Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Jul 2023
336 pages
Genre: Science, Health and the Environment
Publication Information
Two New York Times-bestselling psychologists explain the science of cons—and how we can avoid them
From phishing scams to Ponzi schemes, fraudulent science to fake art, chess cheaters to crypto hucksters, and marketers to magicians, our world brims with deception. In Nobody's Fool, psychologists Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris show us how to avoid being taken in. They describe the key habits of thinking and reasoning that serve us well most of the time but make us vulnerable—like our tendency to accept what we see, stick to our commitments, and overvalue precision and consistency. Each chapter illustrates their new take on the science of deception, describing scams you've never heard of and shedding new light on some you have. Simons and Chabris provide memorable maxims and practical tools you can use to spot deception before it's too late.
Informative, illuminating, and entertaining, Nobody's Fool will protect us from charlatans in all their forms—and delight us along the way.
"An outstanding guide to nonsense for critical readers." ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"This entry provides smart, succinct analyses based in solid cognitive science principles. The gullible and skeptical alike will find plenty to chew on." ―Publishers Weekly
"To know if you have been deceived, you must question what you believe—but we can't always question everything. In Nobody's Fool, Simons and Chabris address the more difficult and intriguing question: When should you question what you believe?" ―Apollo Robbins, theatrical thief and deception expert
"Through captivating storytelling and insightful analysis, Nobody's Fool provides a fascinating exploration of the human mind's vulnerability to deception and offers practical tools to help us become more rational decision-makers." ―Annie Duke, author of Thinking in Bets and Quit
"Nobody's Fool is a fascinating and fun read that explores the limits of the human mind and teaches you how to avoid being hoodwinked. Simons and Chabris are outstanding storytellers and scientists who've written just the book we all need in a world where misinformation, scams, and everyday duplicity put us at increasing risk." ―Katy Milkman, author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller How to Change
"Rarely do you find such practical advice combined with such delicious entertainment. In an age of con artists, charlatans, and conspiracy peddlers, Nobody's Fool is an essential survival guide for investors, consumers, and citizens. I wondered if the authors could possibly top The Invisible Gorilla, a classic in its field. They have—and we're all better armed against fraud as a result." ―Diana B. Henriques, author of the New York Times bestseller The Wizard of Lies
"Nobody's Fool is science writing at its best. A must-read for anybody who loves reading about fascinating social-science studies and compelling stories—or just wants to get tricked less." ―Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, New York Times–bestselling author of Everybody Lies and Don't Trust Your Gut
This information about Nobody's Fool was first featured
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Daniel Simons is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois where he also has appointments in the Gies College of Business and the Sandage Department of Advertising. His first book, co-authored with Christopher Chabris, is titled The Invisible Gorilla. Their second book, Nobody's Fool: Why We Get Taken In And What We Can Do About It will be published by Basic Books on July 11, 2023. Simons received his B.A. from Carleton College and his Ph.D. from Cornell University. After five years on the faculty at Harvard University, he moved to Illinois in 2002. His scholarly research focuses on the limits of human perception, memory, and awareness, and he is best known for his research that showing people are far less aware of their visual surroundings than they think. In addition to a number of academic honors and awards, he and Chabris jointly received the 2004 Ig Nobel Prize in Psychology—an award for research that first makes you laugh and then makes you think—for showing that it's possible to hide a "gorilla" in plain sight. His research appears regularly in the popular media (and top scientific journals), and his studies and demonstrations have been exhibited dozens of science museums worldwide.
Christopher Chabris received his B.A. in computer science and his Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University, where he was also a Lecturer and Research Associate for many years. He is now Assistant Professor of Psychology at Union College in Schenectady, New York, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Neurology at Albany Medical College, and a Visiting Scholar at the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence. His research focuses on two main areas: how people differ from one another in mental abilities and patterns of behavior, and how cognitive illusions affect our decisions. He has published papers on a diverse array of topics, including human intelligence, beauty and the brain, face recognition, the Mozart effect, group performance, and visual cognition. Chris writes occasionally for the Wall Street Journal, and he is also a chess master and poker amateur.
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