Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain
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4.4 • 20 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
A Behavioral Scientist Notable Book of 2021
A Next Big Idea Club Best Nonfiction of 2021
From the New York Times best-selling author and host of Hidden Brain comes a thought-provoking look at the role of self-deception in human flourishing.
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.
Customer Reviews
Uplifting
I've had this sense of the brain’s deceptive powers since I was 13. I recall laying in my bed and realizing it was all in my head. This led to a depression that was only lifted by the power of delusions that got me to excel in high school!
This book put those inklings into a beautiful narrative. It humbly asks intellectuals to step off their high horses and walk with the crowd. You can't beat delusions by preaching facts from a safe distance. You have to walk in their shoes, understand their needs and respect evolution. It doesn't care about truth, it cares about what works, what keeps us alive despite the fact that we are just ‘mindful meat’ in a meaningless universe. Delusions prevent extinction! To be fair, though, they have also caused extinctions, but like everything in this world, moderation is key! Go forth and be delusional! But don't go crazy.
So, why is this uplifting? I am not sure but at the end of the book, I felt a load of responsibility lift from my shoulders. I no longer feel the need to disabuse people or myself for that matter, from mild or helpful delusions. I'm just gonna go with the flow and enjoy life! Not like a hedonist, but more like a reformed rationalist.