-
The Elephant in the Brain
- Hidden Motives in Everyday Life
- Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
- Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $20.99
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Source
- The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain
- By: Tara Swart MD PhD
- Narrated by: Tara Swart
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The truth is, most of the things we want - health, happiness, wealth, love - are governed by our ability to think, feel, and act - in other words, by our brain. Dr. Swart combines the insights and inspiration of The Secret with the practical lessons of The Master Key System to help a new generation fulfill their dreams. The Source is a rigorous, proven toolkit for unlocking our minds - and reaching our fullest potential.
-
-
If youre impressionable its a great book!
- By Anonymous User on 11-15-20
-
The Wisdom of Psychopaths
- What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success
- By: Kevin Dutton
- Narrated by: Erik Bergmann
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this engrossing journey into the lives of psychopaths and their infamously crafty behaviors, the renowned psychologist Kevin Dutton reveals that there is a scale of “madness” along which we all sit. Incorporating the latest advances in brain scanning and neuroscience, Dutton demonstrates that the brilliant neurosurgeon who lacks empathy has more in common with a Ted Bundy who kills for pleasure than we may wish to admit, and that a mugger in a dimly lit parking lot may well, in fact, have the same nerveless poise as a titan of industry.
-
-
Excellent Read!
- By Kevin on 04-03-13
By: Kevin Dutton
-
The Lucifer Effect
- Understanding How Good People Turn Evil
- By: Philip Zimbardo
- Narrated by: Kevin Foley
- Length: 26 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What makes good people do bad things? How can moral people be seduced to act immorally? Where is the line separating good from evil, and who is in danger of crossing it? Social psychologist Philip Zimbardo has the answers. He explains how - and the myriad reasons why - we are all susceptible to the lure of "the dark side". Drawing on examples from history as well as his own trailblazing research, Zimbardo details how situational forces and group dynamics can make monsters out of decent men and women.
-
-
What Most of Us Would Wish To Deny About Ourselves
- By Peter on 06-09-12
By: Philip Zimbardo
-
The Seven Decision
- Understanding the Keys to Personal Success
- By: Andy Andrews
- Narrated by: Andy Andrews
- Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Seeking out what separates the ordinary life from the extraordinary, Andrews has spent much of his life dissecting countless biographies and spending time with some of the most successful people on the planet in an effort to understand the principles that propel them toward greatness. The result: seven simple principles that - when applied consistently - render extraordinary lives. Through his entertaining, down-to-earth style, Andrews introduces these principles and offers all the tools necessary to make lasting changes in your life.
-
-
Same book re-packaged!
- By Amazon Customer on 04-21-17
By: Andy Andrews
-
The Paradox of Choice
- Why More is Less
- By: Barry Schwartz
- Narrated by: Ken Kliban
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By synthesizing current research in the social sciences, Schwartz makes the counterintuitive case that eliminating choices can greatly reduce the stress, anxiety, and busyness of our lives. He offers eleven practical steps on how to limit choices to a manageable number, have the discipline to focus on the important ones and ignore the rest, and ultimately derive greater satisfaction from the choices you have to make.
-
-
The Tyranny of Pop Economics
- By Darwin8u on 10-28-13
By: Barry Schwartz
-
The Second Mountain
- How People Move from the Prison of Self to the Joy of Commitment
- By: David Brooks
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Author David Brooks explores the four commitments that define a life of meaning and purpose: to a spouse and family, to a vocation, to a philosophy or faith, and to a community. Our personal fulfillment depends on how well we choose and execute these commitments. Brooks looks at a range of people who have lived joyous, committed lives, and who have embraced the necessity and beauty of dependence. He gathers their wisdom on how to choose a partner, how to pick a vocation, how to live out a philosophy, and how we can begin to integrate our commitments into one overriding purpose.
