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seak's review against another edition
5.0
To this day, this is the book I recommend the most. Partly because I pretty much only read fantasy books and that only works for certain (awesome) people, but mostly because this book does such a good job explaining how the brain works that I still remember much of the book today.
Think Malcolm Gladwell's Blink, but with much better explanations and less exciting writing.
Actually these two books use quite a number of the same studies to make their points, but where Gladwell tends toward obfuscation, How We Decide goes into the science behind how the brain works.
After doing some research on Lehrer for this review, apparently he was caught "self-plagiarizing" some of his earlier work and fabricating quotes from people like Bob Dylan in his book Imagine, resigned from his position at The New Yorker, and more controversy.
I can't really see a point in going further with the review now that I'm not quite sure what to think. I can say, however, that the content is rather similar to Gladwell's Blink if in more depth and that lends itself some credibility with both reaching similar conclusions.
Stars to be determined... (i.e., I'm leaving them how I left it)
Think Malcolm Gladwell's Blink, but with much better explanations and less exciting writing.
Actually these two books use quite a number of the same studies to make their points, but where Gladwell tends toward obfuscation, How We Decide goes into the science behind how the brain works.
After doing some research on Lehrer for this review, apparently he was caught "self-plagiarizing" some of his earlier work and fabricating quotes from people like Bob Dylan in his book Imagine, resigned from his position at The New Yorker, and more controversy.
I can't really see a point in going further with the review now that I'm not quite sure what to think. I can say, however, that the content is rather similar to Gladwell's Blink if in more depth and that lends itself some credibility with both reaching similar conclusions.
Stars to be determined... (i.e., I'm leaving them how I left it)
happy_hiker's review against another edition
4.0
The neurobiology behind how we make decisions. Well-researched and well-written. Very enjoyable to read.
ashcomb's review against another edition
This was a first time I read a book from a person who has been accused of plagiarism and making up facts. I was over midway when I found out this detail, and I battled with myself what to think and do. I searched for if this particular book from Jonah Lehrer was filled with fantasy. I didn't find a confirmation for one way or another. They pulled this book out of print that much I know. I continued reading, the completionist in me refused to stop.
What do I think? Some research quoted in the book was already familiar. So, I know that most of the arguments hold true or at least are based on real studies. The other half worries me, the studies I don't know. Studies that were compelling and I'm sure I internalized some of their wisdom, like: "Once people become socially isolated, they stop simulating feelings of other people. Their moral intuitions are never turned on, as a result, inner Machiavelli takes over. And the sense of sympathy is squashed by selfishness."
The book argued well how emotions and intuition guide us. That making rational doesn't have to come from complex calculations and time-consuming thinking, that sometimes that might lead us astray. If there is something to take from the book, it is the value of our emotions and our connection to others (+interaction). Which makes me worry about the damage the online world can do to us. Not only that but the value we put on to the quantitative measurements of success and goodness. Then we go and organize our societies with such principles, and we are left with what? I sometimes feel like the entire world is suffering from empathy deficiency. That we are unwilling to connect with others in other than a superficial level. And I think this is one of the rudimentary problems we face nowadays. What then when we and our children can't recognize emotions if they are not shown in emojis?
But back to the book. I found it well written despite all. I loved the fact it was filled with studies and the argument was argued through them. But the heavy cloud of accusations, his mistakes and wrongdoings with his later books devalues this one as well. It is sad that someone will stoop to such a level of professionalism and for what? If you know, if this book has been proven to contain plagiarism, morphed facts, and pure fantasy, please inform me. I would appreciate that and a lot.
Due to the accusations, I won't rate this book.
What do I think? Some research quoted in the book was already familiar. So, I know that most of the arguments hold true or at least are based on real studies. The other half worries me, the studies I don't know. Studies that were compelling and I'm sure I internalized some of their wisdom, like: "Once people become socially isolated, they stop simulating feelings of other people. Their moral intuitions are never turned on, as a result, inner Machiavelli takes over. And the sense of sympathy is squashed by selfishness."
The book argued well how emotions and intuition guide us. That making rational doesn't have to come from complex calculations and time-consuming thinking, that sometimes that might lead us astray. If there is something to take from the book, it is the value of our emotions and our connection to others (+interaction). Which makes me worry about the damage the online world can do to us. Not only that but the value we put on to the quantitative measurements of success and goodness. Then we go and organize our societies with such principles, and we are left with what? I sometimes feel like the entire world is suffering from empathy deficiency. That we are unwilling to connect with others in other than a superficial level. And I think this is one of the rudimentary problems we face nowadays. What then when we and our children can't recognize emotions if they are not shown in emojis?
But back to the book. I found it well written despite all. I loved the fact it was filled with studies and the argument was argued through them. But the heavy cloud of accusations, his mistakes and wrongdoings with his later books devalues this one as well. It is sad that someone will stoop to such a level of professionalism and for what? If you know, if this book has been proven to contain plagiarism, morphed facts, and pure fantasy, please inform me. I would appreciate that and a lot.
Due to the accusations, I won't rate this book.
jeremy_bearimy's review against another edition
4.0
This was an engaging read that covered a lot of territory. I'd read about a lot of the studies he discussed at one point or another but found them all interesting. I'm docking it a star because overall the book felt a little scattered. He tries to highlight some key takeaways in the final chapter, which I appreciated, but I feel like his ambitious scope meant that by the end I had a hard time remembering what a lot of the studies were, let alone how they fit together.
wellington299's review against another edition
4.0
I had low expectations for this book because I read so many already in this genre. And Jonah Lehrer touched on many of well-traveled ideas and including what I find a well-traveled and boring discussion of MRI and brain activity.
But there were enough new material for me to ponder over. Like, how kids do better over time with the compliment of "You worked hard" over "You are smart" and a whole different take on the definition of a psychopath.
He ties together stories of Tom Brady, an airline pilot who landed a plane without hydraulics, and a smokejumper who survived a blaze by an unorthodox strategy. It could make you think ... and learn to think better by thinking less! Or more depending on the circumstances.
jessrezac's review against another edition
4.0
My only real complaint about How We Decide is that it was too redundant in parts and it felt a little dumbed down, but not in a condescending way so it really wasn't so bad.
I really enjoyed the information in it. I feel like I learned a lot and it was a treasure trove for readers like me who seem to collect trivia.
I really enjoyed the information in it. I feel like I learned a lot and it was a treasure trove for readers like me who seem to collect trivia.