Jonah Lehrer’s How we decide initially appealed to me because I have a sibling who is infamously indecisive. But it sat on my Amazon wish list for months until a friend mentioned it and said it was really good. Finally, I picked up the book. Happily, my friend was right; ‘How we decide’ is a fantastic book that discusses the different aspects of decision-making. Lehrer talks about the way the brain works using language that is accessible to people who aren’t experts in psychology; his use of stories and descriptions of studies makes the topic engaging and fun.
I know many people who pride themselves in their ability to make decisions rationally and logically. Although the ability to reason is undeniably important, Lehrer argues that rationality is actually counterproductive when making choices. Rather, Lehrer advocates the use of emotions and intuition when making decisions. Even if a person doesn’t choose to alter his behaviors based on Lehrer’s recommendations, it is still an enjoyable and interesting book.
And regardless of how you feel about football’s Tom Brady, I challenge you to read Lehrer’s anecdote without having him rise in your opinion.
I know many people who pride themselves in their ability to make decisions rationally and logically. Although the ability to reason is undeniably important, Lehrer argues that rationality is actually counterproductive when making choices. Rather, Lehrer advocates the use of emotions and intuition when making decisions. Even if a person doesn’t choose to alter his behaviors based on Lehrer’s recommendations, it is still an enjoyable and interesting book.
And regardless of how you feel about football’s Tom Brady, I challenge you to read Lehrer’s anecdote without having him rise in your opinion.
