I heard about Zachary Shore’s Blunder: Why Smart People Make Bad Decisions via an interview with the author by D.J. Grothe on his Point of Inquiry podcast. Shore approaches the problem of cognition traps (his term for the different types of errors we make when trying to make decisions) as an historian. His descriptions of the different traps are followed by historical examples of how the traps have led to bad decisions and/or how particular historical figures have avoided certain traps. Shore’s end notes were helpful and his writing style was fairly easy to follow, once I got over his neologisms. He covers seven types of cognition traps: exposure anxiety, causefusion (confusing the causes of complex events), flatview, cure-allism, infomania (both hording and avoiding), mirror imaging and static cling. Several of these traps overlap each other in terms of some of their underlying causes (hope I’m not causefusing things here….);for example, flatview and static cling both derive their particular “badness” from a black-and-white view of the world. That said, I appreciated Shore taking the time to point out the finer details and differences amongst the traps. Recognizing a trap and finding the best way to avoid it depend on the ability to identify the different manifestations of restricted thinking.
The penultimate chapter covers the mistakes of the Iraq War in terms of cognition traps. Given Shore’s tendency to use examples from throughout the history of mankind, these Iraq War examples seem a bit premature. They may be “timely” ways to help teach the subject, but that’s all the reader should take them for. The last chapter provides advice for avoiding all the cognition traps. Shore uses two very interesting true stories to point out the benefits of mental flexibility.
This is not “The one book you must read to completely understand cognitive errors,” but it is a nice complement to the science-based titles I’ve read so far. Shore is not a scientist (as he clearly states and as some of his stories and suggestions clearly show), but his perspective on how to define, recognize and avoid poor thinking from the viewpoint of an historian is very interesting and helpful.
. Very funny memoir by a Canadian writer in New York who ends up working briefly as a speech-writer for the Prime Minister of Israel.
. June book club selection. President Carter’s version of the history of the Israeli-Palestine conflict. Not widely regarded as completely accurate, disturbing nonetheless.
. Fascinating story about two families and one house in Israel/Palestine. Recommended by a friend at work in Tel Aviv.
. Survey of many of the ways we fool ourselves. Other than some confusing editing in one section, a very interesting look at cognitive science’s understanding of our mental blind spots.
. Mostly about confirmation bias, covering the gamut of ways we fool ourselves through self-justification.
July book club selection. Poorly written, but very inspirational example of the power of a single human.
. Lucid overview of evolution and natural selection, with very clear explanations of all the types of evidence for both. Minimal (compared to Prothero) but strong criticisms of creationism.
. My re-entry into trying to understand consciousness, again. Accurately sub-titled, good overview with an intriguing nod to Buddhist meditation as a means of understanding.
. Analysis of the main philosophical distractions keeping us from moving forward toward understanding consciousness.
. Given, via her thesis, that tolerance supported the rise of all hyperpowers and intolerance contributed to their declines, Chua analyzes how this applies to the USA now. Nice historical review of the power and place of previous hyperpowers too.
. Amazing story of her journey, and disturbing insight into civil war in Somalia and the manifestations of Islam in eastern Africa.
. August book club selection. Good review of recent examples of good and bad statecraft, prescriptive lists for successful negotiating and mediating, and analysis of what USA needs to do next in regards to foreign policy actions.
. Great refutation of the standard homo economicus explanation. Goes far beyond just describing our economic behavior. Shermer would have been better served by a grander, less marketing-driven title.
. Recommended by Susan Blackmore. Sincere meditations on Buddhist meditation without religious trappings/distractions.
. Silly book I’ve had for years. No content or guidance. May re-read after another twenty years.
. More detailed than Batchelor (but with less impact on me), also free of religious distractions, focuses on awareness.