-
-
Pursue meaning, reject hyper-individualism
- By Adam Shields on 05-07-19
By: David Brooks
-
The Source
- The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain
- By: Tara Swart MD PhD
- Narrated by: Tara Swart
- Length: 6 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The truth is, most of the things we want - health, happiness, wealth, love - are governed by our ability to think, feel, and act - in other words, by our brain. Dr. Swart combines the insights and inspiration of The Secret with the practical lessons of The Master Key System to help a new generation fulfill their dreams. The Source is a rigorous, proven toolkit for unlocking our minds - and reaching our fullest potential.
-
-
If youre impressionable its a great book!
- By Anonymous User on 11-15-20
-
The Wisdom of Psychopaths
- What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success
- By: Kevin Dutton
- Narrated by: Erik Bergmann
- Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this engrossing journey into the lives of psychopaths and their infamously crafty behaviors, the renowned psychologist Kevin Dutton reveals that there is a scale of “madness” along which we all sit. Incorporating the latest advances in brain scanning and neuroscience, Dutton demonstrates that the brilliant neurosurgeon who lacks empathy has more in common with a Ted Bundy who kills for pleasure than we may wish to admit, and that a mugger in a dimly lit parking lot may well, in fact, have the same nerveless poise as a titan of industry.
-
-
Excellent Read!
- By Kevin on 04-03-13
By: Kevin Dutton
-
The Lucifer Effect
- Understanding How Good People Turn Evil
- By: Philip Zimbardo
- Narrated by: Kevin Foley
- Length: 26 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What makes good people do bad things? How can moral people be seduced to act immorally? Where is the line separating good from evil, and who is in danger of crossing it? Social psychologist Philip Zimbardo has the answers. He explains how - and the myriad reasons why - we are all susceptible to the lure of "the dark side". Drawing on examples from history as well as his own trailblazing research, Zimbardo details how situational forces and group dynamics can make monsters out of decent men and women.
-
-
What Most of Us Would Wish To Deny About Ourselves
- By Peter on 06-09-12
By: Philip Zimbardo
-
The Seven Decision
- Understanding the Keys to Personal Success
- By: Andy Andrews
- Narrated by: Andy Andrews
- Length: 6 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Seeking out what separates the ordinary life from the extraordinary, Andrews has spent much of his life dissecting countless biographies and spending time with some of the most successful people on the planet in an effort to understand the principles that propel them toward greatness. The result: seven simple principles that - when applied consistently - render extraordinary lives. Through his entertaining, down-to-earth style, Andrews introduces these principles and offers all the tools necessary to make lasting changes in your life.
-
-
Same book re-packaged!
- By Amazon Customer on 04-21-17
By: Andy Andrews
-
The Paradox of Choice
- Why More is Less
- By: Barry Schwartz
- Narrated by: Ken Kliban
- Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
By synthesizing current research in the social sciences, Schwartz makes the counterintuitive case that eliminating choices can greatly reduce the stress, anxiety, and busyness of our lives. He offers eleven practical steps on how to limit choices to a manageable number, have the discipline to focus on the important ones and ignore the rest, and ultimately derive greater satisfaction from the choices you have to make.
-
-
The Tyranny of Pop Economics
- By Darwin8u on 10-28-13
By: Barry Schwartz
-
The Second Mountain
- How People Move from the Prison of Self to the Joy of Commitment
- By: David Brooks
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Author David Brooks explores the four commitments that define a life of meaning and purpose: to a spouse and family, to a vocation, to a philosophy or faith, and to a community. Our personal fulfillment depends on how well we choose and execute these commitments. Brooks looks at a range of people who have lived joyous, committed lives, and who have embraced the necessity and beauty of dependence. He gathers their wisdom on how to choose a partner, how to pick a vocation, how to live out a philosophy, and how we can begin to integrate our commitments into one overriding purpose.
-
-
Pursue meaning, reject hyper-individualism
- By Adam Shields on 05-07-19
By: David Brooks
-
The Psychology of Money
- Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness
- By: Morgan Housel
- Narrated by: Chris Hill
- Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Money - investing, personal finance, and business decisions - is typically taught as a math-based field, where data and formulas tell us exactly what to do. But in the real world people don’t make financial decisions on a spreadsheet. They make them at the dinner table, or in a meeting room, where personal history, your own unique view of the world, ego, pride, marketing, and odd incentives are scrambled together. In The Psychology of Money, award-winning author Morgan Housel shares 19 short stories exploring the strange ways people think about money.
