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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Not Born Yesterday summary
Hugo Mercier
The Science of Who We Trust and What We Believe
19 mins
Brief summary
'Not Born Yesterday' by Hugo Mercier explores why humans are better at detecting deception than creating it.
The book argues that our skepticism and ability to reason evolved as a social tool, helping us navigate tricky social situations.
Table of Contents
Not Born Yesterday
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
When deciding what to believe, we seek out beliefs that speak to our goals and match our views.
Imagine you’re on your way home when a man stops you. He’s well-dressed and gives off an air of sophistication. He tells you he’s a doctor and needs to get to the hospital at once. There’s just one problem: he’s lost his wallet, so he can’t pay for a taxi. Could you lend him 20 bucks? It’s urgent!
You don’t buy his story at first, but he seems honest. His business card looks professional, and you’re assured his secretary will wire you the money this afternoon. After a bit more coaxing, you hand over the cash. But later, when you call the number, you don’t get through to his secretary. In fact, nobody picks up. There is no doctor – only one man with a compelling lie.
This happened to the author 20 years ago. How did he fall for it?
The key message here is: When deciding what to believe, we seek out beliefs that speak to our goals and match our views.
Many scholars and social psychologists point to historical attempts to persuade the masses, like the Nazi propaganda machine, as proof that humans are inherently gullible. But studies on propaganda exposure show that repeated contact with propaganda had zero effect on levels of anti-Semitism. In fact, regions most sympathetic to the Nazi propaganda already had historically high levels of anti-Semitism. If anything, it’s proof of how difficult it is to influence people.
This hasn’t stopped critical anthropologists from pushing the fax model of internalization as a reason for our persuasion. The theory argues that people indiscriminately soak up the culture around them and pass down this cultural information through the generations. And it’s true – many of our daily actions, such as speaking or getting dressed, are informed by our culture. But this model falls short by underestimating the potential cultural variation in societies. Can we really blindly copy everything around us if there are so many differences?
The short answer is no. Every member of a group might behave similarly but still exhibit major differences. Ask a hundred artists to paint a sunflower from memory, and you’ll get a hundred different sunflowers. So how do we choose who to copy?
When deciding what to believe, it turns out, we seek beliefs that already match our own views. Contrary to popular opinion, we’re not intrinsically gullible and don’t simply conform or follow leaders because they’re captivating. Of course, that doesn’t mean we can’t be mistaken from time to time, like trusting a “doctor” in need of help – especially when we find information that matches our views.
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What is Not Born Yesterday about?
What’s it about?
Not Born Yesterday (2020) investigates common claims that humans are inherently gullible creatures. With the help of studies, evolutionary biology, and historical anecdotes, the author chips away at these claims one by one. He shows that humans have actually developed sophisticated cognitive mechanisms designed to aid the decisions of who to trust, what to believe, when to change our minds, and how to reject implausible information.
Not Born Yesterday Review
Not Born Yesterday (2020) explores the fascinating topic of human gullibility, shedding light on why we are so easily misled by others. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers insightful analysis into the cognitive mechanisms that make us susceptible to manipulation, helping readers understand their own vulnerabilities.
- The book presents a wealth of compelling case studies that demonstrate how gullibility impacts various aspects of our lives, from politics to consumer behavior.
- With its well-researched evidence and thought-provoking ideas, it challenges our assumptions and encourages critical thinking, making it anything but boring.
Who should read Not Born Yesterday?
Who’s it for?
- History buffs
- Anyone interested in evolutionary psychology
- People wondering how to trust what others say and do
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Not Born Yesterday FAQs
What is the main message of Not Born Yesterday?
See through the strategies of deception and understand how to make better decisions in a complex world.
How long does it take to read Not Born Yesterday?
The reading time for Not Born Yesterday varies. However, you can read the Blinkist summary in just 15 minutes.
Is Not Born Yesterday a good book? Is it worth reading?
Not Born Yesterday offers valuable insights into human gullibility and the importance of critical thinking. It's definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of Not Born Yesterday?
Not Born Yesterday is written by Hugo Mercier.
What to read after Not Born Yesterday?
If you're wondering what to read next after Not Born Yesterday, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Post-Truth Business by Sean Pillot de Chenecey
- How Economics Explains the World by Andrew Leigh
- Willful Blindness by Margaret Heffernan
- The Practice of Not Thinking by Ryunosuke Koike
- I Never Thought of It That Way by Mónica Guzmán
- Robot Ethics by Mark Coeckelbergh
- Why Taiwan Matters by Kerry Brown
- China In Ten Words by Yu Hua
- The Highly Sensitive Person's Guide to Dealing with Toxic People by Shahida Arabi
- How to Meet Your Self by Nicole LePera