Does 'You Are Not So Smart' Discuss Cognitive Biases?

I recently finished 'You Are Not So Smart', and it's one of those books that makes you question everything you think you know about how your brain works. The author dives deep into cognitive biases, those sneaky little glitches in our thinking that make us believe we're more rational than we actually are. One of the most fascinating parts was learning about confirmation bias—how we tend to seek out information that supports what we already believe and ignore anything that contradicts it. The book breaks down dozens of these biases with clear examples, like the sunk cost fallacy where we keep investing in something just because we've already put time or money into it, even when it's clearly not working.

What really stood out to me was how these biases aren't just personal quirks; they shape entire societies. The book talks about how things like the availability heuristic (judging the likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind) can skew public opinion on everything from crime rates to climate change. It's not just about pointing out flaws though—the author also gives practical tips on recognizing these biases in ourselves and others. After reading, I catch myself all the time falling for things like the halo effect or the Dunning-Kruger effect, and it's made me way more skeptical of my own first impressions.

'You Are Not So Smart' is like a crash course in why we make bad decisions without realizing it. The whole book is packed with examples of cognitive biases messing with our heads, from the spotlight effect (thinking everyone notices your mistakes as much as you do) to the backfire effect (where being confronted with facts can actually make people believe their misconceptions more strongly). It's written in this engaging, almost conversational style that makes complex psychology feel relatable. My biggest takeaway was how universal these biases are—no matter how smart or self-aware you think you are, your brain is wired to take shortcuts that often lead you astray.