Unseen
Blind spots and why we miss what matters most
-
- Pre-Order
-
- Expected Apr 9, 2026
-
- $24.99
Publisher Description
The fascinating psychology of blindspots, their complex causes, and the alarming consequences of looking without seeing.
Can we believe our eyes? Most of us are confident that we can, but we shouldn't be so sure. Every day, we fail to see things that are right in front of us, miss sudden or unexpected changes and fall for illusions without realising it. The culprit? Blind spots. These hidden gaps in our perception are responsible for errors in operating machinery, diagnosing medical conditions, giving evidence in court and even influence how we invest our money or shop.
Unseen explores the hidden corners of the human mind where perception fails, from the everyday oversights to the deep-rooted cognitive biases that shape our worldview. Lifting the lid on how our minds shape what we see, neuropsychologist David Lewis and illusionist Keelan Leyser explore the different types of blind spots, why they occur, how they can be used to manipulate our thoughts and the practical steps we can take to avoid them.
What have you been missing?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Blind spots "prevent us from seeing what is there or encourage us to see what is not" and are frequently at the root of traffic accidents, medical misdiagnoses, unreliable eyewitness testimony, and conspiracy theories, according to this illuminating exploration from neuropsychologist Lewis (Impulse) and magician Leyser. The authors describe many kinds of blind spots: some are "inattentional" and result from the brain's selective filtering of a constant influx of sensory data, allowing stage magicians to put one over on audiences and potentially causing up to seven out of 10 car accidents. Other blind spots stem from ingrained stereotypes that prime the brain to see what it expects to, leading to such issues as unfair hiring practices (beautiful people are judged to be smarter and more trustworthy, and are more likely to be given jobs). Misinformation causes still other blind spots, with false stimuli—like doctored images and fake news stories—spurring the brain to fabricate corresponding false memories. The authors corral a broad range of examples, both serious and silly (famously, a woman saw the face of Jesus in a tortilla in 1977—an example of pareidolia, a related phenomenon where the brain interprets random shapes as familiar objects). Along the way, Lewis and Leyser show how subliminal priming influences the ways humans encounter the world, and provide commonsense strategies to avoid falling prey to such illusions and oversights. It's a riveting and relevant work of pop psychology.
