The Invisible Gorilla

by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons
The Invisible Gorilla cover
Good Books rating 3.75
Psychology and Human Behavior
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  • ID: 3456
  • Added: 2025-10-18
  • Updated: 2025-10-20
  • ISBN: 9780307459664
  • Publisher: Harmony
  • Published: 2011-06-07
  • Reviews: 4

In 'The Invisible Gorilla,' renowned psychologists Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons reveal the surprising ways our intuitions and perceptions often lead us astray. Through fascinating stories and groundbreaking research, they explain how our minds fail to see the world as it truly is, leading to costly mistakes in business, health, and everyday life. The book not only exposes these cognitive illusions but also offers practical insights into how we can overcome them. Chabris and Simons, creators of one of psychology's most famous experiments, combine their own findings with those of other researchers to explore topics such as why companies launch doomed products, why award-winning movies are riddled with errors, and how criminals and chess masters share a common trait. They also address the resurgence of childhood diseases and the lessons money managers can learn from weather forecasters. Ultimately, the book provides a deeper understanding of our cognitive biases and offers strategies to think more clearly and make better decisions.

Reviews
Karen Papem MD · Karen Papem · 2025-10-20
engaging 4.50

The book provides an interesting guide to everyday illusions that may cause us to act against our own best interests.

Karen Papem finds this book to be an engaging guide to the everyday illusions that can lead us to make decisions that go against our best interests. She appreciates how the book makes complex psychological concepts accessible to the general public, offering practical insights into how our minds can deceive us. The book's ability to translate academic research into relatable examples makes it a valuable resource for anyone looking to understand the nuances of human behavior.

Quick quotes

    The general public will enjoy this book as it provides an interesting guide to the everyday illusions that may cause us to act against our own best interests.

    Makes complex psychological concepts accessible to the general public.

    Offers practical insights into how our minds can deceive us.

The Debrief · 2025-10-20
enlightening 4.00

The book is an easy read and an eye-opener, challenging common beliefs about human competence and brainpower.

This book is not only easy to read but also serves as an eye-opener, particularly in debunking commonly held beliefs. It challenges the notion that confident people are necessarily competent and questions the idea that we have vast unused brainpower. The authors present their findings in a way that is both engaging and accessible, making it a valuable read for anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of human cognition.

Quick quotes

    It is not only an easy read but an eye-opener on firmly held beliefs.

    Challenging the notion that confident people are also competent.

    Questions the idea that we have lots of unused brainpower.

Goodreads · 2025-10-20
intriguing 2.00

The book reveals how our intuitions can deceive us and goes beyond just listing human failings. It offers a comprehensive look at the myriad ways our minds can be tricked.

This book is more than just a catalog of human errors; it delves deep into the science behind why we often misjudge situations. The authors use engaging experiments and real-life examples to illustrate their points. It's a fascinating read that challenges our understanding of how we perceive the world, making it accessible and thought-provoking for readers at any level of familiarity with psychology.

Quick quotes

    The Invisible Gorilla reveals the myriad ways that our intuitions can deceive us, but it's much more than a catalog of human failings.

    It offers a comprehensive look at the myriad ways our minds can be tricked.

    The book is an eye-opener on firmly held beliefs.

Brett Milam · Brett Milam · 2024-08-20
enlightening 4.50

The book argues that intuition is poorly adapted to solving modern problems, highlighting the gaps between our perceptions and reality. It challenges readers to question their assumptions and think more critically.

Brett Milam's review of 'The Invisible Gorilla' delves into the book's central thesis that our intuitions often lead us astray in the modern world. They appreciate how the authors use a mix of experimental studies and real-life examples to illustrate the pitfalls of human intuition. The review emphasizes that the book is not just a critique but a call to action, encouraging readers to be more aware of their cognitive biases. Milam finds the book both enlightening and thought-provoking, making it a valuable read for anyone interested in understanding the limitations of human perception.

Quick quotes

    Chabris and Simons believe intuition is poorly adapted to solving problems in the modern world.

    The book is a call to action, encouraging readers to be more aware of their cognitive biases.

    The authors use a mix of experimental studies and real-life examples to illustrate the pitfalls of human intuition.

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