-
-
Could be summarized in one sentence
- By Alex on 05-30-21
By: Morgan Housel
-
Algorithms to Live By
- The Computer Science of Human Decisions
- By: Brian Christian, Tom Griffiths
- Narrated by: Brian Christian
- Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From finding a spouse to finding a parking spot, from organizing one's inbox to understanding the workings of human memory, Algorithms to Live By transforms the wisdom of computer science into strategies for human living.
-
-
Loved this book!
- By Michael D. Busch on 10-03-16
By: Brian Christian, and others
-
The Blank Slate
- The Modern Denial of Human Nature
- By: Steven Pinker
- Narrated by: Victor Bevine
- Length: 22 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Blank Slate, Steven Pinker, one of the world's leading experts on language and the mind, explores the idea of human nature and its moral, emotional, and political colorings. With characteristic wit, lucidity, and insight, Pinker argues that the dogma that the mind has no innate traits, denies our common humanity and our individual preferences, replaces objective analyses of social problems with feel-good slogans, and distorts our understanding of politics, violence, parenting, and the arts.
-
-
Excellent, as expected
- By Carolyn on 05-30-14
By: Steven Pinker
-
The Art of Thinking Clearly
- By: Rolf Dobelli
- Narrated by: Eric Conger
- Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A novelist, thinker, and entrepreneur, Rolf Dobelli deftly shows that in order to lead happier, more prosperous lives, we don't need extra cunning, new ideas, shiny gadgets, or more frantic hyperactivity - all we need is less irrationality. Simple, clear, and always surprising, this indispensable audiobook will change the way you think and transform your decision making - at work, at home, every day.
-
-
Major Downer
- By Daniel Ales on 01-22-20
By: Rolf Dobelli
-
Behave
- The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst
- By: Robert Sapolsky
- Narrated by: Michael Goldstrom
- Length: 26 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the celebrated neurobiologist and primatologist, a landmark, genre-defining examination of human behavior, both good and bad, and an answer to the question: Why do we do the things we do? Sapolsky's storytelling concept is delightful but it also has a powerful intrinsic logic: He starts by looking at the factors that bear on a person's reaction in the precise moment a behavior occurs, and then hops back in time from there, in stages, ultimately ending up at the deep history of our species and its evolutionary legacy.
-
-
Insightful
- By Doug Hay on 07-27-17
By: Robert Sapolsky
-
Influence, New and Expanded
- The Psychology of Persuasion
- By: Robert B. Cialdini
- Narrated by: Robert B. Cialdini
- Length: 20 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the new edition of this highly acclaimed bestseller, Robert Cialdini—New York Times bestselling author of Pre-Suasion and the seminal expert in the fields of influence and persuasion—explains the psychology of why people say yes and how to apply these insights ethically in business and everyday settings. You'll learn Cialdini's Universal Principles of Influence, including new research and new uses so you can become an even more skilled persuader—and just as importantly, you'll learn how to defend yourself against unethical influence attempts.
-
-
Use the Audible Speed Feature!
- By Sand on 05-30-21
-
The Happiness Hypothesis
- By: Jonathan Haidt
- Narrated by: Ryan Vincent Anderson
- Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Happiness Hypothesis is about ten Great Ideas. Each chapter is an attempt to savor one idea that has been discovered by several of the world's civilizations - to question it in light of what we now know from scientific research, and to extract from it the lessons that still apply to our modern lives and illuminate the causes of human flourishing. Award-winning psychologist Jonathan Haidt, the author of The Righteous Mind, shows how a deeper understanding of the world's philosophical wisdom and its enduring maxims can enrich and even transform our lives.
-
-
Amazing book, terrible choice in voice.
