You Are Not So Smart

 
p45 You are not so smart book
William Leith28 September 2012

You Are Not So Smart
by David McRaney
(Oneworld, £8.99)

You might have read, or at least noticed, lots of books recently based on the theory that our brains are not wired to be rational and precise but are, in fact, clunky and prone to mistakes. That’s because we have not evolved fast enough to catch up with the modern world. This is a populist, witty stroll through the same territory, and like all these books, it’s scary. As McRaney tells us, we persuade ourselves that we understand the world around us. But our brains keep taking short cuts — and lots of people, from advertisers to casino owners, constantly take advantage of this fact. Who’s at the helm? A stone age person, that’s who!

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