Telling Lies
Feb 25, 2010 Learning and Knowledge, Science and Technology, Self Help & Personal Training, Specialist Subjects
If, like me, you’re tired of hearing complete rubbish about how someone touching an ear, scratching their leg, making eye contact or not making eye contact are apparently sure-fire ways to tell that they are lying, this book will come as a welcome relief.
In Telling Lies, Paul Ekman discusses what possible indicators you can look out for to spot emotional states that can suggest lying, as well as explaining some of the different types of deception that we all practice, and why we do it. He also introduces the idea of microexpressions, those little tics that give away how we’re really feeling – if this sounds familiar to those of you who watch “Lie To Me,” that’s because Cal Lightman was pretty much based on Paul Ekman.
Amazon UK link – used only
Amazon.com link
Paul Ekman’s official site
The Ancestor’s Tale
Feb 22, 2010 Learning and Knowledge, Science and Technology
Before Richard Dawkins was famous for his open atheism, he was primarily known as a brilliant science writer (and still is – see our review on The Greatest Show On Earth for our take on his most recent work).
When most people picture a book on evolutionary biology, they don’t imagine an epic pilgrimage that spans the entire world and billions of years. Nor do they imagine an ever-growing cast of storytelling co-travellers, each with its own dramatic tale of a journey from the beginning of life itself into the modern world. This is what Richard Dawkins has created, and while it’s based purely on hard science, it is every bit as magical, as moving and as full of wonder as Lord of the Rings.
After reading this book, it’s hard to look at any living thing in the same way ever again, from blue whales to bacteria.
Quirkology
Feb 19, 2010 Comedy, Learning and Knowledge, Science and Technology, Self Help & Personal Training, Skeptical books
If I were to ask you whether you would rather wear a sweater covered in dog feces, or a nice, clean one previously worn by a horrific mass murderer, what would you answer (other than “is there something wrong with you”)?
How about if I were to offer evidence that your starsign CAN reflect your personality in some way – but not because the constellations themselves have made any difference whatsoever?
Quirkology uses psychology, scientific studies and a liberal splash of humour to reveal some of the strangest, most unlikely things that effect us in ways that seem completely counter-intuitive and breathtakingly unlikely, as well as the methodology for what might be some of the oddest studies of all time.
Quirkology remains the most outstanding, most hilarious psychology book I have ever read. I suggest you read it, too.
Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness
Feb 16, 2010 Learning and Knowledge, Philosophy & Thinking, Self Help & Personal Training
This is one of the many books I’ve reviewed that focusses on irrational behaviour and its causes. Two things in particular stand out about this one:
1. It focusses on the economic repercussions of irrational choices, both for the individual, companies and the entirely of society
2. It advocates, and outlines, ways to structure options to gently steer people towards choices that clearly give more net benefits, while ensuring that all other choices are still open to them – having organ donations opt-out instead of opt-in, for example.
Some may find this idea a little bit controlling for their taste, but as the authors point out, “choice architecture” already exists – private companies in particular can, and do, nudge us towards choices that may not be the best for us. The authors argue that their own ideas of choice architecture simply work to redress the balance. Check it out, and tell me if you agree with them in the comments.
