How Minds Change

In an increasingly polarised world, it sometimes feels impossible to talk to someone you disagree with, let alone change their mind. However, as David McRaney reveals, you could be just one conversation away from reshaping someone's world view ? here's how.

'In a time when too many minds seem closed, this is a masterful analysis of what it takes to open them.' ADAM GRANT, AUTHOR OF THINK AGAIN

Self-delusion expert and psychology nerd David McRaney sets out to discover not just what it takes to influence others, but why we believe in the first place. Along the way he meets a former Westboro Baptist Church member who was de-radicalised on Twitter, goes deep canvassing to see how quickly people will surrender their character-defining views, finds a former 9/11 Truther who turned his back on it all, and reveals how, within a few years, half a country can go from opposing the 'gay agenda' to happily attending same-sex weddings.

Distilling the latest research in psychology and neuroscience, How Minds Change reveals how beliefs take hold, not over hundreds of years, but in less than a generation, in less than a decade, and sometimes in an instant.

'Optimistic, illuminating and even inspiring.' GUARDIAN

'A tonic for those who might scratch their head at how others could be so nonsensical.' NEW SCIENTIST

'How Minds Change brings us face to face with the radically weird science of how our thoughts, perceptions, and beliefs are actually formed, and how they can, for better or worse, be modified.' JORDAN ELLENBERG

Autorentext

Self-described psychology nerd David McRaney is a journalist and new media worker, and twice-recipient of the William Randolph Hearst Award. He runs the popular blog You Are Not So Smart. This is his first book.

Klappentext

'In a time when too many minds seem closed, this is a masterful analysis of what it takes to open them' Adam Grant, author of the bestselling Think Again

As the world is increasingly polarised, it feels impossible to change the mind of someone with a conflicting view. But this book shows that you could be one conversation away from changing someone's mind about something, maybe a lot of things.

Self-delusion expert and psychology nerd David McRaney sets out to discover not just what it takes to influence others, but why we believe in the first place. Along the way he meets a former Westboro Baptist Church member who was deradicalised on Twitter, goes deep canvassing to see how quickly people will surrender their character-defining views, finds a 9/11 Truther who turns his back on it all, and reveals how, within a few years, half a country can go from opposing the 'gay agenda' to happily attending same-sex weddings.

Distilling the latest research in psychology and neuroscience, How Minds Change reveals how beliefs take hold, not over hundreds of years, but in less than a generation, in less than a decade, and sometimes in an instant.