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The Invisible Gorilla: How Our Intuitions Deceive Us Paperback – June 7, 2011

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,195 ratings

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Our minds don’t work the way we think they do. Two renowned psychologists explain how and why our intuitions lead us astray, “[spinning] the plain world [we] know into a wonderment of surprising new insights” (Time).
 
“A must-read for anyone who wants to better understand how the mind works.”—Associated Press 
 
In 
The Invisible Gorilla, Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons, creators of one of psychology’s most famous experiments, use remarkable stories and counterintuitive scientific findings to demonstrate an important truth: We think we see ourselves and the world as they really are, but we’re actually missing a whole lot.
 
Chabris and Simons combine the work of other researchers with their own findings on attention, perception, memory, and reasoning to reveal how faulty intuitions can lead us to make shocking, costly—even life-threatening—mistakes. In the process, they explain:
 
• Why a company would spend billions to launch a product that its own analysts know will fail
• Why award-winning movies are full of editing mistakes
• What criminals have in common with chess masters
• Why measles and other childhood diseases are making a comeback
• Why money managers could learn a lot from weather forecasters

The Invisible Gorilla reveals the myriad ways that our intuitions can deceive us, but it’s much more than a catalog of human failings. Chabris and Simons explain why we succumb to these everyday illusions and what we can do to inoculate ourselves against their effects. Ultimately, the book provides a kind of x-ray vision into our own minds, making it possible to pierce the veil of illusions that clouds our thoughts and to think clearly for perhaps the first time.
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From the Publisher

Psychology Today says, “If you second-guess yourself 10 times today, they’ve done their job.”

Nassim Taleb says, “This book examines [the illusion of attention] in detail.”

Associated Press says, “A must-read for anyone who wants to understand how the mind works.”

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Succeeds wonderfully . . . readers who heed [these] admonitions may be rewarded with a clearer view of the world.”The Wall Street Journal

“Fascinating . . . Chabris and Simons threaten to pull the rug of reality itself out from under us.”
Seed magazine
 
“Engaging . . .
The Invisible Gorilla just might teach us to be more humble, understanding and forgiving.”The New York Times (Editors’ Choice)
 
“Entertaining and illuminating . . . a surprising guide to everyday illusions and the trouble they can steer us into.”
—Dan Ariely, New York Times bestselling author of Predictably Irrational
 
“Tightly reasoned . . . With each chapter, the reader’s self- awareness grows.”
Science
 
“Wonderful . . . a terrific book for anyone who wonders how their mind works.”
Philadelphia Daily News
 
“The illusion of attention is one of the most important, surprising, and least- known flaws in human thinking. This lucid book examines it in great detail.”
—Nassim N. Taleb, author of The Black Swan
 
“Persuasive, surprising, even amusing . . . will have you rethinking the way you see the world.”
Dallas Fort Worth Star- Telegram

“Highly illuminating.”
The Guardian (UK)

“Fascinating . . . An owner’s manual for the human mind!”
—Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology, Harvard University, and New York Times bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness
 
“An engaging romp through a variety of cognitive illusions . . . written so well it would make Gladwell envious.”
Psychology Today

“Engagingly and persuasively explores the illusions that trick us . . . a persuasive warning that intuition often fails us.”
Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Chabris and Simons use science and anecdotal evidence so effectively . . . that three days after reading their book I feel confident in saying it has changed my life. I just hope I’m not deluding myself.”
New Scientist

“A fascinating look at little-known illusions that greatly affect our daily lives . . . Bound to have wide popular appeal.”
Kirkus Reviews

“Full of humor and insight, this book is enlightening and entertaining. . . . Readers beware: your perception of everyday occurrences will be forever altered.”
Library Journal

“Chabris and Simons’s experiments have become classics, and their influence extends well beyond psychology, with implications for our understanding of consciousness and rationality. Having taught their research to my students at Harvard, I was eager to read
The Invisible Gorilla, and the book did not disappoint.”—Steven Pinker, author of How the Mind Works and The Stuff of Thought
 
“A riveting romp across the landscape of our psychological misperceptions. . . . If any work of social science could be a page- turner, this is it.”
—Nicholas A. Christakis, professor, Harvard Medical School, and coauthor of Connected

