Cause: …And How It Doesn't Always Equal Effect

By: Gregory Smithsimon

Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan

Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

When we try to understand our world, we ask "why?" a specific event occurred. But this profoundly human question often leads us astray. In Cause, sociologist Gregory Smithsimon brings us a much sharper understanding of cause and effect, and shows how we can use it to approach some of our most daunting collective problems.

Smithsimon begins by explaining the misguided cause and effect explanations that have given us tragically little insight on issues such as racial discrimination, climate change, and the cycle of poverty. He then shows unseen causes behind these issues, and shows how we are hard-wired to overlook them. Armed with these insights, Smithsimon explains how we can avoid these mistakes, and begin to make effective change.

Combining philosophy, the science of perception, and deeply researched social factors, Cause offers us a new way to ask "why?" and a hope that we may improve our society and ourselves.

©2016 Gregory Smithsimon (P)2018 Tantor

Not worth the time

The author takes the reader through a disjointed series of points tangentially related to the concept that examining dynamic causality will help address social issues. I found much of the research incorporated to be interesting, but I found the book difficult to understand given the randomness in the way the stories were presented and the lack of take-home points. The whole experience was exacerbated by the dry, monotone presentation of the narrator. I suggest skipping this one.

Great content, would've been better read by author

I enjoyed almost everything about this book, but found the narrator dispassionate. I wish the author had read it. Fantastic food for thought. I will likely listen again.