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fallenoffacliff's review
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Good into into the cognitive biased floating around in our world and our minds
hydrareads's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
A book that gives language and definition to how and why we think the way we do by using established psychological phenomena but in the background of today’s age amidst social media and modern plumbing.
It explores many themes like zero-sum bias, the sunk cost fallacy and my fave chapter declinism. All concepts familiar to our day to day yet we sometimes don’t have the language for.
A toss up between a memoir and a sociological commentary, it’s a book that keeps you entertained and informed. Are all the takes fresh and new? No. Are the chapter titles entertaining? Yes.
It explores many themes like zero-sum bias, the sunk cost fallacy and my fave chapter declinism. All concepts familiar to our day to day yet we sometimes don’t have the language for.
A toss up between a memoir and a sociological commentary, it’s a book that keeps you entertained and informed. Are all the takes fresh and new? No. Are the chapter titles entertaining? Yes.
arcoirisdesign's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Book Summary
A book about the ways we think in modern times and how these ways of thinking are caused.
A book about the ways we think in modern times and how these ways of thinking are caused.
Book Review
I listened to the audiobook and really liked it. She has a conversational way with how she approaches narrating which makes it enjoyable. I also like how she takes complex topics and makes them easy for others to understand.
How I Discovered It
Sounds Like a Cult Podcast
Sounds Like a Cult Podcast
Who Should Read It
Honestly everyone.
Honestly everyone.
Thoughts & Impressions
I need to read it again to digest the book further.
What I Liked About It
The audiobook was great! She did a great job recording it.
The audiobook was great! She did a great job recording it.
What I Didn’t Like About It
How the Book Changed Me
It gave language to some of the ways I think about life these days, especially in the context of social media. It gave language to stuff I’ve been experiencing and noticing in our culture.
It gave language to some of the ways I think about life these days, especially in the context of social media. It gave language to stuff I’ve been experiencing and noticing in our culture.
readswithcocktails's review
3.5
Thinking of the chapters as individual essays, they're pretty good. However, the book failed to come together into a cohesive text for me.
I think Montell is very smart and very good at explaining things in a relatable way. However, I don't think she always manages to walk the fine line between irreverent/relatable and snarky/dismissive all the time. Some of her chapter or anecdotes feel more like the the latter. I've also noticed, having read all three of her books, she tends to make sweeping, borderline controversial statements in her introduction, only to explain them with more nuance later on. Which, i suppose is a valid rhetorical device. Except when it could be construed as you punching down (see her "cutting people off in the name of 'boundaries'" line in this book and her weird mention of eating disorders/over exercising in cultish)
Overall, I'd call this underwhelming as a whole, but generally enjoyable as individual chapters/essays
I think Montell is very smart and very good at explaining things in a relatable way. However, I don't think she always manages to walk the fine line between irreverent/relatable and snarky/dismissive all the time. Some of her chapter or anecdotes feel more like the the latter. I've also noticed, having read all three of her books, she tends to make sweeping, borderline controversial statements in her introduction, only to explain them with more nuance later on. Which, i suppose is a valid rhetorical device. Except when it could be construed as you punching down (see her "cutting people off in the name of 'boundaries'" line in this book and her weird mention of eating disorders/over exercising in cultish)
Overall, I'd call this underwhelming as a whole, but generally enjoyable as individual chapters/essays
nssutton's review
4.0
All I was capable of in the moment was a very surface read. I plan to go back to forage for Digital Health & Wellness content for my middle school classes.
pineconek's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
You know that feeling when you know you're being irrational but you keep doing the thing that's proving your irrationality while simultaneously watching yourself be irrational?
That's the feeling explored in this book. Cognitive biases galore. The author walks us through how recency bias, the sunk cost fallacy, and other basic psych phenomena appear and exert control over her life. The book is deeply personal and toes the line between sociological exploration and memoir, which is likely disappointing if you were hoping for more of the earlier. The book is very "New York millenial" in its target audience, in the same way that Didion's book of a similar title is very "New York Elite".
Recommended if you're in need of commiserating in some millenial ennui or want to better understand why your well educated friends put stock in their horoscopes and stay in bad relationships. 3.5 stars on SG rounded down to 3 on GR.
That's the feeling explored in this book. Cognitive biases galore. The author walks us through how recency bias, the sunk cost fallacy, and other basic psych phenomena appear and exert control over her life. The book is deeply personal and toes the line between sociological exploration and memoir, which is likely disappointing if you were hoping for more of the earlier. The book is very "New York millenial" in its target audience, in the same way that Didion's book of a similar title is very "New York Elite".
Recommended if you're in need of commiserating in some millenial ennui or want to better understand why your well educated friends put stock in their horoscopes and stay in bad relationships. 3.5 stars on SG rounded down to 3 on GR.