About the Author

CHRISTOPHER CHABRIS and DANIEL SIMONS are cognitive psychologists who have each received accolades for their research on a wide range of topics. Their “Gorillas in Our Midst” study reveals the dark side of our ability to pay attention and has quickly become one of the best-known experiments in all of psychology; it inspired a stage play and was even discussed by characters on C.S.I. Chabris, who received his Ph.D. from Harvard, is a psychology professor at Union College in New York. Simons, who received his Ph.D. from Cornell, is a psychology professor at the University of Illinois.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harmony; Reprint edition (June 7, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0307459667
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0307459664
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 0.66 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,195 ratings

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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and understandable. They appreciate the well-written presentation that explains scientific concepts clearly and in an understandable way. The book provides insightful descriptions of clever experiments and critiques of faulty studies. Readers describe the book as thought-provoking and humorous, drawing smiles and surprise.

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116 customers mention "Readability"107 positive9 negative

Customers find the book readable and engaging. They appreciate the author's understanding of storytelling as a persuasive approach. The first two chapters are well-written and appropriately cited. The scientific topics are explained clearly and understandably. The presentation is thorough and documented. Overall, readers describe the book as a great read and one of the most important books they have read in their lives.

"...I enjoy both text and visual formats of presenting data The Visual Display of Quantitative Information Edward Tufte...." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book. It is an easy read about a fascinating topic...." Read more

"...As such it is a fine specimen of the better class of popular science literature that nowadays sets a daunting standard to would-be authors in the..." Read more

"...Great Congressional Drama. Great writing and coaching by Hill & Knowlton, Propagandists to the world (and any sitting government)...." Read more

108 customers mention "Insight"96 positive12 negative

Customers find the book insightful and interesting. They appreciate the descriptions of clever experiments and critiques of faulty studies. The book illustrates a complex scientific topic clearly, understandably, and in a way that makes them question many things they tend to take for granted. Readers say it makes them more aware of their world and what's going on in it. The research presented is logical and challenging at first, but compelling stories are more persuasive than objective scientific explanations.

"...more emotionally stable, agreeable, conscientious . . . Psychologists call this "intrinsic maturation." p318 [..." Read more

"...It deals competently with several aspects of an intriguing field, and does so pleasantly and lightly without being superficial...." Read more

"...you be a little more attentive to your surroundings and a little more aware of yourself, maybe to help you see something you would've missed before..." Read more

"...The book, however, feels padded. The descriptions of the clever experiments are worthwhile, as are the critiques of faulty studies...." Read more

8 customers mention "Humor"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it illustrative and engaging, drawing smiles and surprise. While serious, the Jeremiad is not solemn.

"...The book is not one interminable Jeremiad; though serious it is not solemn. It is in fact decidedly pleasantly, even cheerfully, written...." Read more

"...The book is well-written, lively, humorous, and entertaining, making it an easy read. Very enjoyable." Read more

"...The story of the "invisible gorilla" was quite amusing, and after reading this book, I'll never, ever, talk on the cell while driving, not even..." Read more

"An "eye-opening" read. Well-written and humorous...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2018
    To see what is right in front of one's eyes needs constant struggle. George Orwell

    I was tickled to read about how I self delude daily in complacent mindless non-thinking. But other authors use a graphic novel approach which is more visually stimulating, for example:

    Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative Austin Kleon
    Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?: A Memoir Roz Chast mental physical social spiritual and financial realities of end of life decisions
    An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments cartoon version of
    Attacking Faulty Reasoning T Edward Damer.

    I enjoy both text and visual formats of presenting data
    The Visual Display of Quantitative Information Edward Tufte.
    When I do not emotionally link with a write
    Writing Alone and with Others Pat Schneider text for the Amherst Writing Initiative
    I find that following the Great Books' Shared Inquiry process
    Great Books of the Western World University of Chicago selections 1930s
    How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading Mortimer Adler
    quite useful.
    I read the selection twice. The first time I highlight and underline, write questions in the margin: factual questions (investigative journalist what when why where how who), interpretive questions (what did that mean? why the use of that word, that color? why did the author say it in that way? what colors come to mind as I read? what do I think the author is trying to imply? which forms the bulk of my queries), evaluative questions (very brief assessment of emotional responses, did the author succeed in conveying what I perceive was the author's goal with producing the work? did I like it? did I learn something?)
    After a first read, when I am convinced, alarmingly, that I understand what is happening in the write, I reread and repeat the process using a different color pencil. Only on second reading do I realize that I never really understood what I read the first time.

