2010 Reading List #7: Blink by Malcolm Gladwell

[xenologue]

Blink was a gift I got for my clinical psychologist husband, who I figured would find a book on decision making very interesting, even if it's sort of pop science.  We've talked about research done by psychologists who study decision-making, and so I knew already that

PEOPLE ARE VERY BAD AT MAKING RATIONAL DECISIONS.

We're fooled by our own

Comments

[claireleo]

It's naturally disturbing to me that studies often show people are *less* happy or feel less fulfilled after they have children

I bet this study had anonymous participants! To admit unhappiness/regret at having children is unheard of in society. (At the most, you'll get a "I regret having my children at a young age." -- which isn't the same thing...)

I find it interesting that people ask "Why don't you want kids?" as a fairly routine (if inappropriate!) question -- but nobody ever asks "Why do you want kids?"

:-)

[wurtmann]

I have not read Blink. However, I find your comments interesting enough that if it crosses my path, I will read it. It reminds me of a story on 20/20 some time ago. The outcome of a study for that show was that the smarter we are or think we are, the greater the chances are that we will get duped. That is sad. It goes hand in hand with decision making. Perhaps we think we are too smart to get duped. Also perhaps our being smart doesn't compute to being "street smart" or spiritually smart. 2 Nephi 9:28 ......"When they are learned they think they are wise and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish." Of course, the next verse says that "...to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God