You are Now Less Dumb audiobook cover - How to Conquer Mob Mentality, How to Buy Happiness, and All the Other Ways to Outsmart Yourself

You are Now Less Dumb

How to Conquer Mob Mentality, How to Buy Happiness, and All the Other Ways to Outsmart Yourself

David McRaney

★ 4.0 / 5(43 ratings)
Start ListeningDownload App
Categories:
Psychology

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

Listen to You are Now Less Dumb — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from You are Now Less Dumb

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from You are Now Less Dumb

Mind Map

You are Now Less Dumb
Perception & Reality+
Attitudes & Behavior+
Causation Errors+
Judging Others+
Emotional Blindness+
Defending Beliefs+
Group Dynamics+
Enclothed Cognition+
Money & Motivation+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10
Based on the Dartmouth vs. Princeton football game study, why did students from each school have entirely different accounts of the match?
  • A. They were seated in different sections with obstructed views of the field.
  • B. Their attitudes and school loyalties caused them to perceive alternate versions of reality.
  • C. The college newsletters purposely published fake news to create a rivalry.
  • D. They were confusing the rules of the game with a previous match.
Question 2 of 10
What is the 'Benjamin Franklin effect' described in the text?
  • A. We tend to like people more after we do a favor for them.
  • B. We trust people more if they appear wealthy or successful.
  • C. We are more likely to forgive someone if they apologize first.
  • D. We tend to dislike people who ask to borrow our belongings.
Question 3 of 10
Why does a home remedy for a cold often seem to work, even if it has no actual medical benefit?
  • A. The body's immune system is temporarily boosted by the taste of the remedy.
  • B. Our brains fall into the 'because of that, this happened' trap when two events happen sequentially.
  • C. Home remedies contain hidden active ingredients that modern medicine ignores.
  • D. The placebo effect only works if the remedy has been passed down through generations.
Question 4 of 10
In the study involving army officers rating pilots, what did the officers mistakenly assume due to the Halo Effect?
  • A. That pilots with more flight hours were less likely to take risks.
  • B. That pilots who wore their uniforms correctly were better at flying.
  • C. That pilots who were highly skilled at flying also possessed strong leadership skills.
  • D. That pilots who were physically attractive had better vision and reflexes.
Question 5 of 10
What did the Capilano Suspension Bridge experiment reveal about how we process emotions?
  • A. People are more likely to help a stranger when they are in a dangerous situation.
  • B. Our brains can misinterpret the physical sensation of fear as romantic attraction.
  • C. Men are more likely to take physical risks when they are trying to impress a woman.
  • D. Heights trigger a specific hormone that makes people more extroverted.
Question 6 of 10
According to the 'backfire effect', how do people typically react when presented with evidence that contradicts their strong beliefs?
  • A. They quickly change their minds to align with the new evidence.
  • B. They become confused and lose confidence in their own judgment.
  • C. They compromise by blending the new evidence with their original belief.
  • D. They dissect and refute the arguments, clinging to their original beliefs even more strongly.
Question 7 of 10
Why do many college students engage in excessive drinking even if they don't actually enjoy it?
  • A. They are attempting to rebel against college administration rules.
  • B. They mistakenly believe that the majority of other students enjoy it and want to adhere to the norm.
  • C. They lack the willpower to resist the physiological effects of alcohol.
  • D. They use it as a coping mechanism for the academic stress of college.
Question 8 of 10
When a member of a group behaves in a way that contradicts the group's core values, how do the other members typically react?
  • A. They adapt the group's definition and values to include the new behavior.
  • B. They conclude that the person was never a true member of the group to begin with.
  • C. They disband the group because its integrity has been compromised.
  • D. They blame outside influences for corrupting the group member.
Question 9 of 10
How did wearing a white coat described as a 'doctor's coat' affect participants in a psychological study?
  • A. They completed mental tasks more accurately than those who thought they were wearing a painter's coat.
  • B. They became more empathetic and better at reading other people's emotions.
  • C. They felt more physically exhausted after completing the tasks.
  • D. They were more likely to act arrogantly toward the researchers.
Question 10 of 10
According to the text, what often happens when you start getting paid for a hobby you love?
  • A. Your passion for the hobby increases because you feel financially valued.
  • B. You begin to perform the hobby more creatively to earn more money.
  • C. Your brain shifts its motivation from internal enjoyment to external reward, decreasing your pleasure.
  • D. Your happiness levels rise significantly until you reach an income of $75,000 from the hobby.

You are Now Less Dumb — Full Chapter Overview

You are Now Less Dumb Summary & Overview

You Are Now Less Dumb provides thought-provoking studies and examples on how our brains often misguide us. It also enlightens readers with tips on how to uncover these unfounded beliefs and find out what’s actually happening in and around us.

Who Should Listen to You are Now Less Dumb?

  • Anyone who wants to feel a little bit smarter
  • Anyone interested in how our minds play tricks on us
  • Anyone interested in psychology

About the Author: David McRaney

David McRaney is the author of the popular blog You Are Not So Smart, which became a best-selling book of the same name. McRaney has also worked as a reporter, editor, TV host and public speaker. McRaney lives in Mississippi with his wife.

🎧
Listen in the AppOffline playback & background play
Get App