The age of magical overthinking : notes on modern irrationality / Amanda Montell.
"'Magical thinking' can be broadly defined as the belief that one's internal thoughts can affect unrelated events in the external world: Think of the conviction that one can manifest their way out of poverty, stave off cancer with positive vibes, thwart the apocalypse by learning to can their own peaches, or transform an unhealthy relationship to a glorious one with loyalty alone. In all its forms, magical thinking works in service of restoring agency amid chaos, but in The Age of Magical Overthinking, Montell argues that in the modern information age, our brain's coping mechanisms have been overloaded, and our irrationality turned up to an eleven. Montell delves into a cornucopia of the cognitive biases that run rampant in our brains, from how the 'Halo effect' cultivates worship (and hatred) of larger than life celebrities, to how the 'Sunk cost fallacy' can keep us in detrimental relationships long after we've realized they're not serving us. As she illuminates these concepts with her signature brilliance and wit, Montell's prevailing message is one of hope, empathy, and ultimately forgiveness for our anxiety-addled human selves. If you have all but lost faith in our ability to reason, Montell aims to make some sense of the senseless. To crack open a window in our minds, and let a warm breeze in. To help quiet the cacophony for a while, or even hear a melody in it"-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781668007976
- ISBN: 1668007975
- Physical Description: 257 pages ; 23 cm
- Edition: First One Signal publishers/Atria Books hardcover edition.
- Publisher: New York : One Signal Publishers/Atria, 2024.
- Copyright: ©2024
Content descriptions
Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-243) and index. |
Formatted Contents Note: | Make it make sense : an intro to magical overthinking -- Are you my mother, Taylor Swift? : a note on the halo effect -- I swear I manifested this : a note on proportionality bias -- A toxic relationship is just a cult of one : a note on the sunk cost fallacy -- The shit-talking hypothesis : a note on zero-sum bias -- What it's like to die online : a note on survivorship bias -- Time to spiral : a note on the recency illusion -- The scammer within : a note on overconfidence bias -- Haters are my motivators : a note on the illusory truth effect -- Sorry I'm late, must be Mercury in retrograde : a note on confirmation bias -- Nostalgia porn : a note on declinism -- The life changing magic of becoming a mediocre crafter : a note on the IKEA effect. |
Search for related items by subject
Subject: | Cognitive psychology > Popular works. Cognition and culture. Magical thinking. |
Genre: | Informational works. |
Available copies
- 3 of 3 copies available at Berks County. (Show)
- 1 of 1 copy available at RACC.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 3 total copies.
Other Formats and Editions
Show Only Available Copies
Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Circulation Modifier | Status | Due Date | Courses |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RACC | BF442 .M66 2024 (Text) | 33624024975870 | Books | Available | - |