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Book Cover for: The Intelligence Trap: Why Smart People Make Dumb Mistakes, David Robson

The Intelligence Trap: Why Smart People Make Dumb Mistakes

David Robson

Paperback
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Based on 8 reviews on

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The Intelligence Trap explores cutting-edge ideas in our understanding of intelligence and expertise, including "motivated reasoning," "meta-forgetfulness," and "functional stupidity." David Robson reveals the surprising ways that even the brightest minds and most talented organizations can go wrong?from some of Thomas Edison's worst ideas to failures at NASA--while offering practical advice to avoid mistakes based on the timeless lessons of Benjamin Franklin, Richard Feynman, and Daniel Kahneman.

Book Details

  • Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
  • Publish Date: Feb 16th, 2021
  • Pages: 336
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 8.40in - 5.50in - 0.90in - 0.60lb
  • EAN: 9780393541465
  • Categories: • Cognitive Psychology & Cognition• Neuropsychology• Cognitive Science

About the Author

Robson, David: - David Robson has worked as an editor at New Scientist and BBC Future, and his writing has appeared in the Atlantic, the Observer, and the Washington Post. He lives in London.

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What people are saying

Mentioner image for: Zoë Pagnamenta
Zoë Pagnamenta
@zoepagnamenta
2 years

Literary agent

Huddle this winter! This piece in today's @guardian, by the excellent @d_a_robson, author of THE INTELLIGENCE TRAP (@wwnorton) and THE EXPECTATION EFFECT (@HenryHolt). cc @PlittyC @FelicityBryan @ConorMintzer @simnthrgd https://t.co/B3sPhDXFXk 🔥

twitter.com
Mentioner image for: David Robson
David Robson
@d_a_robson
2 years

Award-winning science writer. My second book The Expectation Effect (Canongate/Henry Holt) is out now. Agent: @PlittyC

The new videobook version of my book The Intelligence Trap: Why Smart People Make Dumb Mistakes has just come out! In a documentary-like production via @litvideobooks, I take you through each chapter with featured interviews & animations. Watch it at https://t.co/xpPFlGMPh1

twitter.com
Mentioner image for: Richard Fisher
Richard Fisher
@rifish
2 years

Writer & editor: BBC Future | Author: The Long View - Why We Need To Transform How The World Sees Time (Wildfire, 2023) | Substack: The Long View: A Field Guide

@michael_nielsen I don't have a word but I might recommend a friend's book: The Intelligence Trap by David Robson is about how smart people sometimes can't see their biases because they're buried under layers of intricate justifications https://t.co/yJ9ky7zcgl

twitter.com

Critics’ reviews

Praise for this book

A fascinating and enjoyable investigation of what intelligence is and isn't, by one of the most exciting new voices in science writing. This thought-provoking and brilliantly researched guide to achieving true wisdom shows us how to be smarter--and how to protect ourselves from the cleverest fools.--Gaia Vance, author of Adventures in the Anthropocene
Essential reading for anyone who wants to think more clearly.--Rolf Dobelli, author of The Art of Thinking Clearly
Clearly, we need to find new and better ways to teach critical thinking and measure good judgement. Reading David Robson's book would be a good place to start.--Emily Bobrow "Wall Street Journal"
Impressively accessible, with engaging storytelling, depth of discussion, and counterintuitive conclusions.--Aron K. Barbey "Science"
I loved The Intelligence Trap. As fun to read as it is fascinating, it celebrates the power of humility and curiosity. Everyone, especially intelligent people, should read this brilliant and important book.--Anna Rosling Rönnlund, coauthor of Factfulness
The Intelligence Trap is a ceaselessly fascinating book written by one of our most consistently superb science writers. Its counter-intuitive argument, that intelligence is no inoculation against wrongness, explains so much about the fractious and baffling times in which we live.--Will Storr, author of Selfie

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