How Do We Know Ourselves? Curiosities and Marvels of the Human Mind
Authors: Myers David G. 
Published: November 2024

HOW DO WE KNOW OURSELVES? Curiosities and Marvels of the Human Mind by David G. Myers. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2022. 272 pages. Hardcover; $15.59. ISBN: 9780374601959. *David G. Myers is the author of numerous textbooks in the field of social psychology; his bibliography also includes several books which combine psychological perspectives and religious belief. Further, Myers has authored several books intended for a more general audience. How Do We Know Ourselves? would fall into this latter category. *Divided into three parts: Who Am I?, Who Are We?, and What in the World?, Myers's book is a compendium of forty short essay reflections on the human condition from a social psychology perspective. In Part I, chapters one through twelve introduce the reader to a vast array of psychological insight pertaining to the self. These reflections build a repertoire of concepts which draw upon research in the discipline. Myers's introduction and use of data and findings are adeptly incorporated into the narrative, and the many examples used in this section and throughout the book illustrate the points raised succinctly and with significant effect. It is in this first section that the book's subtitle is most clearly applicable, Curiosities and Marvels of the Human Mind. Myers takes us on a journey of self-discovery as he engages us to consider such concepts as implicit egotism (chap. 1), blindsight and implicit memory (chap. 5), intuition (chap. 7), hindsight bias (chap. 9), and self-esteem (chap. 12), to name but a few. *In Part II, chapters thirteen through twenty-seven, the focus shifts from the psychology of the "self" to that of our relationships. The opening chapter of Part II, "The Science of Humility" (chap. 13), is cleverly book-ended with its closing chapter essay, "Narcissism: The Grandiose Self" (chap. 27). Between humility and narcissism, we are treated to reflections on psychological research concerning birth order (chap. 14), how the mind processes traumatic events (chap. 16), group polarization (chap. 18), the social facilitation phenomenon (chap. 24), and the psychology of friendships (chaps. 25 and 26). Again, to name just a few. *For the last section Part III, chapters twenty-eight through forty, Myers broadens the focus of his social psychological scope to consider a wider social context. Starting with the perennial question of "How Nature and Nurture Form Us" (chap. 28), he leads us through discussion on the fear of dying (chap. 32), immigration and intergroup contact (chap. 33), a chapter titled "How Politics Changes Politicians" (chap. 35), confirmation bias (chap. 36), and "phubbing," which was a term I had never heard before, but have certainly experienced; it means that our personal interactions are distracted by a constant need to check our smartphone devices (chap. 37). Myers concludes in the last chapter, "Do Replication Failures Discredit Psychological Science?" (chap. 40), with a defense of scientific inquiry and a word of caution to an overindulged skepticism which can lead to out-and-out cynicism. *At the point of purchasing this book to review, I allowed myself a cursory glance at some of the reviews submitted by other customers. I noticed, to my initial surprise, several comments alluding negatively to Myers's occasional inclusion and social psychological analysis of current issues in the political arena. Upon reading the book, I certainly could identify those essays which, for some, may have been a cause of irritation, but this observation highlights a critical point and speaks to the relevance of this book. The science of psychology has much to contribute to our understanding of contemporary issues in the modern world. For application to current events and in his use of contemporary real-life examples, Myers has an embarrassment of riches to draw on. The collective experience of the COVID epidemic, social media use, and indeed, the US political landscape are all grist for the mill; these are necessary social issues that warrant social scientific scrutiny. How Do We Know Ourselves? Curiosities and Marvels of the Human Mind provides this. In Myers's open, honest, and self-effacing style, he is able to illuminate hard data and scientific inquiry; he allows us to consider questions of real human and social significance from a disciplinary perspective. *The text is thoughtfully crafted and has an easy, accessible narrative flow, which introduces the reader to significant social psychological research, concepts, and theory. The style is conversational, and the author has chosen not to include exhaustive citations in the body of the text; there is, however, an extremely useful Notes section at the back of the book which provides detailed reference information to all sources used. This inclusion is particularly welcome given the short length of each of the separate chapters that manage, nonetheless, to introduce many pertinent sources that call for further exploration after piquing one's interest. Although How Do We Know Ourselves? is accessible and conversational, one would be mistaken to think that it lacks a certain depth. David G. Myers offers in this book the culmination of five decades of working in the field of social psychology; it is insightful, apposite, at times moving, and profound. *For people of faith, there is much to appreciate and reflect upon in How Do We Know Ourselves? Myers's own religious frame of reference is evident in subtle ways throughout the text. He seamlessly introduces, for example, the theological insights of such figures as C. S. Lewis (chaps. 13, 19, 21, 35), Reinhold Niebuhr (chap. 12), Pope Francis (chap. 26), and Saint Paul the Apostle (chap. 36). Myers does this, not in a didactic or preachy manner, but in ways that gently elevate the significance of faith for human flourishing and ethical mindfulness in our relationships. *How Do We Know Ourselves? Curiosities and Marvels of the Human Mind will appeal to a wide audience. For the casual reader interested in gaining social psychological insight on a range of pertinent subjects, this book will serve as a useful primer and steppingstone to the discipline. For educators wanting to add a text to an existing reading list which would serve to provide compelling examples of how course material could be applied, this book would be a useful addition. Lastly, Myers's work could serve as a guide to one's own self-reflection; on our own understanding of ourselves as we navigate the world. *Reviewed by Malcolm Gold, PhD, Adjunct Professor of Sociology, Messiah University, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.