The Age of Magical Overthinking

Notes on Modern Irrationality

By: Amanda Montell

Narrated by: Amanda Montell

Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

From the bestselling author of Cultish and host of the podcast Sounds Like a Cult, a delicious blend of cultural criticism and personal narrative that explores our cognitive biases and the power, disadvantages, and highlights of magical thinking.

Utilizing the linguistic insights of her “witty and brilliant” (Blyth Roberson, author of America the Beautiful?) first book Wordslut and the sociological explorations of her breakout hit Cultish, Amanda Montell now turns her erudite eye to the inner workings of the human mind and its biases in her most personal and electrifying work yet.

“Magical thinking” can be broadly defined as the belief that one’s internal thoughts can affect unrelated events in the external world: Think of the conviction that one can manifest their way out of poverty, stave off cancer with positive vibes, thwart the apocalypse by learning to can their own peaches, or transform an unhealthy relationship to a glorious one with loyalty alone. In all its forms, magical thinking works in service of restoring agency amid chaos, but in The Age of Magical Overthinking, Montell argues that in the modern information age, our brain’s coping mechanisms have been overloaded, and our irrationality turned up to an eleven.

In a series of razor sharp, deeply funny chapters, Montell delves into a cornucopia of the cognitive biases that run rampant in our brains, from how the “Halo effect” cultivates worship (and hatred) of larger than life celebrities, to how the “Sunk Cost Fallacy” can keep us in detrimental relationships long after we’ve realized they’re not serving us. As she illuminates these concepts with her signature brilliance and wit, Montell’s prevailing message is one of hope, empathy, and ultimately forgiveness for our anxiety-addled human selves. If you have all but lost faith in our ability to reason, Montell aims to make some sense of the senseless. To crack open a window in our minds, and let a warm breeze in. To help quiet the cacophony for a while, or even hear a melody in it.

©2024 Amanda Montell (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Well-written, personal, smart.

Amanda Montell’s writing style has evolved into an increasingly personal and mature voice. I loved the insights, story-telling and humor with which she inspires her audience. Rarely do authors manage to find the delicate balance between vulnerability and analytical insight but Amanda has found it.

educational

All three of her books were phenomenal. a deep dive into linguistics and current culture.

Thoroughly Enjoyable

This book is a delightful blend of research-backed observations, witty insights, and touching personal tales. While Amanda Montell has a sharp and impressive way with words, her style remains welcoming and relatable. Her narrative voice is soothing and entertaining to boot. Bravo! 10/10 recommend.

So well researched!

I love Amanda Montell’s work. Always learn something and this one was validating and hopeful.

Couldn’t put it down

This was a quick fascinating read! Amanda Montell is an incredible explainer and story teller, and it was lovely getting to hear it in her voice!

Maybe my favorite of her work so far

I am a big fan of Amanda’s work! Her previous books, her weekly substack posts, her published articles and pieces, and all of her other work is wonderfully written, thoughtful, well researched, interesting, informative, and fills a new niche in literature. This book does all of what Amanda’s work does best, but I may be biased because I love magical overthinking :)

I am in awe by the writing, and I truly learned so much

This book was existential in all the best ways. Diving into the author’s other book Wordslut now. This was memorable and impactful ❤️ I learned a lot and I’m extremely moved in “awe”

Thinking fast and slow, applied

I saw this book on the audible newsletter and was excited because I really liked her other book, Wordslut. I didn't find the ideas in this book as thought provoking or new. It was more like an application of cognitive biases to contemporary situations. I did however find the chapter on manifesting very poignant and interesting - good to know more about why this is trickling through more and more into conversations.

This book is delightfully whimsical, insightful, and honest!

I felt seen. I felt called out. I felt joy and sadness. Amanda has a brilliant humor and intellect that's translates into something so relatable and easy to digest. this book will make you think (and feel)!

Language is our sword and our shield

Really enjoyable listen, now I want to go back and read! Brilliant and insightful, as much about the magic of language as it is about the human condition