Review: Read this book if you can handle the truth
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 11, 2014
People display confirmation bias when they gather, remember, or interpret information in a biased way that confirms their beliefs. For example, the owner of a Nissan 370z might dramatically overestimate the percentage of cars on the road that are 370zs because he is much more likely to notice every other 370z on the road than the average car owner.This effect is stronger for emotionally charged issues. When I read this book a little while back, I felt that Carter showed a very high level of confirmation bias. How could I not? He interpreted almost every statement that came out of a person’s mouth as a lie. His cynicism turned me off and I dismissed his arguments as overly pessimistic.But, a few days later, I began noticing things that verified a lot of Carter’s assertions in this book. For example, after going out on a first date with someone I met on an online dating site this past weekend, I purposefully ignored her hints about a second date. This girl is pretty, sweet, and fun to hang out with. But, I’d rather go out with other girls than with her. Let me explain why.Despite telling my friends that I didn't want to go out with her again because I didn't feel a connection with her, deep down I am fully aware of the real reason why I don’t want to go out with her again: in my opinion, she isn't hot enough for me to wine and dine her.If I felt that she was willing to put out after a cheap date, I would have probably gone on at least a few more dates with her. But her insistence on being wined and dined at fancy restaurants killed the possibility of that happening.“Why Lying Works” is a book that cuts through all the facetious noise that society makes to hide life’s ugly truths from you. If you’re looking for a book that will give a “warm and fuzzy” feeling, this is NOT the book for you.But if you’re open to the idea of reading a book that clearly acknowledges the incentive-driven, self-centered, and superficial nature of human beings and their thought processes, this book is for you.