    Then I meet with a Great Books Group who have shared the exact same text, and the exact same process in solitude, and we share questions. I am shocked, informed, and my mind is broadened by the wealth of unexpected responses others provide to what I thought was a cut and dried conclusion, my conclusion. As I have engaged with this process over the years, from school age when my parents were Great Books Leaders, to my 40s when a group of friends formed a Great Books Group, to now in our 70s and 80s as we are rereading these oldies but goodies I am discovering ever new depths of understanding, and entirely different understandings of classic writes.

    I apply the same read it twice and think about it alone before discussing with others approach to contemporary writes
    Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil (Penguin Classics) Hannah Arendt.

    But the most informative discussions surround decades old readings. Since I retain my old books, underlining margin notes and all, I can see how my thinking has evolved with time. More particularly I see how arrogance, self importance, confidence (extrovert delusion) of youth is embarrassingly revealed in my portentous former notations.

    With age I am growing more and more humble, as memories of puerile strutting self assurance resurface.
    Susan Cain relates the experience of high school reunions: you notice many of your classmates as more introverted than you remember, quieter, more self contained, less in need of excitement. . . more emotionally stable, agreeable, conscientious . . . Psychologists call this "intrinsic maturation." p318
    Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking Susan Cain
    Back to the Future 30th Anniversary Trilogy Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd
    fascinating bonus disc features, interviews with the actors in the present, commentary behind each of the 3 episodes on what was in the minds of the film producers at the time, who the characters were based on, making of featurette.

    The same process can be seen in the PBS series about Queen Victoria her husband Albert, her Prime Ministers and growing oneself up to meet the challenges of governance
    Masterpiece: Victoria - Seasons 1 & 2 DVD Set With Bonus Self-Portrait Postcard

    I read the footnotes, appendices and look up references as questions arise and find more than sufficient to keep my curiosity engaged for which I grant it 5*.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2025
    I really enjoyed this book. It is an easy read about a fascinating topic.

    I knocked a star off simply because the information is nothing new to me. But that's mostly my fault. I read this book at the end of 2024, over a decade after the book's publication. So many of the studies mentioned here have been used in other behavioral works I have read.

    So if you are looking for a good introduction into behavioral studies, this is a great start!
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2010
    This book succeeds both as a satisfying read and as a public service. It deals competently with several aspects of an intriguing field, and does so pleasantly and lightly without being superficial. As such it is a fine specimen of the better class of popular science literature that nowadays sets a daunting standard to would-be authors in the genre. The authors write unpretentiously but confidently. They know and respect their subject and they show respect for their readers as well. They care more for clarity and comprehension than for flattery or condescension. Though I have never met either author the book is so naturally written that it gives me an eerie impression of a personal conversation. In fact they write so unaffectedly that many readers might well fall into the trap of undervaluing the substance of the material.

    That material is in fact important, unobvious and profound. Skim the book too lightly and you are guaranteed to fall victim to a class of illusion that the authors might well consider including in a future work: the illusion of complete comprehension; that comforting feeling one gets when one has read through a textbook without working one's way through, only to discover when writing an examination or presenting a lecture, just how inadequate an understanding one had achieved.

    The theme of the book is "everyday illusions". I will not discuss the title illusion of "The Invisible Gorilla" for fear of spoiling the discussion for those who do not recognise the allusion, though it has enjoyed enough exposure in recent years, goodness knows. Suffice to say that the illusions in question have very little to do with the popular visual and verbal puzzles that have been standard fare in books for centuries, and more recently in technological media such as films and online. Instead they deal firstly with our limited ability to observe and deal with things that no reasonable person would have considered himself capable of overlooking, things that can be matters of life or death. Some are in fact illusions that certainly have caused a shocking number of people to lose their lives or freedom unjustly and continue to do so year after year.
    They discuss another class of illusion related to unjustified confidence in assessing one's own ability, and either over- or under-rating the ability of other people on the basis of their apparent confidence.
    Well, that sounds simple enough...

