Useful Delusions

The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain

Shankar Vedantam, Bill Mesler

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English

WW Norton & Co
13 April 2022

The self, ego, identity, personality

Self-deception does terrible harm to us, to our communities, and to the planet. But if it is so bad for us, why is it ubiquitous? In Useful Delusions, Shankar Vedantam and Bill Mesler argue that, paradoxically, self-deception can also play a vital role in our success and well-being.

The lies we tell ourselves sustain our daily interactions with friends, lovers, and coworkers. They can explain why some people live longer than others, why some couples remain in love and others don't, why some nations 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 what it really means to be human.

By: Shankar Vedantam, Bill Mesler
Imprint: WW Norton & Co
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 211mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 214g
ISBN: 9781324020288
ISBN 10: 1324020288
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 13 April 2022
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Shankar Vedantam is host of the Hidden Brain podcast and public radio show and the author of The Hidden Brain, a New York Times national bestseller. He lives in Washington, DC. Bill Mesler is the coauthor of A Brief History of Creation. He lives in Washington, DC.

Reviews for Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain

[A] scientifically informed, provocative and stylish study of self-deception.--Andrew Robinson Nature A lively and digestible book...Perhaps the book's most important point advises how to combat destructive delusions.--Matthew Hutson Wall Street Journal Powerful...[Vedantam] explains the phenomenon of deceit in general, and self-deception in particular, with the same plain language and gentle authority that his listeners have come to rely on.--Katie Hafner Washington Post Ingenious...A passionate, often counterintuitive, disturbingly convincing addition to the why-people-believe-stupid-things genre.-- Kirkus Reviews This excellent narrative nonfiction work will engage a variety of readers, and is a solid choice for book clubs who like to discuss current events.-- Library Journal (starred review) Useful Delusions takes us on a fascinating, enlightening tour of the human mind.--Karen R. Koenig New York Journal of Books Vedantam and Mesler pepper hard data with compelling stories to make their case. Vedantam's empathy and intuitive understanding of human nature, which shine on his popular 'Hidden Brain' podcast, come through in Useful Delusions.--Tali Sharot New York Times Book Review