented (feedback analysis)
* finish what you start: incompleteness means instability for the brain
* the simple goal of staying busy also can inspire us, so do something! Start with anything!
* don't digest that past decision that much, learn from your missteps instead and go forward
* you don't know what you don't know
August 17, 2020
It's good information, but the organization is fairly incoherent. This is mostly due to the content, which isn't really aimed at a single argument. Instead, it's just a collection of facts that the author did his best to categorize. The problem is that there isn't a progression of any sort, which made it difficult to stick with. The one thing he did have control over was how he handled practical matters, which I think he choose wrongly on. He added a final chapter to provide some practical advice for what to do everything presented, but I wish that had been integrated into the chapters themselves instead of added at the end, and many of the practical steps are overly specific and lacking detail. I will note, however, that I appreciate the special section listing further reading. That was a nice add, and I appreciate the summaries he provided for each book.
June 19, 2018
First and last chapter read. Fav bits: science- not self-help - using sound research instead of pop psychology to help make better choices. “What differentiates scientific assertions from the droves of poorly grounded self-help and pseudoscience is [the process of scientific investigation.] It... is, in a sense, bent on self destruction. It doesn’t trumpet the perfection of its outcomes; it calls out for challenges...” (p24). Also, be gentle with your brain. Help it with good habits, beneficial rewards, checklists, and stopping often to check your thinking against old frameworks and biases.
December 16, 2019
If you've never read any book on cognitive behavioural science, this is the book for you...
May 13, 2012
There's a lot of good information it in here. Some of it I'd seen before in other similar books regarding psychology and sociology, but many things were new to me.
What makes this different from other books in its genre is that this touches on what changes we can make to improve ourselves, based on the way our minds work. This isn't a self-help book, but it may make you question your perspective on the world and your place in it.
This is neither a weight loss (or other self-help) how-to, nor a cognitive science text. It is full of studies and data regarding human behavior but written so as to be accessible for any reader, and affords readers insight as to why they may be participating in certain behaviors they don't understand.
What makes this different from other books in its genre is that this touches on what changes we can make to improve ourselves, based on the way our minds work. This isn't a self-help book, but it may make you question your perspective on the world and your place in it.
This is neither a weight loss (or other self-help) how-to, nor a cognitive science text. It is full of studies and data regarding human behavior but written so as to be accessible for any reader, and affords readers insight as to why they may be participating in certain behaviors they don't understand.
March 5, 2015
A presentation of some of the ways in which the human brain deceives us to believe things that are not totally right.
PROS:
It's a short book and it does have some nice information that maybe you do not know.
CONS:
It's terribly boring and the writing is clumsy. Please do not misunderstand me; I am a geek and I love to learn about the brain. That's why I thought the book would be wonderful, but I was very disappointed as I advanced through it. Moreover, pretty much all of the book is based on psychological studies that offer little for a convincing conclusion about the subject.
CONCLUSION:
The topic is interesting, the writing is boring and cluttered. I think there may be better books that cover the topic as well.
PROS:
It's a short book and it does have some nice information that maybe you do not know.
CONS:
It's terribly boring and the writing is clumsy. Please do not misunderstand me; I am a geek and I love to learn about the brain. That's why I thought the book would be wonderful, but I was very disappointed as I advanced through it. Moreover, pretty much all of the book is based on psychological studies that offer little for a convincing conclusion about the subject.
CONCLUSION:
The topic is interesting, the writing is boring and cluttered. I think there may be better books that cover the topic as well.
July 22, 2012
Possibly a good introduction to cognitive biases for the uninitiated. A little more self-helpy than I was expecting, but self-awaredly so; and now that I write that, I think this might actually be a good introductory book for a teen or promising-but-not-yet-fossilized young adult. It seems like the kind of nudge that could lead to better self-knowledge.
June 11, 2016
Didn't finish. Read about half and couldn't get into it. Superficial in many ways and kind of self-helpy despite trying to distance itself from that genre. The focus isn't on science so much as deriving insights for self-improvement. Not convinced adequate data is used to derive said insights. Was hoping for more hard science.
April 2, 2012
very good information on how our brains trick us and how to be aware of it. this guy believes in science-based advice, not self-help so it's stuff you can actually use. the reading list and blogs at the end were excellent.
Currently reading
January 23, 2013So far...enjoying this book!
I read "self help" type books differently today>> new research offers insight into the most mysterious organ in our body, the brain. And in that endeavor, it's fascinating! The reader can explore answers that were not previously considered!
I read "self help" type books differently today>> new research offers insight into the most mysterious organ in our body, the brain. And in that endeavor, it's fascinating! The reader can explore answers that were not previously considered!
September 17, 2019
Книгата лежи върху доста интересни изследвания, които обясняват определени поведения на човека. Изключително интересен научен труд, представен по достъпен и увлекателен начин. Има много какво да се научи от книгата.
December 4, 2012
I wanted to like it more, but it was just a little too random. I would stick with "Thinking, Fast and Slow" and "Stumbling on Happiness" instead.
June 10, 2013
Really good read about why we make poor choices and how to avoid those mistakes. Best of all are the bibliography and additional case studies at the end. Well worth a read.
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