    Doesn't it?

    The book discusses an entire class of illusions related to competence in management and forecasting, to the planning and analysis of research projects, and to jumping to conclusions. On this I say nothing, having seen too many damning examples myself. How many of such examples might or might not have involved me, and how much or how little I profited from the experiences, is no one's business but my own.

    The book is not one interminable Jeremiad; though serious it is not solemn. It is in fact decidedly pleasantly, even cheerfully, written. Nor does it convey a counsel of despair. Without emulating fashionable mindless self-help manuals for the mindless, it concludes with a brief but constructive discussion of how to deal with our own human limitations and make the most of internal resources as well as external resources at our disposal.

    In short, get the book. Read it. Think. Wait. Then read it again. You will profit no one more than yourself, and enjoyably at that.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Walter
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Mind-opening book that reveals our hidden perceptions!
    Reviewed in Brazil on August 30, 2023
    "The Invisible Gorilla: And Other Ways Our Intuitions Deceive Us" by Christopher Chabris is an absolute gem that should be a mandatory read for anyone curious about the quirks of human perception and intuition. This book serves as a captivating journey into the depths of our minds, unearthing the astounding ways our intuitions can lead us astray, often in situations far more commonplace than we realize.
    Chabris skillfully weaves together psychology, real-life anecdotes, and engaging experiments to demonstrate how our minds can play tricks on us. The titular "invisible gorilla" experiment, where participants fail to notice a gorilla walking through a basketball game due to selective attention, is just the tip of the iceberg. The book delves deeper, unveiling an array of intriguing scenarios where our intuitions fail us spectacularly.
    What makes this book stand out is its ability to seamlessly blend scientific research with relatable examples. Chabris has a gift for explaining complex concepts in an accessible and engaging manner, making it a page-turner for both psychology enthusiasts and casual readers. The anecdotes he shares resonate deeply because they reflect instances we've all experienced – from overlooking the obvious to overestimating our multitasking abilities.
    One of the book's greatest strengths is its capacity to challenge conventional wisdom. It forces readers to reevaluate their assumptions about memory, attention, and decision-making. Chabris encourages us to question our instincts, reminding us that critical thinking is an essential tool to navigate a world rife with cognitive pitfalls.
    I was particularly fascinated by how the author tackles the implications of these psychological phenomena in various fields, from law enforcement to everyday interactions. The insights provided shed light on why miscommunications occur and why eyewitness testimony can be unreliable – topics that affect us all, directly or indirectly.
    To sum up, "The Invisible Gorilla" is a revelation – a thought-provoking, enlightening, and immensely enjoyable exploration of the ways our minds can lead us astray. Christopher Chabris has crafted a masterpiece that not only entertains but also empowers readers with the knowledge to better understand themselves and the world around them. Prepare to be astounded by the everyday illusions you've been falling for, and emerge from this book with a sharper mind and a newfound appreciation for the complexities of human cognition.
  • LHartin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and informative psychology book!
    Reviewed in Canada on January 11, 2021
    While I got this for my psychology class, it was very entertaining while informational. The author made me laugh out loud many times! Easy read. Great for just general reading as well as to reinforce learning especially in the area of cognitive psychology. Highly recommend!
  • ermanno
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bellissimo!
    Reviewed in Italy on February 23, 2019
    difficile reperire la edizione italiana ma merita lo sforzo.
  • Sheila Kaur
    3.0 out of 5 stars Keep your thinking cap on
    Reviewed in Singapore on September 15, 2024
    It's a good read that requires critical thinking. Don't read it unless you know how to reject ideas or frame them to serve your best interests. I bought it to know what the pundits are thinking and from that pov it's a 4 out of 5. For personal advancements, 3.
  • Andrés Rojas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Andrés
    Reviewed in Spain on June 15, 2017
    The book is very interesting and worth reading. It is enlightening and captivating. It tells with facts how blind our brains are to the obvious and how we are easily decieved by our illusory perception reality. Very recommended!