Blindspot

By: Mahzarin R. Banaji, Anthony G. Greenwald

Narrated by: Eric Martin

Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

I know my own mind.

I am able to assess others in a fair and accurate way.

These self-perceptions are challenged by leading psychologists Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald as they explore the hidden biases we all carry from a lifetime of exposure to cultural attitudes about age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, social class, sexuality, disability status, and nationality.

Blindspot is the authors’ metaphor for the portion of the mind that houses hidden biases. Writing with simplicity and verve, Banaji and Greenwald question the extent to which our perceptions of social groups - without our awareness or conscious control - shape our likes and dislikes and our judgments about people’s character, abilities, and potential.

In Blindspot, the authors reveal hidden biases based on their experience with the Implicit Association Test, a method that has revolutionized the way scientists learn about the human mind and that gives us a glimpse into what lies within the metaphoric blindspot.

The title’s "good people" are those of us who strive to align our behavior with our intentions. The aim of Blindspot is to explain the science in plain enough language to help well-intentioned people achieve that alignment. By gaining awareness, we can adapt beliefs and behavior and "outsmart the machine" in our heads so we can be fairer to those around us. Venturing into this book is an invitation to understand our own minds.

Brilliant, authoritative, and utterly accessible, Blindspot is a book that will challenge and change listeners for years to come.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2013 Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

A compelling read.

This is a great book. It's well written with compelling examples. I would recommend it for anyone searching for an easily accessible way to discuss implicit bias. For some it will be eye-opening. For others who already have some experience with these issues, the book is a good summary of the research literature.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Vital reading

Blindspot is a comprehensive survey of social science research on implicit bias, racism, and discrimination in the U.S. While it is written for white people to gently and convincingly teach them about the impact of racism, that is an important project, and anyone could use this book, especially for its coverage of the implicit psychological roots of bias.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Difficult to interpret.

This book does not translate well to the audio book format. It relies heavily upon printed supplemental material, which renders the point of an audiobook moot. it is well narrated, but is best left to the reader.

4 of 6 people found this review helpful

Interesting look into the mind

Interesting insight into the human mind. Only flaw was the authors lack of desire to ask why these blind spots occur. They went with the standard politically correct easy answer versus asking harder questions about biology and evolution.

Very enlightening.

Makes you reflect on your implicit biases and how they might be affecting your decisions to provide or withold help. You walk away having an increased self-awareness of how your choices might adversely affect others.

Revealing Insight<br />

thoughtfully written to provide logical conclusions the reader can use to perceive the world differently.

This is a must-read for all Americans

The research was presented in a very clear way and the subject matter is relevant to anyone and everyone who does not live in a bubble.

good idea, started fast but dragged on

great narration, struggled to finish. interesting premise, but under whelming. would have been more interesting with more tests/surprising results

Subject was interesting but repetitive

Subject was interesting with good insight. Worth the read but didn't blow me away. I found a few chapters repetitive drawing the same conclusion.

Objective commentary on a mystery .

Why do so many of the white majority (at the moment) think race prejudice has improved significantly while many minorities still feel the consequences of prejudice?
The book establishes and explains the explicit bias and implicit bias gap in each of us. In a time of explosive rhetoric - thoughtful discourse is very insightful. Hopefully, the insights will help bridge our internal gaps as well as extend grace to others who judge the gap between stated beliefs and perceived conflicts of behavior.
Many of our biases are invisible to us. It is like water to a fish.