Nobody's Fool: Why We Get Taken in and What We Can Do about It

Two New York Times-bestselling psychologists explain the science of cons--and how we can avoid them From phishing scams to Ponzi schemes, fraudulent science to fake art, chess cheaters to crypto hucksters, and marketers to magicians, our world brims with deception. In Nobody's Fool, psychologists Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris show us how to avoid being taken in. They describe the key habits of thinking and reasoning that serve us well most of the time but make us vulnerable--like our tendency to accept what we see, stick to our commitments, and overvalue precision and consistency. Each chapter illustrates their new take on the science of deception, describing scams you've never heard of and shedding new light on some you have. Simons and Chabris provide memorable maxims and practical tools you can use to spot deception before it's too late. Informative, illuminating, and entertaining, Nobody's Fool will protect us from charlatans in all their forms--and delight us along the way.

About the Author :
Daniel Simons is a professor in the department of psychology at the University of Illinois, where he directs the Visual Cognition Laboratory. He lives in Champaign, Illinois. Christopher Chabrisis a cognitive scientist who has taught at Union College and Harvard University. He lives in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Daniel Simons is a professor in the department of psychology at the University of Illinois, where he directs the Visual Cognition Laboratory. He lives in Champaign, Illinois. Christopher Chabrisis a cognitive scientist who has taught at Union College and Harvard University. He lives in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Review :
Nobody's Fool is science writing at its best. A must-read for anybody who loves reading about fascinating social-science studies and compelling stories--or just wants to get tricked less.-- "Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, New York Times-bestselling author of Everybody Lies and Don't Trust Your Gut" Nobody's Fool is a fascinating and fun read that explores the limits of the human mind and teaches you how to avoid being hoodwinked. Simons and Chabris are outstanding storytellers and scientists who've written just the book we all need in a world where misinformation, scams, and everyday duplicity put us at increasing risk.-- "Katy Milkman, author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller How to Change" An outstanding guide to nonsense for critical readers.--Kirkus (Starred) Rarely do you find such practical advice combined with such delicious entertainment. In an age of con artists, charlatans, and conspiracy peddlers, Nobody's Fool is an essential survival guide for investors, consumers, and citizens. I wondered if the authors could possibly top The Invisible Gorilla, a classic in its field. They have--and we're all better armed against fraud as a result.-- "Diana B. Henriques, author of the New York Times bestseller The Wizard of Lies" The vast menagerie of scams detailed in Nobody's Fool makes for entertaining -- albeit frightening--reading. Thankfully, Simons and Chabris excavate the inner workings of con-artistry and explain in great detail why we fall for it, again and again, and how we can stop. This book is an inoculation for your brain.-- "David Epstein, author of the New York Times bestseller Range" Through captivating storytelling and insightful analysis, Nobody's Fool provides a fascinating exploration of the human mind's vulnerability to deception and offers practical tools to help us become more rational decision-makers.-- "Annie Duke, author of Thinking in Bets and Quit" To know if you have been deceived, you must question what you believe--but we can't always question everything. In Nobody's Fool, Simons and Chabris address the more difficult and intriguing question: When should you question what you believe?-- "Apollo Robbins, theatrical thief and deception expert"

"America is awash in lies, liars, and scams as well as books denouncing them, and this is among the best...The authors present a delightful parade of fakery...Simons and Chabris prescribe easy, common-sense rules...An outstanding guide."

"Shows, in rich detail, that con artists around the world use strikingly similar tactics to ensnare their victims. Daniel Simons and Christopher Chabris offer an engaging master class in how to foil purveyors of false promises."

"Simons and Chabris dig into a trove of scams...Replete with fascinating examples, including the 2022 FTX cryptocurrency collapse and the classic "Nigerian prince" email scam, this entry provides smart, succinct analyses based in solid cognitive science principles."