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
Obvious Adams
The Airbnb Story
Leadership
The Mythical Man-Month
Diaminds
The War for Kindness
Changing Minds
Children of Dune
The Intel Trinity
What Do You Care What Other People Think?
Future Forward
Principles for Dealing With The Changing World Order
Failure Is Not An Option
The Cancer Code
Rich Woman
Consider Phlebas
Brave New Medicine
The Art of People
Dictionary of Untranslatables
Abundance
Karl Marx's Theory of History
Fooled By Randomness
Carry on, Jeeves
American Lion
The Sixth Man
The Real Crash
The Bitcoin Standard
On Writing
The First Conspiracy
Wanting
Keeping At It
Harry Potter
The Hunt for Red October
Nourishing Traditions
The Evolution of Cooperation
God's Debris
Made to Stick
The Story of Civilization
Bitcoin is Venice
The Promise of a Pencil
In Praise of Shadows
Lives of the Eminent Philosophers
Beyond Good and Evil
Sit Like a Buddha
The (Mis)Behavior of Markets
The Perfect Bet
To Kill a Mockingbird
Bird by Bird
The World Crisis
The Hobbit
Factfulness
Indigenous Continent
The Gift
The River War
Burn
Getting Things Done
Moorish Spain
Rational Decisions
Living With A SEAL
I Am Not a Tractor
The Art of War
How Asia Works
The Knowledge
Hug Your Haters
Complexity
The Path to Love
Drive
Elon Musk
Merchants of Doubt
Vitamania
Zurich International Chess Tournament, 1953
My Years with General Motors
Resistance (At All Costs)
The Snow Leopard
Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)
Dealing with Darwin
The Great War of Our Time
In Pursuit of Happiness and Good Government
Lifespan
Numbers Don't Lie
The Golden Trade of the Moors
Revolution
Startup Playbook
Scotland
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Napoleon
Creation
The Unwritten
Alice in Wonderland
The Fiat Standard
Lean In
ANSI Common Lisp
How Innovation Works
Law, Legislation, and Liberty
Give and Take
Now, Discover Your Strengths
The Spy and The Traitor
Body by Science
Intellectuals and Race
The Rosie Effect
Plowman's Folly