Useful Delusions. Why the Brain Tricks and Lets Itself Be Tricked

Why the brain deceives itself and lets itself be deceived

We know that delusions and self-deception can have a catastrophic effect on ourselves, the people around us, and even the entire planet. But if self-deception is so bad, why is it so common? In this book, authors Shankar Vedantam and Bill Mesler explain that these delusions have an evolutionary reason and that, paradoxically, lying to yourself can actually improve your quality of life.

Seeing life through rose-colored glasses improves relationships, careers, and even survival. Sick people with an optimistic outlook on life live longer than those who have a more realistic understanding of their health, and couples who have an exaggeratedly high opinion of their partner are the happiest.

“Useful Delusions” is full of both touching personal stories and lessons from psychology, neurology, and philosophy. The work makes you see life from a new perspective and provides a fascinating insight into what it really means to be human.

“Useful Delusions” takes us on a fascinating, educational tour of the human mind. New York Journal of Books

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Rahva Raamat AS