Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things [Paperback]

In this thoughtful, moving, and well-written book, Dan Ariely narrates his personal and professional journey to understand the world of misbelievers and conspiracy theories, and offers insights and tips that will hopefully help all of us protect our fragile social fabric from being torn apart by disinformation and distrust.Yuval Harari, bestselling author of Sapiens

Misbelief is an urgent examination of the human attraction to misinformation. This timely book can provide a crucial foundation for building a more empathetic and informed society.Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Regret

The renowned social scientist, professor, and bestselling author of Predictably Irrational delivers his most urgent and compelling bookan eye-opening exploration of the human side of the misinformation crisisexamining what drives otherwise rational people to adopt deeply irrational beliefs.

Misinformation affects all of us on a daily basisfrom social media to larger political challenges, from casual conversations in supermarkets, to even our closest relationships. While we recognize the dangers that misinformation poses, the problem is complexfar beyond what policing social media alone can achieveand too often our limited solutions are shaped by partisan politics and individual interpretations of truth.

In Misbelief, preeminent social scientist Dan Ariely argues that to understand the irrational appeal of misinformation, we must first understand the behavior of misbelief the psychological and social journey that leads people to mistrust accepted truths, entertain alternative facts, and even embrace full-blown conspiracy theories. Misinformation, it turns out, appeals to something innate in all of uson the right?and?the leftand it is only by understanding the psychology of misbelief that we can blunt its effects. Grounded in years of study as well as Ariely's own experience as a target of disinformation, this comlã•