- By JAMES on 02-05-19
By: Jonathan Haidt
-
The Righteous Mind
- Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion
- By: Jonathan Haidt
- Narrated by: Jonathan Haidt
- Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Righteous Mind, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt explores the origins of our divisions and points the way forward to mutual understanding. His starting point is moral intuition - the nearly instantaneous perceptions we all have about other people and the things they do. These intuitions feel like self-evident truths, making us righteously certain that those who see things differently are wrong. Haidt shows us how these intuitions differ across cultures, including the cultures of the political left and right.
-
-
Fundamentally changed my thinking
- By Tristan on 10-14-16
By: Jonathan Haidt
-
The Laws of Human Nature
- By: Robert Greene
- Narrated by: Paul Michael, Robert Greene
- Length: 28 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Robert Greene is a master guide for millions of listeners, distilling ancient wisdom and philosophy into essential texts for seekers of power, understanding, and mastery. Now he turns to the most important subject of all - understanding people's drives and motivations, even when they are unconscious of them themselves. Whether at work, in relationships, or in shaping the world around you, The Laws of Human Nature offers brilliant tactics for success, self-improvement, and self-defense.
-
-
Interesting mix of biography and thoughts
- By Tintin on 12-13-18
By: Robert Greene
-
48 Laws of Power
- By: Robert Greene
- Narrated by: Richard Poe
- Length: 23 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive, this piercing work distills 3,000 years of the history of power into 48 well-explicated laws. This bold volume outlines the laws of power in their unvarnished essence, synthesizing the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, Carl von Clausewitz, and other infamous strategists. The 48 Laws of Power will fascinate any listener interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control.
-
-
NOT a Self Help Book
- By El Barto on 05-29-19
By: Robert Greene
-
Getting the Love You Want
- A Guide for Couples: 20th Anniversary Edition
- By: Harville Hendrix Ph.D.
- Narrated by: Jack Garrett
- Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Originally published in 1988, Getting the Love You Want has helped millions of couples attain more loving, supportive, and deeply satisfying relationships. This 20th-anniversary edition contains extensive revisions to the groundbreaking book, with a new chapter, new exercises, and a foreword detailing Dr. Hendrix's updated philosophy for eliminating all negativity from couples' daily interactions.
-
-
Startling, Yet Thrilling!
- By Christina E on 03-21-15
-
The Rational Optimist
- How Prosperity Evolves
- By: Matt Ridley
- Narrated by: L. J. Ganser
- Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Life is getting better at an accelerating rate. Food availability, income, and life span are up; disease, child mortality, and violence are down all across the globe. Though the world is far from perfect, necessities and luxuries alike are getting cheaper; population growth is slowing; Africa is following Asia out of poverty; the Internet, the mobile phone, and container shipping are enriching people's lives as never before.
-
-
Personal
- By Robert F. Jones on 09-15-17
By: Matt Ridley
Publisher's Summary
Human beings are primates, and primates are political animals. Our brains, therefore, are designed not just to hunt and gather but also to help us get ahead socially, often via deception and self-deception. But while we may be self-interested schemers, we benefit by pretending otherwise. The less we know about our own ugly motives, the better - and thus, we don't like to talk, or even think, about the extent of our selfishness. This is "the elephant in the brain".
Such an introspective taboo makes it hard for us to think clearly about our nature and the explanations for our behavior. The aim of this book, then, is to confront our hidden motives directly - to track down the darker, unexamined corners of our psyches and blast them with floodlights. Then, once everything is clearly visible, we can work to better understand ourselves: Why do we laugh? Why are artists sexy? Why do we brag about travel? Why do we prefer to speak rather than listen?
Our unconscious motives drive more than just our private behavior; they also infect our venerated social institutions such as art, school, charity, medicine, politics, and religion. In fact, these institutions are in many ways designed to accommodate our hidden motives, to serve covert agendas alongside their "official" ones. The existence of big hidden motives can upend the usual political debates, leading one to question the legitimacy of these social institutions, and of standard policies designed to favor or discourage them. You won't see yourself - or the world - the same after confronting the elephant in the brain.
