Description
How can a little white lie affect your tastes?
Why should judges snack regularly and avoid dice?
How does the thought of money affect where you sit?
Bias Beware is an introduction to cognitive biases—the ways in which we are all unwittingly influenced when we think we are making rational decisions and fair judgments.
We cannot focus on every little thing we perceive, so our brains use shortcuts—heuristics—to help us along. These shortcuts enable us to function but, as with all rules of thumb, they are not always accurate. In fact, they can lead us into some astonishingly irrational conclusions. This entertaining and accessible book will teach you the psychology behind how your mind plays tricks on you, with anecdotes, research and fascinating explanations.
If you want to understand your own mind better, avoid costly mistakes in business, or simply amaze your friends, then this book is for you.
Alan Purusram –
An excellent one-stop introduction to cognitive bias.
I have to say straight off the bat that I loved this book. I found it utterly fascinating and captivating throughout.
It is written in a witty and modest but above all accessible style, and contains a huge amount of information for what is a relatively slim and inexpensive book.
Steve Cantwell is a mentalist and corporate trainer in the field of cognitive and psychological bias. He draws on the most salient research of the past fifty years to provide a bewildering array of evidence that our senses, opinions and cravings can all be subtly or even blatantly manipulated without our conscious recognition.
The book begins with simple optical illusions and covers bias of preference, groupthink, decision-making, training, grades, handling money, trust; it left me questioning practically every aspect of modern living, and inspired wonder, incredulity and even anger at how easily we delegate our will to the vagaries of our cognitive senses.
A definite 5-star book, way more useful than Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink or other comparable titles, in that it actually gives you some practical pointers on how to recognise and combat cognitive bias.
A great entry to the field, and one that should be on every corporate leader and trainer’s reading list.