The Invisible Gorilla

How Our Intuitions Deceive Us

Christopher Chabris

Book Synopsis

"The Invisible Gorilla" by Christopher Chabris is a captivating exploration of the deceiving nature of human perception and memory. Through thought-provoking experiments and real-life examples, the book challenges our belief in the accuracy and reliability of our own senses.

Using the well-known "Gorilla Experiment" as a starting point, Chabris sheds light on our selective attention, showing how we easily miss unexpected and crucial details when preoccupied with a specific task.

The author reveals the limitations of our memory and recounts how our brains often fill in gaps with false information, leading to faulty recollections and distorted understanding of events.

Chabris also examines the impact of our biases and preconceptions on our perception. Drawing on studies in cognitive psychology, he exposes how these biases can influence our decisions, judgments, and even our sense of self.

"The Invisible Gorilla" urges readers to question their assumptions about their own abilities to perceive and remember accurately. It offers practical suggestions for improving our understanding of the world around us, using insights from psychological research.

In a society that increasingly relies on visual information and multitasking, Chabris highlights the importance of being aware of our limitations and developing critical thinking skills. Ultimately, this book presents a compelling argument for the need to question our beliefs and sharpen our attention in order to truly see what is right in front of us.

Explore More Books

See All
Little Brother
Dream Yoga
The Language Instinct
Breath
The Confessions
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone
Hatching Twitter
The German Generals Talk
Catch-22
Your Symphony of Selves
Quality of Earnings
Stuff and Nonsense
The Fish That Ate The Whale
Paradigms
Very Good, Jeeves
Going Infinite
Self Reliance
Race Against The Machine
Acts of Love
Mountains Beyond Mountains
Born to Run
Without Their Permission
Childhood and Society
Empire of the Summer Moon
Jesse Livermore - Boy Plunger
The Big Ship and Little Digger
Writing Down The Bones
Discourses on Livy
Biography of the Dollar
What You Do Is Who You Are
Irresistible
The Experience Machine
99% True
The New New Thing
The Butterfly Defect
In Search of Lost Time
The Greatness Mindset
V for Vendetta
An Unquiet Mind
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore
Goethe’s Poems and Aphorisms
The Gray Lady Winked
Winning
An American Marriage
Zen Mind, Beginners Mind
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
Essays and Lectures
The Myth of the Rational Voter
The Master Algorithm
The Cultural Cold War
Super Maker
Start With Why
Trick Mirror
The Marked Children
Becoming Steve Jobs
DeMark Indicators
A Walk in the Woods
Dark Towers
Bravey
Slaughterhouse-Five
The Mind Doesn't Work That Way
The Man Who Knew Infinity
The Journey of Crazy Horse
On Intelligence
An Everyone Culture
When I Say No, I Feel Guilty
The Terminal List
Three Scientists and Their Gods
Eat a Peach
The Intelligent Investor
Dealers of Lightning
Food of the Gods
Monsoon
The Wright Brothers
The Discovery of France
Meditation Station
The Harmless People
Dear Chairman: Boardroom Battles and the Rise of Shareholder Activism
Mastering The Market Cycle
Welcome to Your Brain
The Subtle Knife
Conspiracy of Fools
Poor Economics
Hidden Repression
Rework
Black Flags
A Brief History of Time
Teddy and Booker T.
The Infinite Game
When
Physics from Finance
Elon Musk
Olives
Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll
Political Tribes
Turn the Ship Around!
Fiasco
The Coaching Habit
Taxes Have Consequences
The Blank Slate