This will make you smarter

More about the book

Featuring a foreword by David Brooks, this collection presents brilliant yet accessible ideas designed to expand minds. John Brockman, publisher of Edge.org, asked the world’s leading thinkers what scientific concept could enhance everyone’s cognitive toolkit. Their visionary responses draw from diverse fields such as psychology, philosophy, economics, physics, and sociology, offering surprising insights that can transform your understanding of yourself and the world around you. Contributors include Daniel Kahneman discussing the “focusing illusion,” Jonah Lehrer on attention control, and Richard Dawkins emphasizing experimentation. Aubrey De Grey tackles our fear of the unknown, while Martin Seligman explores well-being. Nicholas Carr addresses “cognitive load,” and Steven Pinker shares strategies for win-win negotiations. Other notable contributions include Daniel C. Dennett on cycles, Jaron Lanier on resisting delusion, and Frank Wilczek on the brain’s hidden layers. Clay Shirky examines the “80/20 rule,” Daniel Goleman connects us to nature, and V. S. Ramachandran discusses paradigm shifts. Matt Ridley highlights collective intelligence, John McWhorter explains path dependence, and Lisa Randall focuses on effective theorizing. Brian Eno presents “ecological vision,” Richard Thaler critiques false concepts, J. Craig Venter explores life’s origins, Helen Fisher analyzes temperament, Sam Harris reflects on thought flow, a