More from the same
What listeners say about The Elephant in the Brain
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 01-04-19
unfiltered perspective
Ideal blend of theory, research with practical perspectives. Some groups will feel he steps on their toes - better also order steel toed boots.
41 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Burger Flipper
- 10-02-18
Signalling and self-deception explained
Simler and Hanson have crafted a tidy and provocative book about how full of it we all are and why. And how self deception appears and functions in our most hallowed institutions: education, medicine, charity, etc.
They make a strong case. The book has a light and breezy tone at times, but is full of info and good illustrative examples (more so when they stay away from examples from their own lives).
The reading by Kafer is very solid.
Not many books pack this much value. A big idea explained and then its real world implications explored in many directions. Yet not too dense for listening to while commuting.
This is a top 5 audiobook for me. Actually enjoyed my time on the 405 for the last week.
237 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Amazon Customer
- 02-07-19
and intellectual indulgence
as a trial lawyer and businessman I found this book absolutely fascinating in terms of understanding why people do ridiculous things thinking they're intelligent I've recommended this book to every lawyer in my law firm and my kids
157 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Anonymous User
- 10-11-18
potentially life-changing
a great insight into the human mind and motives. it can change the way you look at others but especially yourself.
39 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- D. Bier
- 10-30-18
Fails to fully convince — but an ape like me WOULD say that, wouldn’t I?
Some of the arguments reduce to simple observations of generic, widely known human motives, so much so that they become unfalsifiable. Others, such as the idea we get too much medical care to signal we’re being well taken care of by our allies, are just implausible and ignore a wide variety of closely associated behaviors that don’t fit that theory—like the widespread phenomenon of “self-medicating” with vitamins and alternative remedies, a $40 billion industry, or other diet and lifestyle practices that signal a preoccupation with *self*-care. Or consider the fact that people often both conceal important medical problems or discuss them endlessly with anyone who will listen. There’s always an ad hoc explanation that can account for opposite tendencies, but it’s hard to know how seriously to take them.
160 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Rich
- 10-15-18
Interesting insight into the mind
Enjoyed thoroughly. Narrator was very good. The material was at a level that a layperson could understand. One could also jump to various chapters at the end without being lost as to what was going on.
33 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jody
- 06-20-19
Interesting but repetitive
It was an interesting read but overall it just felt repetitive. Definitely not a bad book but I feel like it could have been shortened by quite a bit and conveyed the same message. Worth it if you're interested in human social evolution.
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Evert
- 03-16-19
Let Me Save You the Credit
Despite some of the glowing reviews, this book is not as revelatory as is made out. It does serve as a basic introduction to the field of motivation, but anyone who is at least somewhat acquainted neurobiology will find it on the side of ho hum. I think a far better listen is anything by Dr. V. S. Ramachandran who is both more insightful and interesting. I would also suggest, Freakanomics, the standard when it comes to motivation.
But if you still want to listen to the book, here is it in total: the are two basic motivations: sex and prestige. Further broken down: sexual motivation is the desire to attract a mate to reproduce, and prestige is the desire to gather allies. That’s it.
The main reason I found the book lacking in any real substance is due to its reliance on the evolutionary psychology. There is a reason psychology is called the “pseudo-science.” After all, more than half of all psych research is nonreproducible. But evolutionary psychology is even worse. There is nothing about it, in scientific terms, that is “falsifiable.” Therefore, it is not science. It is opinion. Perhaps the opinion is correct but until opinion can be tested it is not worth a whole lot.
234 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Management Consultant
- 01-14-19
Brilliant - no bullshit
A quick run through of studies on altruism, self-interest, and how we lie to ourselves. There are many interesting examples that show clearly to what extent various activities are more inherently functional, enjoyable, or just signalling.
18 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Angel
- 10-02-18
Think Again!
I love books that reveal us to ourselves. I imagine this book would be on the top shelf of the Buddha's or Socrates Shelf.
