Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain | Shankar Vedantam - Bill Mesler

From the New York Times best-selling author and host of Hidden Brain comes a thought-provoking look at the role of self-deception in human flourishing.

Self-deception does terrible harm to us, to our communities, and to the planet. But if it is so bad for us, why is it ubiquitous? In Useful Delusions, Shankar Vedantam and Bill Mesler argue that, paradoxically, self-deception can also play a vital role in our success and well-being.

The lies we tell ourselves sustain our daily interactions with friends, lovers, and coworkers. They can explain why some people live longer than others, why some couples remain in love and others don’t, why some nations hold together while others splinter.

Filled with powerful personal stories and drawing on new insights in psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, Useful Delusions offers a fascinating tour of what it really means to be human.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Powerful…[Vedantam] explains the phenomenon of deceit in general, and self-deception in particular, with the same plain language and gentle authority that his listeners have come to rely on."
― Katie Hafner, Washington Post

"Vedantam and Mesler pepper hard data with compelling stories to make their case. Vedantam’s empathy and intuitive understanding of human nature, which shine on his popular 'Hidden Brain' podcast, come through in Useful Delusions."
― Tali Sharot, New York Times Book Review

"A lively and digestible book…Perhaps the book’s most important point advises how to combat destructive delusions."
― Matthew Hutson, Wall Street Journal

"[A] scientifically informed, provocative and stylish study of self-deception."
― Andrew Robinson, Nature

"Useful Delusions takes us on a fascinating, enlightening tour of the human mind."
― Karen R. Koenig, New York Journal of Books

"Ingenious…A passionate, often counterintuitive, disturbingly convincing addition to the why-people-believe-stupid-things genre."
― Kirkus Reviews

"This excellent narrative nonfiction work will engage a variety of readers, and is a solid choice for book clubs who like to discuss current events."
― Library Journal (starred review) --This text refers to the hardcover edition.

From the Back Cover

Praise for Shankar Vedantam:

"Delivered with wit and lightness by Vedantam, The Hidden Brain is digestible without ever being dumbed down, and embodies an open-mindedness that becomes infectious."
–Emma Dibdin, New York Times

"The Hidden Brain [is] compulsively readable. Vedantam is a gifted storyteller."
–Anthony Doerr, Boston Globe

"The Hidden Brain is an altogether spectacular read, the kind that gives the best possible hope for changing our minds…toward more fairness, greater self-awareness, and a vital integration of our intentions and our actions."
–Maria Popova, Brainpickings

About the Author

Shankar Vedantam is host of the Hidden Brain podcast and public radio show and the author of The Hidden Brain, a New York Times national bestseller. He lives in Washington, DC.

Bill Mesler is the coauthor of A Brief History of Creation. He lives in Washington, DC.