You Are Now Less Dumb

How to Conquer Mob Mentality, How to Buy Happiness, and All the Other Ways to Outsmart Yourself

By: David McRaney

Narrated by: Don Hagen

Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

The author of the best-selling You Are Not So Smart shares more discoveries about self-delusion and irrational thinking, and gives readers a fighting chance at outsmarting their not-so-smart brains.

David McRaney's first book, You Are Not So Smart, evolved from his wildly popular blog of the same name. A mix of popular psychology and trivia, McRaney's insights have struck a chord with thousands, and his blog - and now podcasts and videos - have become an Internet phenomenon. Like You Are Not So Smart, You Are Now Less Dumb is grounded in the idea that we all believe ourselves to be objective observers of reality - except we're not. But that's okay, because our delusions keep us sane.

Expanding on this premise, McRaney provides eye-opening analyses of 15 more ways we fool ourselves every day. McRaney also reveals the true price of happiness, why Benjamin Franklin was such a badass, and how to avoid falling for our own lies. This smart and highly entertaining audiobook will be wowing listeners for years to come.

©2013 David McRaney (P)2013 Gildan Media LLC

You really will be less dumb!

If you could sum up You Are Now Less Dumb in three words, what would they be?

Compelling. Eye-opening. Science-based.

What did you like best about this story?

It takes fairly complicated findings from neuroscience and cognitive science and evolution and puts a fun, simple spin on it without dumbing it down so people of all backgrounds can enjoy it.

Have you listened to any of Don Hagen’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

stop being a sheep...become less dumb

Any additional comments?

I'm a neuroscientist and his facts and summations are scientifically accurate, but he doesn't make it heavy going. He explains things clearly and with a sense of humor!

Awesome Content, Unfortunate Narration

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I think this might be better enjoyed reading by yourself - the content was funny and thoughtful but the narrator seemed about five decades older than what you would expect. It took me awhile to get used to the voice .. it didn't match the book well. Overall it was ok but I would have preferred a younger, not-so-studious sounding narrator.

Not enough original material

this was a disappointment after his first work. it's explanation is much more overt forcing a conclusion I don't feel his research backs up. when he wants to draw the conclusion and there's not enough material I feel he is not above tortured logic as in the last chapter where he tries to summarize the book. still an original podcast and the original is a delight

Humbling

Everyone should have to read at least one book of this styling. I wish there were an eloquent way to put this, but I haven't thought of one. It's a book that insults and tells you that you are wrong for what you've thought and how you've thought. But it gives strong justifications, and if you capable of remembering what you've read, you certainly will be less dumb.

Interesting

I think I finished this book in a couple days. If you like the series brain games, you would enjoy this read/listen.

Great stuff.

I love these books by David McRaney. The perspective, and studies are really interesting for a peak into the human condition.

Fun, and informative!

Think you're in control of the things you think and feel? Wrong. Your brain tells you what to think and feel. Millions of years of evolution are behind your every desire and descretion.

David McRaney uses excellent, and sometimes unexpected humor combined with a summary of some of the most fascinating behavioral psychology to hammer home how to be less dumb as you go though life tightly swaddled in your own biases.

Don Hagen is the perfect narrator for this book. his charming-old-man voice provides just the right combination of wisdom and whit to ensure that you will listen to these chapters again and again!

Told You So

I'm working on a book called "I Think You're All Crazy" about some of the seemingly nonsensical things people say and obviously must think. I think now I'll stop working on it and just ask people to read this excellent book, and McRaney's previous volume, You Are Not So Smart. Good stuff.

Eye opening

Excellent insight into how we deceive ourselves. Provides knowledge to be more objective. Well with the time.

We are rats in a cage?

"You are Now Less Dumb" is a perfect title for this book - not because I believe that the book makes you any smarter, but rather because this is exactly what I think the author would smugly say to you after telling you that the "love" you feel for your parents is really a survival instinct.

This book presents a miriad of different psychology theories in a well written an entertaining way. It is intended to show you all the ways our brains trick us, and that all of our actions and emotions can be explained.

The problem I have with this book is not with the writing - it is excellent. Overall it was pretty entertaining, but I did find it hard to listen to in long chunks because the material all started to sound the same ( In fact, I'll be lucky to remember a quarter of what I listened to). Rather, my problem with the book is that in the end it seemed to push the following messages:

1. we essentially have no free will
2. we are essentially animals and all of our behaviors come from evolution
3.. The world we live in is devoid of mystery, and by mystery I mean anything that can't be explained using the evolution and modern psycological science

Regarding #3 - how do we know that psycological science of today won't be debunked 100 years from now? For example, Freud is largely seen as a weirdo now, but at the time he had all the answers?

Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that the book came off a little smug. Also I don't feel any less dumb.