In an age where folks seem drowning in informations tailored to their unique bullshit lives, this book cuts the shit and gets to the heart of the matter.
We are big fat liars. It is of the upmost importance we know this, so we can better navigate all the folks lying around us, pretending, living make believes lives.
If you are a fan of the truth and myth busting, this is the book for you. If you want to wake up to the reality around you, this book will help set you free.
It's one of my favorite books of the year, along with, How Emotions Are Made and 21 Lessons for the 21 Century. It's the Golden age of knowledge and also of ignorance. You can decide to live an inauthentic and robotic life, or you can get in the drivers seat and see through your own self serving deceptions and others.
Otherwise do whatever's clever when one isn't so clever. Live a fictional life, or write your own Destiny.
87 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 05-31-19
Red pill or blue pill?
I love to learn about human psychology because what seems to be simple on the surface is so complex beneath. For me, this book coalesced much other material about economics, evolution and psychology into a clearer explanatory narrative of human behaviour.
Unsurprisingly there are few answers to the question "What should be do with this knowledge?". But for me, simply knowing it gives me an opportunity to be humble and admit that I don't know why I did something, rather than defend it mindlessly.
An excellent book, thoroughly recommended for those, like me, who choose the red pill.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Stephen M.
- 05-29-22
Good listen on the why of human behaviour
Interesting take on why / how we react to our environment. Looks at the animal behaviour of our brains, build on biases, evolution traits and self interest
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Katy Hull
- 02-10-22
the voice is really off putting
the guy who narrated this book has a voice which elevates and then declines on every sentence it makes it really difficult to follow what is being said, such a shame as the content is really interesting but think I would be better reading instead of listening.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 12-02-20
Too long and too little news
really difficult to finish. way to long and really doesn't say to much new things
-
Overall

- Anonymous User
- 11-18-20
Engaging read!
Interesting and well researched with entertaining humorous comments sprinkled in. Theories are supported by scientific literature but the authors still present a healthy dose of scepticism. It's refreshing to hear about their own introspection aswell. The reading may be a little monotonous at times but it's easy to follow and suits the occasional dry humour.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Chris J
- 12-16-19
excellent book
this is a very good and revealing book. reminds you that humans social interaction are layed and complex. but not always what they seem
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- EL customer
- 11-13-19
Easy to read/listen to, but lacks depth and originality
The book is dealing with a challenging and intriguing topic - to what extent are we true masters of ourselves (if at all) and how much do we even know about our biases and influences. As the authors’ central ideas/thesis goes, they present a solid enough case for the existence of serious blind spots in our understanding of nearly any issue, but they do not do justice to the severity of the problem and do not explore its complexity.
There is a range of topics covered with well sourced information and in some cases crucially important data that is often ignored in our everyday discourse. However, many of the chapters fail to follow any continuity (which is stated as intended at some point, but still does not answer why that is desirable) and do not contribute to our understanding/overcoming the central issue that was presented in the first part of the book.
Overall, this book can give you plenty to think about and consider, but the arguments are definitely not very sophisticated and often feel incomplete.
This is a decent attempt to modernise an age old problem of philosophical and scientific thought and summarise quite a lot of data, but definitely lacks in originality and creativity.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 09-23-19
great view into how our brains work!
I highly enjoyed a look into how self-deception plays a vital role to us all
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- George Boylan
- 07-28-19
Pointless comment
I am writing this review not because I am reviewing the book, but because I want people to read it and see me as an intelligent being, who spends his time listening to books.
A great book. I am not sure how to take what I have learned from listening to this. I feel I wotn be able to look at other humans the same way. After listening to this book and learning about our own motives, we are all selfish beings and in the long run any action we take is done for our own good.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- mihai
- 11-06-18
revelatory
after reading/leastening to that it become near impossible do further deny the presence of the elephant...
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Nathan
- 10-28-18
Definitely worth your time!
This was everything I expected based off other reviews, easy to digest and useful info for every day life. My only gripe was the narrator, such a well written book deserves a fitting voice.
1 person found this helpful