What do readers think of How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer? Write your own review.

Reading ‘How We Decide’ is a bit like sampling a tray of interesting appetizers; you experience the equivalent of new tastes, in small portions, that are pleasing (or not), and which are a prequel to a future experience. Using a variety of examples from industry, and descriptions of scientific research projects, the author explains how brain chemistry is implicated in our emotions, instincts, and personal experiences. He explores their contributions to how we make both everyday and life-changing decisions.

If you are considering reading this book, I suggest doing so a chapter or two at a time, with someone else, or even in a book group. The information presented, while interesting, can be somewhat dry, and it takes conversation to explore the implications of what science is telling us. It is not necessary to have a vast knowledge of brain anatomy or physiology in order to understand the material in the book, but I found having a visual reference helpful. Personally, I found the discussion of the positive effects of emotion on our behaviors to be of the most interest.

Similar books that I have read are Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman and Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely.

I'm not much of a non-fiction reader but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lehrer uses a lot of every day examples to explain the intricacies of the mind and how we make decisions. I was certainly surprised to read how much we still don't know about this every day companion.