Conquer Logical Fallacies

How to spot the hidden biases and fallacies steering your decisions — even if you consider yourself a smart, rational person.

Do you ever doubt your own decision-making? Have you wondered why intelligent people fall for fake news, or why we all do things we know are bad for us? What if the reason isn't a lack of smarts, but a set of invisible reasoning errors you were never taught to see?

Consider Victorian corsets: so tight they made women faint — yet fainting was seen as a sign of good breeding. A perfect monument to the power of a cognitive fallacy. And even the sharpest minds aren't immune: a 2015 Nature.com study found two-thirds of major psychology studies couldn't be reproduced, skewed by error and unconscious bias. That's exactly why this book exists.

Inside, you'll find:

• The 5 basic steps of critical thinking — easy to follow, and enough to make every decision with confidence.
• The ultra-common fallacy you were probably exposed to in your DARE class.
• The false beliefs behind Aztec human sacrifice — and how they're still common today.
• Why you should be skeptical of anyone quoting an authority figure.
• What India's "Temple of Rats" reveals about how false beliefs take hold.
• Why the money-losing Concorde jet flew so long — and the fallacy that kept it in the air.

Even if you think you don't need this. Even if you consider yourself immune to bias. Even if you've never studied logic — you may be stunned by how many false biases you're already carrying into your work and personal life.

If you have to work with people or analyze information, you'll find this book invaluable.