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Hardwired to deceive ourselves
The Believing Brain,
By Michael Shermer Robinson
£9.99
 michael
Shermer is a psychologist
and a historian of science, and draws on both disciplines effectively
in this refreshingly sceptical look at how and why we believe things.
Shermer argues that we are evolutionarily hardwired to find
significance in our environment; we believe first and seek for reasons
afterwards, and are astonishingly good at self-deception. He deploys a
wealth of evidence to show how the believing brain is operative in
religion, politics, supernatural beliefs and conspiracy theories.
Science, with its evidence-based approach and strict procedure of
controlled, duplicable experiments, is the only rigorous way to test
the truth of beliefs. Readers of Dawkins, Dennett et al. will find
much that is familiar, but if you enjoy a dry, sceptical take on
things – as I do – you'll enjoy reading this.
—
The Independent
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