Inevitable illusions1994

Writing with all the wit and charm that have made his books international best-sellers, Piattelli-Palmarini explores the full range of cognitive illusions. From the perils of "probability blindness" to the smoke and mirrors of "magical thinking" and the perplexing twists and turns of the "seven deadly mental sins," he guides us on a sweeping tour of these fascinating discoveries. Through amusing and engaging examples, he allows us to see exactly where we go wrong and why we are so often ready to bet not just money, but even our lives and the lives of others, on our false conclusions. Taking us on a delightful intellectual adventure, Piattelli-Palmarini probes some of the most intriguing and significant new findings about the mysteries of the human mind and reveals how we can consciously protect ourselves from the deceptive short-cuts and flaws in logic that rule our thoughts.