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

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

By Shankar Vedantam and Bill Mesler

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.

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Book Information

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Publish Date: 03/02/2021
Pages: 264
ISBN-13: 9780393652208
ISBN-10: 0393652203
Language: English

Full Description

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.

About the Authors

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.

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Bill Mesler is the coauthor of A Brief History of Creation . He lives in Washington, DC.

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